My rib against a speedboat

[taffboyo]

Someone I know has bought a fletcher speedboat with a mercury 70hp two stroke, I have a humber assault with a four stroke Suzuki DF70.
All sorts of winding up has taken place and shortly a race and a bet will easily come up.
Do I stand a chance against a speed boat before I have to buy a round of beer??

[ShinyShoe]

Pick a windy day against tide and set a course that isn't a straught line (look up the Honda Rib Challenge Course) and you do ;-)

[taffboyo]

Cheers, I can normally get 33-34 kts flat out in a straight line

[Xk59D]

i think your buying a round of beer dude, sorry.

cheers

[taffboyo]

Oh well, give it a go or make excuses at the end!

[Wibs]

I had the same boat+engine combo 2yrs years ago, i managed 38mph(timed with my cars sat nav). It was a fast speed boat.!

However.....pick a day when there is a bit of chop and I doubt he'll have the balls to go WOT

[Pikey Dave]

Are we talking fixed distance from standing start or max speed, either way I think you're buying

[taffboyo]

Not sure yet, probably standing start and see who gets ahead, he has only recently bought it and is inexperienced, I have always had boats and have been at sea for 20 years.
He is 19 and full of bravado, I work with him so you can see where they winding up each other has come from.
I have told him not to be an idiot, its only a bit of fun.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by taffboyo

Not sure yet, probably standing start and see who gets ahead, he has only recently bought it and is inexperienced, I have always had boats and have been at sea for 20 years.
He is 19 and full of bravado, I work with him so you can see where they winding up each other has come from.
I have told him not to be an idiot, its only a bit of fun.

the 2stroke gives him an acceleration advantage, if the sea conditions permit, & he has the cojones, he has the edge.

[taffboyo]

Hopefully he will take a few people as his car has no tow bar, might slow him down a bit.
See how it goes!

[Nos4r2]

It sounds like you're either going to be buying the beers, or you'll be picking him up when he stuffs it and sinks it.

I'd make excuses 'til it looks like it'll be a bit lumpy

[taffboyo]

Thanks for everyone's advice, if it goes ahead I will let you know if I had to buy the beers!

[rik_elliott]

I have a fletcher arrowstreak, but with an inboard. Its certainly a fast boat, much, much faster than my old rib. But, on a choppy day, you barely want to go above displacement as the ride is so harsh. I've opened the taps before in a moderate solent chop, and whilst it will go at a hell of a clip, you spend a fair amount of time in the air/peeling yourself off the dash. Maybe it could be a race, but with time penalties for every slipped disc you end up with? It also absolutely loves petrol, and drinks it at a maddening rate.

As the others have said, either chose a choppy day (he DEFINITELY wont want to open it all the way if hes new to boating!), or set a course just long enough that his uneconomical 2 stroke empties his tank.....
Best of luck and enjoy!

[taffboyo]

That sounds interesting

[whisper]

Forget racing, take him on a cruise, nice and easy and you'll soon see who can keep up.

On a flat day day your man may well be quicker than you, but he will use much more fuel and have a hell of a time if it gets exciting

Then have a swap and let him have a go in your rib, you won't need to buy the beers as the look on his face will say it all

Priceless

[taffboyo]

Never thought of that, one fuel tank for me two for him.

[whisper]

Also take a tow rope for when fletcher boy breaks down

[matt h]

why dont you fill em up with water and see who sinks first!

[jyasaki]

Pick a long course in semi-rough water; even if he wins the race, you'll be the one seated at the pub (though it's likely he won't win...)

Either way, it's all in fun (I hope); give it your best and see what happens.

jky

[Peter_C]

Run two courses a smooth one first then a rough one. That way you both are winners then each goes and buys a round of beers win win!