NAMBA and the Noise Issue

[user 115]

To NAMBA members:

I understand that NAMBA is at 92Db's measuring 50 ft from shore. Do your clubs do that at every race? What problems have you encountered measuring and enforcing the limit? What is your technique for measuring if different than what has been talked about here?

The main argument against a noise limit in D4 that I have heard, is that we are not losing ponds and that NAMBA does not enforce their rule. I was told it was a "stupid" rule to have a noise limit and that I didn't know what I was talking about when mentioning that NAMBA had a rule in place. This person noted that NAMBA does not enforce their rule.

Guess I would just like to hear from any NAMBA guys or people who have raced in NAMBA as to your experiences.. Or how you overcame opposition to the rule.

A very frustrated pro-Db limit D4 racer,

Charley Howarth

 

[Al Waters]

The NAMBA rule is 95 db with the meter set back 50 feet from the shoreline. In District 19 the db level is 92. Other districts in NAMBA could have a different number. District rules can be more strict than the NAMBA rule.

We have had the rule in place for so long that you can tell if a boat needs to be measured just by listening. A boat has to be incredibly loud to not pass. It doesnt have to be rocket science nor reinventing the wheel. We dont play games like the boat has to be in lane one or lane eight. A boat could pass at one site at not another because of the site layout. It could even pass one day at the same course and not on another day due to the weather.

If there is a potential problem, we measure during open water or during the races. You should be able to measure the boat when it is separate from the others.

In answer to your questions................

1. We do not do it at every race.

2. No problems. An attempt to fix is made by the next heat or the boater doesnt run. The meter is on a free standing tripod or chair pointed towards the course perpendicular to the boat when it is measured (front straight is the easiest). District officer and Contest Director have the final say.

3. If you are not losing ponds because of noise.......then you dont have a problem and this topic is a mute point. NAMBA has the rule in place. It up to the districts and Contest Directors to enfoce it so to say that NAMBA does not enforce it is pretty lame or sour grapes.

"Stupid Rule"? Rules are made for fairness and safety. People who complain about rules are usually the ones who come in second.

4.Overcoming opposition?...... The boater either quit or conformed. You have to look at the long range benefits.

The person who complained that NAMBA doesnt enforce the db rule is either not a NAMBA member, doesnt go to NAMBA sanctioned events, or whoever has run that event has looked the other way not complying with the rule. Its not a perfect world nor a perfect system. It is what it is and what people want to make out of it.

Al Waters

NAMBA Vice President

NAMBA Scale Unlimited Chairman

President - Southern California Scale Thunderboat Association

 

[Chris Attebery]

In my District, NAMBA District 9, we measure at the shoreline and our limit is 90db. Any decent muffler will get you close to this number, and a well designed can get you in the mid 80s without a problem. Let me tell you it is more impressive to me to have a quiet boat run 80+mph than to have to plug my ears when some prick fires up his noisy unmuffled boat.

My X hydro ran 80+ and was quiet enough that you could hear the sponsons slapping the water as it approached. When it was heading away from you the motor noise was very accepable. All I did was take a MAC's 13cc muffled pipe cut the end off the muffler and extend it out another 6". Capped it with a turned end with twin stingers. Had less backpressure than the stock pipe and was VERY quiet.

As Al said, I can tell when a boat is over the limit. We usually don't HAVE to measure. We ask anyone that is obviously over to put an aftermuffler on their boat. We allow the muffler to stick out on the scales, although most guys just find a muffled pipe that will fit under the cowl.

BTW: Our district holds most of the NAMBA 1 mile heat racing records, quiet does not have to be slow.

Chris Attebery

 

[user 115]

Thanks, Guys.. Really appreciate your replies.. How do you deal with the different readings at different sites? I forgot, that was another "against" reason.

I cannot believe how complicated this has become. How silly is it in IMPBA that you could have a boat that is under 95,92 or whatever and still have to have a muffling device on your boat..

Thanks again,

Charley

 

[Tunnelbill]

Not all NAMBA Dist are the same. I went to a race last fall in N.J. and most of them was running Nitro Pipes on all classes????? Bill

 

[brian-lepinski]

dont complain guys up here in the great northwest if your going to run in rcu better get that boat down below 90 db noise is a big issue up here at some sites were home of the gronala crunching tree hugging salmon kissing fanatics were if you step wrong you may injury the endangered farting water beattle if any buddy is interested in a great muffler contact dave fox he built troy a great one his boat was under 90 db last test i guess iam lucky ive had very lil problems so far with noise knock on wood hope to see alot of you guys at columbia cup in july just ask al how much fun chet is at a race and some one make chet wear his hearing aids he says he cant hear his boat or his co driver for that fact

 

[Mike Hughes]

In district 8 it is 90 also. We have a meter that the district owns and it travels to each site. There are a few others that come too. I own one. It lives in the trailer. You can tell if some one is over or even close. We get out the meter just to check. If it is a new boater we tend to let him run and let him know that it is something that they need to address. Don't want to scare away new blood. Most of the other guys are under. We let them know if not and they take care of it. Simple. Just not so for IMPBA.

Mike

 

[Al Waters]

Charlie,

there is no dealing with different readings on different days at different sites. A reading is a reading. You are either in compliance ........or you are not.

We can go on forever and talk about the performance issues, hearing, and all that. It will work when that one individual in a district or a race will walk forward, take the lead, run with it and make it happen. It shouldnt have to fall in the president's lap.

Mike put it best. Its simple. It doesnt need to be difficult.

What is unfortunate is it appears to me that the boaters in IMPBA are blaming the content of the rule, and point to IMPBA to take care of business like they were at fault. I dont buy that.

You just heard from three different districts that use the basic NAMBA rule three different ways but they do it in such a way that it takes care of business based on their needs. They dont need the President or VP of NAMBA to step in. There are people at the local level that make it happen.

Tunnel Bill mentioned that he was in Jersey and they were all running nitro pipes.

He didnt say that they were over the db limit. I can run my scale with a nitro pipe and no muffler and be under the db limit. I dont but I can. Now if they were over, that would be another story. But we would never know if there was a problem unless it was brought to our attention. I can say that I have been to two nats in Jersey and they run mufflers.

Of all of the boats that I have seen tagged over the years, everyone made an attempt to correct it during the day. They did grumble though. But even that has been a long time a go.

Al Waters

NAMBA Vice President

NAMBA Scale Unlimited Chairman

Southern California Scale Thunderboat Association