Re: Mini hydroplane?
Hi BAH,
Although runabout drivers may tease the hydro drivers, and vice-versa, there is a deeper respect that goes both ways. We like to josh each other a bit, usually after the final checkered has dropped and the coolers open up, and occasionally over a bonfire consisting of whatever boat(s) were wrecked beyond repair that day.
Anyway, what it comes down to is that hydroplanes take less work to drive.
A typical lap in a hydro consists of: Straightaway: hunching back and getting low, buttcheeks agains the clamp screws, throttle wide open. Into the turn: crack the throttle, burp the air from under the boat, shift your weight forward and the the left over the inside sponson, turn left, hook the turn fin and squeeze the throttle open again. Exit the turn: Straighten wheel, resume buttcheeks against transom posture and repeat.
A typical lap in a roll-up runabout consists of: Straightway: hunching back and getting low, right arm locked straight against the steering wheel. The bow starts to pop a bit, lurch forward, pushing down on the wheel. Repeat as needed until you get ready for the turn. Enter the turn: Throttle still wide open, hook right foot in starboard coaming, lurch body forward and to the left. Hope the inside chine hooks up and holds the boat from skidding as you grab a handful of steering wheel and turn. Throttle is now jabbing you in the ribs with every bounce of the hull. My God this is fun!! Exiting the turn: Slowly shift weight back against the transom, slowly let the boat roll flat again as you straighten the wheel and it accelerates out of the turn. Repeat.
As an analogy, driving a hydro is a bit like driving a sports car - fast with smooth handling. Driving a runabout is like driving an off-road Jeep. Not as fast, but a whole lot of fun in its own right.
I've driven both styles of hulls. It is a really neat sensation in a hydro when you're packing air under the hull and it starts to fly - literally. Your stomach kinda sags in your gut and the boat starts to hang out - you're really screaming! The sensation of pure speed is really quite thrilling! I have an "old school" Hedlund style hydroplane with a Mercury 25SS racing motor. It's no longer competitive, but it is fun to take out on a calm morning. 60+ mph in a 9'6" boat will get you going better than any cup of coffee... I've also driven a D-Stock Hydro with a Mercury Mark 55H racing motor - close to 80mph. I never knew a 4-mile long lake could get so small in such a hurry! But I really prefer the challenge of taking control of a runabout hull, feeling out the nuances of what makes it work, whether it be hooking it up in the turn like a water skier, or making it air out in a straight, bow high and loose, running on the ragged edge.
You'll have fun with either style of hull. And if you enjoy the process of building one, who's to say you can't try a couple of different styles. Try one this year, and build another next year. It's always more fun running with someone else...
- Scott
