Is the OB class doomed?

[vision craft boats]

Tunnels are about extinct here in Florida, this is the second race in Brandon this year with not one tunnel signed up.

 

[HTV Boats]

To quote Yoda "there is another"
Brandon put two FE Tunnel classes on the roster and 5 Tunnels entered. 2 in Q/L and 3 in P/L. FE is another possible area to grow tunnel numbers.
I applaud Carl and Gabe for all their efforts plus the Atwells for keeping the faith and all the racers who support the World Tunnel Champs. I am sure there are other pockets of tunnels across the country. It just is a matter of numbers in any one area. Nitro is on the decline across the board. I would try and combine .21 and .45 nitro's with P/L and Q/L tunnels. Nothing to lose here when neither can support a 5 boat class at certain races. I would rather run my P/L is the 21 mod class than let it sit on the shelf and I think .21 nitro guys might agree.
Open tunnel is good option for Gas,Nitro and FE to run together.
We can do nothing and watch things fade away or think around the box.
Mic

 

[Grimracer]

The outboards are doomed if innovative ideas keep getting rejected by the very people who run outboards. Down here in the southeast we had some really cool things going on with outboards that lasted for a few seasons. At the tunnel champs and some other races we were running endurance races with pit stops, a Mod-VP class (some races with beach starts), kneeler hydro, super sport class ( any 40 engines with no tuned pipe) and run whatcha brung. It all died with in fighting and politics. I have always said and will still say that the outboard class needs to be more than just tunnel hulls. But all you will hear is "no new classes" from the same people who are letting the OB's die. The Charleston club was the epicenter of all of these cool ideas until the club was invaded and 'transformed'.

In the end I think the intent of the comment regarding "new classes" is "more classes". Most I know are always willing to have fun with "new" classes.. but adding them to the IMPBA as "more classes".. IS THE ISSUE! Dump the old and add the new.. SURE..

Its we have TOO MANY classes.. not, we don't want "new" classes.

Grim

 

[Mark Poole ModVP]

In the end I think the intent of the comment regarding "new classes" is "more classes". Most I know are always willing to have fun with "new" classes.. but adding them to the IMPBA as "more classes".. IS THE ISSUE! Dump the old and add the new.. SURE..

Its we have TOO MANY classes.. not, we don't want "new" classes.

Grim

Agreed. But I was told in 2005 that there was no room for anymore classes. So let’s count how many gas classes have been added since that time. It’s politics. If we could all just build boats and have fun without that it would be great. Find a good pond, start a club try to have fun. It will have to be a dictatorship to keep the politics out.

 

[Alan Elzer]

It won't die if we don't let....

 

[Grimracer]

RC Helicopters are suffering the same fate.. Its gone back to more of a niche.

Align is all but gone
Thundertiger is all but gone

The two largest providers just 10 or 15 years ago

We are not alone!

Then, like us, contesting helicopters is "just about dead"

We have MUCH, MUCH LARGER events then contest helicopters!

Horizon is all but destroying the market and a little birdy told me there push is to "eliminate" glow all together. They have the largest marketing penetration and just think.. no glow.......... One could say.. well thats a small part of our hobby BUT.. they have the power to introduce MANY people into the hobby..

Grim

 

[Mark Poole ModVP]

Honestly, I don't have a problem with getting into electrics. Let's face it, once the initial build is done the operating is easy. Plus no noise on the ponds means you are more likely to keep your ponds. But there are many of us who are true 'hobbyists' and we like tinkering with nitro boats.

Keeping ponds will be vitally important. Eventually I really think the only place gas boats will be able to run is on private ponds like sowega. Development is closing in everywhere. It is full on here all around Savannah. A lot of potential sites are now behind fences for storm runoff.

 

[Bradley Maglinger]

Heck I just ordered a 7.5 tunnel two weeks ago for nitro. I know that Sowega has a great turn out, I just have to do some traveling.

 

[Grimracer]

I have never thought FE guys were not true hobbyists. Nope.. dont ring a bell...

The hobby has a few twists and turns.. I have a "preference" AND other aspects of the model hobby that I like too.

To each his own.

To "Save" outboard boating (for me Nitro)... from my standpoint nothing is for sale! (truth is I am buying! LOL)

Lets race!

Grim

 

[Tim Kish]

Raced a B tunnel for the first time in more than twenty years this year and had so many racers say they wanted to get theirs back out after watching.
It's a fun class but not an easy class.

Prices of O.S outboards are a direct reflection of the low production numbers and the cost of doing business these days.

 

[Sonny Cook]

I have a Old dumas drag-fly now painted waiting for a New OS to arrive to go on it. Mostly for fun!
Have FE KB lower 3.5 Dumas hot shot almost ready. Set up to change over to the KB 3.5 With a fuel cell.
Have a Acuacraft? ebay buy, with 3.5 Kb lower FE. Going to build a ML tunnel hull for a KB 7.5 Soon.
Have brand NEW over 20 years old K.B 3.5 for a build and another KB 3.5 needs a few parts.
Will build a 20 fe hydro to run with the only group near, they can only run FE. boats on the Ski lake , since no one runs the outboard tunnels Will take the FE tunnels and play there. A another 50 miles away they run Gas and Nitro boats. Don"t know which ones yet.
Trying to do my part , where i live its 3 hours in 3 ways go run boats with groups.

 

[Carl Van Houten]

This thread is two years old and what has changed? Not one person has had even one suggestion since Oct 12th 2022. Personally, I think Mark is right. I did what I could to help bring outboards back. I built 106 Tunnels for Ron by myself and Ron was loading them with hot engines before Covid-19 hit and sucked the bottom out of everything. If you guys don't find a way to pull new people into your hobby and at least put the effort into looking for new ideas you will never see O/B racing like it once was.

 

[LohringMiller]

I'm working on a P limited tunnel using a very old Leecraft XT-460 with the sponson tips cut down a little. The new P limited motors have at least the power of modified 7.5 nitro motors. The cost of the setup is similar to todays nitro if anyone made 7.5 engines. So far, keeping it on the water has been the biggest problem.

Lohring Miller

 

[Alan Elzer]

This thread is two years old and what has changed? Not one person has had even one suggestion since Oct 12th 2022. Personally, I think Mark is right. I did what I could to help bring outboards back. I built 106 Tunnels for Ron by myself and Ron was loading them with hot engines before Covid-19 hit and sucked the bottom out of everything. If you guys don't find a way to pull new people into your hobby and at least put the effort into looking for new ideas you will never see O/B racing like it once was.

Carl stock tunnel runs here in my area. Other areas seem to fill the class, maybe not B mod tunnel?
I think the big thing is the cost for the OS XM OUTB has gone through the roof because of pure (greed)... K&B's are ok but due the the advantage of the OS lower unit it's at a disadvantage. Sowega doesn't seem to have a problem filling the classes.

 

[Carl Van Houten]

Alan I'm not trying to predict doom here. Instead I am hoping to see outboard guys pull together in some sort of direction. Let's hear some ideas. Who has a fix for the decline in outboard classes? There are no more on the shelf stock/sport/muffled (what ever you want to call them) engines available. They are all gone. Being the Outboard Director for IMPBA I am curious about what the plans are from here? If I can help let's discuss this (Hopefully with out arguing).

The 3.5cc tunnel class was HUGE and STRONG at one time. I remember when it was the largest classes at races. That class by being so big in turnout, pulled out the other outboard classes. How do we get a class to blow up like that again and what class looks like it could develop into that from where things are now?

Who has the answer? Is there and answer?

 

[Mitchel Kauppila]

Five b sport tunnels showed at the D4 race over the weekend. Honestly, this hull has served me for about 10 years and is as competitive yesterday as it was 10 years ago…. All I have changed was a servo. I cannot say the same for any of my nitro sedans, electric buggy’s, electric cars, etc. The boating hobby is a niche and the engines and hulls do not promote the flavor of the year sales that the other segments have to entice distributors to keep em. I am willing to pay a premium for an OS Outboard. If you look at the nitro RC motorcycle segment, a chassis can cost you over a grand… but some are willing to pay it. Has IMPBA or NAMBA been in discussions with OS or Horizon to look at the future? Or even promote a last time buy? I saw the lower is listed as discontinued first, and I assume it’s because the electric guys have consumed inventory of that first?

 

[Mitchel Kauppila]

Alan I'm not trying to predict doom here. Instead I am hoping to see outboard guys pull together in some sort of direction. Let's hear some ideas. Who has a fix for the decline in outboard classes? There are no more on the shelf stock/sport/muffled (what ever you want to call them) engines available. They are all gone. Being the Outboard Director for IMPBA I am curious about what the plans are from here? If I can help let's discuss this (Hopefully with out arguing).

The 3.5cc tunnel class was HUGE and STRONG at one time. I remember when it was the largest classes at races. That class by being so big in turnout, pulled out the other outboard classes. How do we get a class to blow up like that again and what class looks like it could develop into that from where things are now?

Who has the answer? Is there and answer?

In August there is a “Big Boat” APBA Tunnel race in Sheboygan, WI. Tens of thousands of people will be present. In order to grow the sport we have to advertise. People show up to these races because they are interested. If they see a stand setup with obtainable RC versions of the boats they came there to watch. I think it could generate a lot of buzz.

Has the governing bodies ever partner with the big boat organization? Even do a demonstration in between heats?

 

[Roxyflash]

I have never thought FE guys were not true hobbyists. Nope.. dont ring a bell...

The hobby has a few twists and turns.. I have a "preference" AND other aspects of the model hobby that I like too.

To each his own.

To "Save" outboard boating (for me Nitro)... from my standpoint nothing is for sale! (truth is I am buying! LOL)

Lets race!

Grim

I tried to get in the 21 outboard years ago I bought a villain kit built it painted it had a K&b motor went to the pond try firing it up but wasn’t having no luck in the end I forgot to reverse my starter after thinking about it I sold it wasn’t for me.I always like the way they ran and pitted for people running them.Maybe the villain needs to come back as a kit .

 

[Alan Elzer]

Alan I'm not trying to predict doom here. Instead I am hoping to see outboard guys pull together in some sort of direction. Let's hear some ideas. Who has a fix for the decline in outboard classes? There are no more on the shelf stock/sport/muffled (what ever you want to call them) engines available. They are all gone. Being the Outboard Director for IMPBA I am curious about what the plans are from here? If I can help let's discuss this (Hopefully with out arguing).

The 3.5cc tunnel class was HUGE and STRONG at one time. I remember when it was the largest classes at races. That class by being so big in turnout, pulled out the other outboard classes. How do we get a class to blow up like that again and what class looks like it could develop into that from where things are now?

Who has the answer? Is there and answer?

For got about you being outb director. Great post to get started again, I hope others chime in here too.

 

[HTV Boats]

The reason OB's thrived was a combination of low entry cost, ease of setup, great competition, and motorheads from the muscle car era who had the desire and patients to run nitro. Age (me and a few others) has taken its toll. The final and largest obstacle today is cost. $700+ for entry level motor. add a hull and support equipment. Then fuel and glow plugs. Makes gas an option and FE a bargain but where are the new racers? And how do we set the hook?
I am happy to have participated in the World Tunnels golden age so to speak. I think we still have some quality younger tunnel heads that hopefully will pick up the torch we need to pass to them. Let them make the classes and rules for the future that work for the next generation.
Mic