Hi from Australia

[Thomasj]

G'day guys/gals,

My name is Thomas and I race an Aquarius Thundercat (inflatable) in Australia. We run standard 50hp Tohatsu/Yamaha with the only mods being the props and a few carby mods to stop flooding from jumps.

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of any classes you guys run that use 50hp/40hp motors (or owns a thundercat) so I can dig some proppeller info and maybe some mods for a weekend motor.

Thanks alot!

Thomas
tom@goldcoastthundercats.com.au
http://www.goldcoastthundercats.com.au


ps. your site is great with lots of info, i found it via a link from a prop 4sale on ebay.

[Jeff Akers]

You need to talk to "FastFred" he's a member here and knows about Inflatables:)

Got any good surf pics ?:cool:

[Thomasj]

thanks mate!

lots of pics in here
http://goldcoastthundercats.com.au/gallery/

latest Australian Nationals pics
http://www.extremeimages.com.au/gallery/album333

mines the blue boat with Aquarius on the side #222

http://goldcoastthundercats.com.au/images/AquariusWaves.jpg

[Ted March]

How do you turn them when their flying like that?

Thanks for coming aboard.

Please keep posting. We love pictures.

[Thomasj]

you can't turn in the air, however the co-pilot at the front can certainly adjust the attitude of the boat and its roll. As a driver you try to launch squarely, but you cannot do this all the time. This is when the co-pilot throws his/her weight around to keep the boat trimmed well for a good landing keeping maximum speed.

This photo above has a turn can in it, we are about to turn left around that can and go accross the front straight (100m) parrallel with the surf break.

It is amazing what these boats can do, however your body usualy fails before the boat does :/

In South Africa (where the sport is from) they race 1000km's in 5 days, off shore for the entire race with 20km's done in pure darkness at night amognst the biggest population of great white sharks. http://www.transagulhas.com/home/agulhasmain.php

http://goldcoastthundercats.com.au/gallery/albums/album10/My_Pictures0025.jpg
This boat managed to land this incredible jump in 3 meter surf (so hes 4m above 3m wave, making it a 7m jump - copilots at 11m inverted(boats 4m long)) and carry on to win the race. Top New Zealand driver while in Australia.

Do you know if they race thundercats in the US? I cannot find any website info on it.

[Bob Valachovic]

Great shots ....I like the guard on the propeller

[Bob Valachovic]

http://www.apba-racing.com/Home.html

They are called performance inflatables here. The APBA site has some images of these boats running. Bob

[Jeff Akers]

[QUOTE=Thomasj]thanks mate
mines the blue boat with Aquarius on the side #222
QUOTE]

Very nice pics, thank you!
Reminds me of my days jetsking in "BIG SURF" sooomutch fun:D

I'm a big fan of these boats.....thinking about buying one as I live on the beach:cool:

Please Keep posting and updating us on your racing . :cool:

[arcticracer]

Hi Thomas:

There is a type of racing in Alaska you might be interested in, the Yamaha 50 is king. Unmodified other that rev limiter removal, and nosecone. 12" X 20" to 22" cleavers. 24' long, over 4' wide, crew of 3, 45 gallons of gas, designed to run 400 miles without stopping then a return race back 400 miles. 1500 pounds and speeds of up to 78 mph. You could contact racers off the website if you want to know more about props, etc.

www.yukon800.com

Best regards-Dale

[Thomasj]

thats awsome performance! I will check them out.

[arcticracer]

Thomas-

One fellow tried the Tohatsu up here but found it could not hang with the Yamaha. Not sure what the issues were, but he never got it screaming right. The Yamaha is an amazing engine, they tap them out at 7 grand or so for hours on end. Rules don't allow stabilizing the crank assy, but that is not where they fail. Lower units are the usual culprit, usually hitting something, or bending a shaft. Now and then the crank will break off right at the upper bearing. The OMC 45 engine has been used, more torque and speed through the twisties, but reliability issues, especially lower unit. They are geared much lower, 12/28 I think and props used are like 25" pitch!

By the way, I love the inflatable scene. I can't imagine racing with a tiller though. Geezzzzzzzzuz.

Cheers-Dale

[Seanp3]

Hi Thomas:

There is a type of racing in Alaska you might be interested in, the Yamaha 50 is king. Unmodified other that rev limiter removal, and nosecone. 12" X 20" to 22" cleavers. 24' long, over 4' wide, crew of 3, 45 gallons of gas, designed to run 400 miles without stopping then a return race back 400 miles. 1500 pounds and speeds of up to 78 mph. You could contact racers off the website if you want to know more about props, etc.

www.yukon800.com

Best regards-Dale


How cold is the water if the boat goes over?

[arcticracer]

Hi Sean-

You mean when the boat goes over, not if........right? There are 3 rivers in the race, 5 miles on the Chena, 210 miles on the Tanana, and 185 in the Yukon. The Tanana is a swift, glacial river and cold. Don't know how cold maybe 40-45? Full of rock silt so thick you can't see 1 inch through it. The Yukon is cold too, but maybe not as fast as the Tanana. In 40 years only one racer has been lost.

Dale-Arcticracer

[Seanp3]

Hi Sean-

You mean when the boat goes over, not if........right? There are 3 rivers in the race, 5 miles on the Chena, 210 miles on the Tanana, and 185 in the Yukon. The Tanana is a swift, glacial river and cold. Don't know how cold maybe 40-45? Full of rock silt so thick you can't see 1 inch through it. The Yukon is cold too, but maybe not as fast as the Tanana. In 40 years only one racer has been lost.

Dale-Arcticracer


Hi Dale

I thought that would be a bit nippy if you ended up taking a dip. Sounds like you would have a hard time finding your boat if it sunk too. I think I'll stick to the waters further south

[Fast Fred]

on the yamaha 50 ya can just snip the rev limter, the crank will hang on,
not so on the Hotsu, but once the crank is set and the ports are cleaned up(cyl alinement is not allways the best) She steps rightup:eek: :cool:

[Thomasj]

we are allowed in our rules to weld the crank 10mm on each pin. Also allowed to remove rev limiter.

my stocker can swing a 15 pitch semi cleaver at 6300rpm - not running extremely high as we need lots of grip in our sport.

[Fast Fred]

we run the same hulls hear, on fresh water. I run the Supermod class, turnin a 23 pich over the hub clever. i run in the salt mostly my self unless racin, when i try to mess around on the lake the cops show up, :eek: