Americans are the world leaders in high speed boat safety

[FranklinRatliff]

Whether it's the detaching driver capsules in drag boats or Unlimited hydroplanes where the cockpit remains integral with the hull, Americans are the world leaders in boat safety for speeds of 200 mph or higher.

[Jeremy Harris]

So what?

How many 200 mph plus boats are there in the world? My guess is very, very few!

Pretty meaningless point, in my view, I'd rather scarce investment funds were spent on a more worthwhile purpose.

[cyclops2]

Jet record holder. Old & alive so far.

Check out all the racing associations accident records.

Just because other countries do not have lots of 200 + drivers / boats.

Could mean they have a lot smaller death wish.

[FranklinRatliff]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Harris

So what?

How many 200 mph plus boats are there in the world? My guess is very, very few!

Pretty meaningless point, in my view, I'd rather scarce investment funds were spent on a more worthwhile purpose.

Offshore boats are now running over 200 mph. (AMERICAN, of course).

Unlimited hydroplanes run over 200 mph.

Several classes of drag boats run over 200 mph, with Top Fuel boats running as fast as 270 mph.

[FranklinRatliff]

Originally Posted by cyclops2

Jet record holder. Old & alive so far.

Check out all the racing associations accident records.

Just because other countries do not have lots of 200 + drivers / boats.

Could mean they have a lot smaller death wish.

Could mean they're just all wussies.

[Jeremy Harris]

Originally Posted by FranklinRatliff

Offshore boats are now running over 200 mph. (AMERICAN, of course).

Unlimited hydroplanes run over 200 mph.

Several classes of drag boats run over 200 mph, with Top Fuel boats running as fast as 270 mph.

I know they exist, in tiny numbers and almost exclusively in the gas-guzzling capital of the world, I just questioned whether your point mattered one jot, given the small number of boats.

Looks like a bit of pointless jingoistic bragging to me, rather than a meaningful discussion theme. Alternatively, maybe you're just trying to wind up the large non-US membership here for a bit of personal entertainment...........

[FranklinRatliff]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Harris

I know they exist, in tiny numbers and almost exclusively in the gas-guzzling capital of the world, I just questioned whether your point mattered one jot, given the small number of boats.

Looks like a bit of pointless jingoistic bragging to me, rather than a meaningful discussion theme. Alternatively, maybe you're just trying to wind up the large non-US membership here for a bit of personal entertainment...........

People's perceptions of the survivability of 200+ mph boats have a lot more to do with their ignorance of the technical progress than the available technology.

[daiquiri]

What is the point of this topic?

[FranklinRatliff]

Originally Posted by daiquiri

What is the point of this topic?

There's a board where the leader of the team restoring Bluebird and the son of the current water speed record holder are discussing safety as if nothing relevant has happened outside of Britian and Australia.

[Tim B]

I'm all for safety on the water. It is THE most important thing going. And whilst we are happy that there are significant advances all over the world, you do seem to be overcompensating a little.

Do we know where these advances have come from, and what their nature is? Is it a better understanding of the vessel dynamics (thus reducing the number of incidents)? or is it the structural components which have been improved? If the latter, has this come from revolutionary materials? Better understanding of the dynamic loads involved? or has it filtered down from high-speed motor-racing?

Any thoughts anyone?

Tim B.

[FranklinRatliff]

Originally Posted by Tim B

I'm all for safety on the water. It is THE most important thing going. And whilst we are happy that there are significant advances all over the world, you do seem to be overcompensating a little.

Do we know where these advances have come from, and what their nature is? Is it a better understanding of the vessel dynamics (thus reducing the number of incidents)? or is it the structural components which have been improved? If the latter, has this come from revolutionary materials? Better understanding of the dynamic loads involved? or has it filtered down from high-speed motor-racing?

Any thoughts anyone?

Tim B.

The big leap in safety began with eliminating open cockpits. From there the evolution has been in cockpits that can maintain their integrity no matter how severe the impact.

http://www.hondoboatsinc.com/index.p...d=49&Itemid=61

[daiquiri]

Can you folks tell me what means are currently in use for the dynamic stability control (longitudinal and lateral) of hydroplanes and other high-speed race boats?

[FranklinRatliff]

Originally Posted by daiquiri

Can you folks tell me what means are currently in use for the dynamic stability control (longitudinal and lateral) of hydroplanes and other high-speed race boats?

Unlimited hydroplanes use a driver-operated variable incidence wing located between the sponsons. This allows the boat to ride light while still reducing the potential for blowover. Additionally, Unlimiteds are also a fixed wing at the stern supported by vertical stabilizers.

http://unlimiteds.net/site/race_sites/mad/11/

[daiquiri]

Extending the question to off-shore raceboats too, as far as you know are there any means currently in use for the emergency control of dynamic instabilities like flip-overs, roll-overs etc?

I'm asking because few years ago I've had an idea about an emergency stabilizator device which I had let go then (had other priorities), but now I'd like to take it again into consideration and see if it is viable...

[FranklinRatliff]

Originally Posted by daiquiri

Extending the question to off-shore raceboats too, as far as you know are there any means currently in use for the emergency control of dynamic instabilities like flip-overs, roll-overs etc?

I'm asking because few years ago I've had an idea about an emergency stabilizator device which I had let go then (had other priorities), but now I'd like to take it again into consideration and see if it is viable...

To the best of my knowledge, movable aerodynamic control surfaces are not in common use in offshore boats. I believe this is fertile ground for innovation.