5 Bouy Corner's

[Don Ferrette]

Here you go Don.

CONS:

It reduces a portion of the potential racing area which in fact will make the turns more crowded, and increase the number of collisions.

How? It follows the same arc as the other 3 so unless someone is squaring off their turns this is simply not true. We have seen way less carnage in the corners so far this season since switching to 5.

More potential buoys will need replacing during an event.

So far every single race this season in our district has seen a dramatic reduction in buoys replaced for the same reason, people are driving a better line in the turns.

It forces racers to use their throttles, and we know many only use them when bringing the boat back to shore.

You're kidding right?? If anything we've been faster in the turns with everyone driving an actual arc around 5 buoys.

With 10 turn buoys out there, it just gives me the opportunity to hit four more. I already get my fair share.

You'd be surprised on this one I'm sure.

If you suffer from pentiphobia, I don't want you in my heat.

Now THAT is funny.

PROS:

Clearly defines lane one.

Absolutely.

If you have an OCD it looks pretty.

LOL

The 1/2 mill will always be a Safety Hazard... To circle up 6 - 8 or even more boats for two plus mins and hope they don't get together on only half of a course is wishful thinking.

We definitely agree on this one.

Mark have you driven a 5 buoy turn? I admit I had a little doubt .... until after our first district race. B)

 

[Michael Costanzo]

Jerry if you guys are using a rope between 1&3 and 4&6 try this- go to your midpoint and add a 35 foot rope that will give you the radius of the turn for 3 or 5 buoy corners. Just a thought that might make it easier.

Jerry is just one out of the now 10 no's so how 'bout it other no votes, let's hear why. :unsure:

I think there will be a problem with the setup too. Just one more thing to have to fudge with prior to a race. If you are using a rope tied to a center buoy to measure from, what keeps the center buoy from moving as you move the rope around to set up all the turn buoys?

Just seems like an attempt to make it easier for folks that have a hard time driving... If I wanted this hobby to be easy, i would be running gas (JK)

Sean

saidi was not on this again,but can't sit hear and listen to the BS! 1st off extra buoys does not make it easier to drive, it makes it smoother and safer for all.(speaking from experience,i am a former national and div champ!)2nd to the coment about 7 or more boats in a heat is wrong,99.9% of the times it is only 6.in 20 years of racing i can MAYBE count on 1 hand how many crashes i have seen! if the C?D does his job, he calls a infraction and on 2nd time that driver is d'q'ed.

ask any NAMBA driver which start is more exciting?? yes i know all about the 30 second rule.bottom line is it is all good and it is all about having FUN!!!!!

 

[Mark Grannis]

Here you go Don.

CONS:

It reduces a portion of the potential racing area which in fact will make the turns more crowded, and increase the number of collisions.

How? It follows the same arc as the other 3 so unless someone is squaring off their turns this is simply not true. We have seen way less carnage in the corners so far this season since switching to 5.

More potential buoys will need replacing during an event.

So far every single race this season in our district has seen a dramatic reduction in buoys replaced for the same reason, people are driving a better line in the turns.

It forces racers to use their throttles, and we know many only use them when bringing the boat back to shore.

You're kidding right?? If anything we've been faster in the turns with everyone driving an actual arc around 5 buoys.

With 10 turn buoys out there, it just gives me the opportunity to hit four more. I already get my fair share.

You'd be surprised on this one I'm sure.

If you suffer from pentiphobia, I don't want you in my heat.

Now THAT is funny.

PROS:

Clearly defines lane one.

Absolutely.

If you have an OCD it looks pretty.

LOL

The 1/2 mill will always be a Safety Hazard... To circle up 6 - 8 or even more boats for two plus mins and hope they don't get together on only half of a course is wishful thinking.

We definitely agree on this one.

Mark have you driven a 5 buoy turn? I admit I had a little doubt .... until after our first district race. B)

Yes... I am a member of NAMBA Dist. 3 and it does use the 5 buoy turns. I'm used to it. The fact is there are still more buoys to hit and replace. Yes i was slightly kidding about the throttle, but the lane 8 to 1 move still happens and there is less room to escape. It can not be disputed that there is less area to maneuver your boat with buoy 2 of 10 right there.

As for squaring turns. If the squaring boat fouls an overtaking boat after abandoning lane one call the penalty.

Maybe the use of noodles connected together two high will define the whole turn??? Then if a boat gets inside it's a lap.

I think it is dangerous to use only 1/2 the course. If a pond is large enough to offer plenty of room on the right side I would be more comfortable, but there are some lakes being used that are too small. Dist. 3 gives the option to the driver, but the cut through must occur on the left side of the clock and they must yield right of way to the boat milling the whole course.

 

[Bill Gibson]

Im not saying that it couldnt happen or that it hasnt happened, but to this point i havent seen a single collision yet at a Namba Dist 3 race as a result of using a half mill...i still see boats get tangled up at or just over the starting line regardless of half or full mill staging...i will be the first to admit that the first time i utilized the half mill start it was a bit unnerving, but like anything new, once its done a few times its really comfortable and it appears to make the line up for a start more consistent for all of the boats....and i do like 5 bouy turns.

 

[TomMoorehouse]

I have no problem with more bouys, after I hit the first one I usually get over the others.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

The problem with 5 bouys would be the smaller clubs setting them up on race day.

My club's pond is not setup with a set course, it is laid out with marked ropes and sighted by eye.

4 more bouys would just make more complaints about the course.

My 2 cenys.

Jerry

That's the thought that went through my mind. I'm usually the guy that is in the dingy for 3 hours trying to set 6 bouys.... I'd hate to have 10!

 

[ddalme]

I have no problem with more bouys, after I hit the first one I usually get over the others.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

The problem with 5 bouys would be the smaller clubs setting them up on race day.

My club's pond is not setup with a set course, it is laid out with marked ropes and sighted by eye.

4 more bouys would just make more complaints about the course.

My 2 cenys.

Jerry

That's the thought that went through my mind. I'm usually the guy that is in the dingy for 3 hours trying to set 6 bouys.... I'd hate to have 10!

Hey guys-if you don't like it don't use it-It's optional

I've found that everyone has to run around the same buoys at any given race

 

[Don Ferrette]

Hey guys-if you don't like it don't use it-It's optional

I've found that everyone has to run around the same buoys at any given race

Very true. Just please don't knock it 'til ya tried it. B)

 

[Andy Greene]

Im not saying that it couldnt happen or that it hasnt happened, but to this point i havent seen a single collision yet at a Namba Dist 3 race as a result of using a half mill...i still see boats get tangled up at or just over the starting line regardless of half or full mill staging...i will be the first to admit that the first time i utilized the half mill start it was a bit unnerving, but like anything new, once its done a few times its really comfortable and it appears to make the line up for a start more consistent for all of the boats....and i do like 5 bouy turns.

THANK YOU

I have not seen a SINGLE collision using half mill.

Andy

 

[Mike Byer]

Here you go Don.

CONS:

More potential buoys will need replacing during an event.

So far every single race this season in our district has seen a dramatic reduction in buoys replaced for the same reason, people are driving a better line in the turns.

Might have been because of being the first time that 5 were used, but I ran out of bouys. Killed about 10 a day for 3 days. I'd say the course needs to be wider, by maybe 30ft or so. Watch from the corners, not possible to make that tight of an arc and hold any one lane.

 

[Sean Bowf]

I feel the same way about half mill as the five bouys. Half mill would make it easier to get to the start line at the horn...which to me is not what the hobby is about. Being able to mill your boat at full mill and be at the the start line when the horn goes off is part of the art of driving these things... If everything is made easy for the drivers, the only thing left will be the person that has the deepest pockets, having the fastest boat.

I have seen faster boats get out driven by a better driver with a slower boat. I am sure all of us have. If it is made too easy to be at the start, and too easy to make it through the turns, then what is next??

Funny thing is, when I first read this post, I had thought the same thing that someone else posted about the pool noodles. Is that going to be our next step in turns, to make them out of pool noodle??

I understand the frustation in getting a boat hit or run over. I have been there with a freshly painted boat during its first time in an organized race. But I still feel that being able to make the turns, and time the start, is part of what people should learn to do. It is part of "being a good driver."

RC boat racing should not be plug and play... I know a better driver will always have an advantage. But if we make it too easy for the bad drivers, then that has taken away some of what the better driver has earned with his/her experience.

I agree there would be less accidents with 5 buoy turns, and I agree that it would be easier to make the start with half mill, but is that what is wanted and needed in this hobby?? Nothing is going to eliminate the accidents, and from where I have raced, I have a hard time believing a 5 buoy turn will bring accidents down to just one a race. Shoot, I see more folks run over dead boats than that at a single race...let alone making it through a turn.

Just my 2 cents.

Sean

 

[moparbarn]

the biggest change in the racing that i have seen since d-12 started using 5 bouy turns is CLEANER racing. with 3 bouy turns, i have seen, too many times, a racer trying to go straight from bouy 1 to bouy 2, attempting to create a "lane 1/2". the racer legally in lane 1 & the ***** trying an illadvised/borderline illegal inside move usually end up crashing at bouy 2. the extra bouys force you to run a cleaner line & "race", not play kyle busch :lol: , imho. about hitting more or less bouys, heck i could find & hit the only bouy on a 50 acre lake, so that doesn't affect me ......

 

[Don Ferrette]

... heck i could find & hit the only buoy on a 50 acre lake, so that doesn't affect me

ROFLMAO!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Michael Costanzo]

the biggest change in the racing that i have seen since d-12 started using 5 bouy turns is CLEANER racing. with 3 bouy turns, i have seen, too many times, a racer trying to go straight from bouy 1 to bouy 2, attempting to create a "lane 1/2". the racer legally in lane 1 & the ***** trying an illadvised/borderline illegal inside move usually end up crashing at bouy 2. the extra bouys force you to run a cleaner line & "race", not play kyle busch :lol: , imho. about hitting more or less bouys, heck i could find & hit the only bouy on a 50 acre lake, so that doesn't affect me ......

i agree with robin on this, the only complainat i have is that i now run in impba and that use the "entrance bouy" in the turns and you have to "square"off the turn,otherwise just move that "center" bouy in and make the turn "smooth".

 

[Bill Gibson]

I feel the same way about half mill as the five bouys. Half mill would make it easier to get to the start line at the horn...which to me is not what the hobby is about. Being able to mill your boat at full mill and be at the the start line when the horn goes off is part of the art of driving these things... If everything is made easy for the drivers, the only thing left will be the person that has the deepest pockets, having the fastest boat.

I have seen faster boats get out driven by a better driver with a slower boat. I am sure all of us have. If it is made too easy to be at the start, and too easy to make it through the turns, then what is next??

Funny thing is, when I first read this post, I had thought the same thing that someone else posted about the pool noodles. Is that going to be our next step in turns, to make them out of pool noodle??

I understand the frustation in getting a boat hit or run over. I have been there with a freshly painted boat during its first time in an organized race. But I still feel that being able to make the turns, and time the start, is part of what people should learn to do. It is part of "being a good driver."

RC boat racing should not be plug and play... I know a better driver will always have an advantage. But if we make it too easy for the bad drivers, then that has taken away some of what the better driver has earned with his/her experience.

I agree there would be less accidents with 5 buoy turns, and I agree that it would be easier to make the start with half mill, but is that what is wanted and needed in this hobby?? Nothing is going to eliminate the accidents, and from where I have raced, I have a hard time believing a 5 buoy turn will bring accidents down to just one a race. Shoot, I see more folks run over dead boats than that at a single race...let alone making it through a turn.

Just my 2 cents.

Sean

Sean, im right there with you in that i never want to see model boat racing become a plugnplay hobby...dont want it to be too easy..but running 5 bouy turns and half mill starts doesnt make it any easier to me, just more consistant

.....and ive seen just as many starts blown by guys using half mill starts, myself included as with full mill starts...because we still have one full turn and half a front straight to screw up the start because we all want to get there FIRST!! :lol: I do agree that nothing will eliminate accidents unless we leave em all in the shop and i for one am not about to do that!!

 

[DON MAHER]

I must be blind or someone used invisable ink when this thread was started because I don't see anything about 1/2 mill in the poll question <_<

Don

 

[Michael Costanzo]

I must be blind or someone used invisable ink when this thread was started because I don't see anything about 1/2 mill in the poll question <_<

Don

Round 2

 

[carlnoki]

Yepper

round 2 possibly coming up.

and yes, the subject of 1/2 mill was not in the original topic.

i am entirely in favor of the 5 bouy corners.

it does work and always has worked. i have raced both NAMBA and IMPBA.

it DOES prevent the squaring of the corners and makes drivers perform proper

turns and basically keeps everyone honest.

and yes, it does help keep bouys in ONE PIECE. THINK ABOUT IT.

and as i stated for our Centreville, VA race, there was only one (1) bouy killed.

all, in all, it just works<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Carl

 

[Ron Olson]

I was probably the one that brought up the 1/2 mill thing as it was brought up originally in the thread over at Jim's somehow in there also. My intent was not to have it as part of this one and to keep it on topic with just the buoys.

Seeing how the 5 buoys turns is now an option after the BOD meeting at the Internat's, let's see how it goes after a few races.

 

[John Kubitz]

I was probably the one that brought up the 1/2 mill thing as it was brought up originally in the thread over at Jim's somehow in there also. My intent was not to have it as part of this one and to keep it on topic with just the buoys.

Seeing how the 5 buoys turns is now an option after the BOD meeting at the Internat's, let's see how it goes after a few races.

If Tom Moorhouse is game to set up 5 bouy turns he is welcome to do them. We will bring this up at our next meeting. Half mill is something i would not want to happen. You & your pit person need to get together to coordinate your timing.

 

[Marty Davis]

I have a much easier solution to all of this.

MERGE IMPBA and NAMBA so that we have more strength in numbers.