I took second place with my Ossi at the World Champs. I only had 6 runs on the boat prior and was going through the usual tunnel hull setup routine before I got there, and spent 2 more full days at the races in open water getting it to handle right, and to find the right CG, lower unit heigth / angle, and prop match. I found the sweet spot but my engine was running like a dog until some nice fellows from the local area (Gas cat racers, not tunnel hull racers) gave me some tips to get the horse power and rpms needed to make the boat come alive. In heat 1 of three the surprise was on me as the boat was faster than I wanted, it needed more down force and eventually blew over do to a heavy finger (my bad)! Wound up tweaking the thrust line and it was screaming at 1/2 to 2/3ds throttle. With a little more tweaking I am guessing 55 and up is possible maybe more on straight aways. I am only running a 260 also, a 30cc stroker kit could easliy go 60 +. Wind really was a big problem due to the high profile, it pushed the hull all over the course. Back in VA after test run 3, I decided it had to have stumble blocks. Drove terrible, would not turn at all, even small inputs, without hooking. Stumble blocks fixed that problem, made it handle sweet, just like an HTB 360. I blew over in one heat, and a tuned pipe dragging behind like an anchor made me spin out for 2 DNFs. Took 1st in round 3 with bad bad wind, otherwise I would have been the man. That's how it goes sometimes. Good luck with yours. We need to lobby for the class to run at other East Coast races. I plan on going to all of the IMPBA D12 Points Chase races, maybe the allure of the monster can help get us in the races. later, James Beasley
. these speeds would be for a 'sport' 20 tunnel, a 'mod'/piped motor would be somewhat faster.
