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Club And R/C Boat Information
General Information
Wichita R/C Power Boat Club races in District 17 of the
North American Model Boat Association (NAMBA). District 17 is comprised of clubs in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.
Each club holds a sanctioned race at their local pond and
each club carries insurance that protects both members and spectators at their race site. All members are required to follow
specific safety rules as outlined by the NAMBA Rulebook for R/C Model Power Boats.
There are many different classes that modeler’s race
in. Classes are divided by engine size, hull type and type of fuel used (Nitro, Gasoline and Electric). Typically trophies
are given to winners through third place and there are no cash prizes.
About the Boats
There are two main categories of hull types. They are Hydroplanes
and Mono Hulls.
The Hydro class is defined, as any hull that is not a monoplane.
This includes Outrigger Hydros, Catamarans, Sport 40 Hydros, Multi-engine Hydros, Unlimited Scale Hydros, Classic Thunderboat,
Outrboard Tunnel Hull (OPC).
Outrigger Hydros are currently the fastest of the racing
classes and resemble a narrow hull with two sponsons attached by booms. The name is derived from the resemblance to the Hawaiian
outrigger canoes.
The Mono Hulls are any V Bottom style boat. They can range
anywhere from a very shallow V, as on a Crackerbox, to a very deep V, like a Jersey Skiff.
About
the Boats (continued)
Catamarans are modeled after the offshore racing catamarans and resemble a hull
where there is “channel” a between the running surfaces.
Multi-engine hydros are boats with multiple engines running simultaneously and
can be either Catamaran or an Outrigger Hydro.
The Unlimited Scale Hydro class is comprised of 1/8 scale replicas of hydros
that raced or are racing on the Unlimited racing circuit. The hulls are registered as to their trueness to scale and a trophy
is usually given to the hull judged to be the most true to scale at most races.
Classic Thunderboats are modeled after 1950's and 1960's Unlimited Hydroplanes (round or shovel nose). They
are 48" long by 24" wide minimum and are to be painted "scale like " They run 50 -60 mph and have great spectator
appeal. They would be a good entry level gas class boat because they can be one of the more inexpensive boats
to buy and run. Also, they are easier to drive because of the slower speeds - not to say they are not exciting to drive.
Also, because they are larger than most, they handle the waves much better. They are powered by stock Zenoah 260 PUM
gas engines, therefore, the speed differences between the boats is very small resulting in very close racing. More money
can't buy you a bigger/badder motor and thus more speed.
The
OPC
( Outboard Performance Craft) class even though has a hydro hull it is categorized differently because it uses an outboard
motor for its propulsion. These hulls resemble the tunnel hull boats that currently race on the IOGP circuit. These hulls
are generally inexpensive and make a good beginners class.
The
Mono hull class boat resembles the common “Deep V” hull and gets its name from its single riding surface. They
are fairly easy to set up. For this reason it is also a good beginner’s class.
About the Engines
Each hull type class is also
broken down by engine size.
Current Nitro engine
classes are:
|
Class |
Cubic Inch Displacement |
Metric Class |
|
1/2A |
0.000
Thru 0.129 |
0 - 2.115 cc |
|
A |
0.130
Thru 0.214 |
2.116 - 3.509 cc |
|
B |
0.215
Thru 0.458 |
3.51 - 7.509 cc |
|
C |
0.459
Thru 0.671 |
7.51 - 11.009 cc |
|
X |
0.672
Thru 2.136 |
11.01 - 35.00 cc |
|
|
|
|
|
Formulas: CC
X .061 = CID, CID divided by .061 = CC |
Current Gas engine classes
are:
|
Engine Class
Highly Mass Produced
|
|
Cubic Centimeter Displacement
|
|
G1 |
|
15 - 25.99 cc |
|
G2
Open Classes
G1X
G2X
G3X
|
|
26 - 36 cc
15 - 25.99 cc
26 - 35.99 cc
2 Cylinder 53 cc max
|
|
Formulas |
CC x .061 = CID |
CID divided by .061=CC |
The most popular nitro engine brands are CMB, K&B, OPS,
Picco, Rossi, OS Max and Novarossi. And in the gas engines Homelite, Zenoah and Quickdraw.
Prices for motors range from approximately $100.00 to $600.00. Racers typically use fuel ranging from 25% nitro to
60% nitro in their nitro engines. The gas engines are NAMBA mandated to use ONLY gasoline and oil mix - no nitro,
(added) alcohol, etc. The typical gas to oil mix is 8 oz oil per gallon of gasoline.
About the Radios
The boats are operated by Radio Control and typically employ
2 or 3 channels. Heavy-duty servos are used to control the rudder linkages while smaller servos are generally used for the
throttle. Some modelers do use a third channel for control of a remote needle that allows the adjustment of the fuel flow
to the carburetor while the boat is running. Boats operate in the surface frequency band and this range of frequencies is
from 26.995 MHz to 27.225 MHz, 53.100 MHz to 53.900 MHz (Requires FCC Amateur Radio License) and 75.430 MHz to 75.990MHz.
Futaba, Airtronics, JR, and Ace build the most common radios. Many drivers use a 2.4 Mhz Spread Spectrum type radio, as these
are immune to interference. New boaters probably should buy a Spread Spectrum radio right from the start.
About the Race Format
Races utilize a heat-racing format. Each heat consists of
6 laps for a total of 1 mile. The racers are given 2 minutes to start their engines and 30 seconds to mill. Mill time allows
the racers to attempt to bring their boats to the start/finish line simultaneously as the race starts (the horn goes off).
Races are held on a 1/6-mile oval course with 5 buoys outlining each corner and a start/finish buoy in the middle of
the front straightway. Points are awarded for the order of finish and after five rounds of racing a win is declared to the
racer with the most amount of points. Ties are broken by run off, or coin toss, as decided by the racers.
About the Cost
The class and the engine size determine the cost of building and racing a radio control model
boat. In the Ready To Run class it is possible to get started for around $300.00 and can exceed $3000.00 for a multi-engine
Outrigger Hydro or Unlimited Scale Hydro. Good used boats can be acquired through the boating forums "For Sale" sections,
E-Bay, etc at reasonable cost. When buying used boats, consult with an experienced modeler first. Extra running
hardware is required and includes such items as a starter, plugs, fuel and spare props.
Additional Information
It is wise to consult with experienced modelers before
getting into this hobby. They will guide you toward purchasing equipment that will best fulfill your goals and expectations.
Feel free to contact WRCPBC through our club email at dwbebens@gmail.com
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