Hi from Australia

**Thomasj** · 11-04-2005

G'day guys/gals,

My name is Thomas and I race an Aquarius Thundercat (inflatable) in Australia. We run standard 50hp Tohatsu/Yamaha with the only mods being the props and a few carby mods to stop flooding from jumps.

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of any classes you guys run that use 50hp/40hp motors (or owns a thundercat) so I can dig some proppeller info and maybe some mods for a weekend motor.

Thanks alot!

Thomas
tom@goldcoastthundercats.com.au
http://www.goldcoastthundercats.com.au

ps. your site is great with lots of info, i found it via a link from a prop 4sale on ebay.

**Jeff Akers** · 11-04-2005

You need to talk to "FastFred" he's a member here and knows about Inflatables

Got any good surf pics ?

**Thomasj** · 11-04-2005

thanks mate!

lots of pics in here
http://goldcoastthundercats.com.au/gallery/

latest Australian Nationals pics
http://www.extremeimages.com.au/gallery/album333

mines the blue boat with Aquarius on the side #222

**Ted March** · 11-04-2005

How do you turn them when their flying like that?

Thanks for coming aboard.

Please keep posting. We love pictures.

**Thomasj** · 11-04-2005

you can't turn in the air, however the co-pilot at the front can certainly adjust the attitude of the boat and its roll. As a driver you try to launch squarely, but you cannot do this all the time. This is when the co-pilot throws his/her weight around to keep the boat trimmed well for a good landing keeping maximum speed.

This photo above has a turn can in it, we are about to turn left around that can and go accross the front straight (100m) parrallel with the surf break.

It is amazing what these boats can do, however your body usualy fails before the boat does :/

In South Africa (where the sport is from) they race 1000km's in 5 days, off shore for the entire race with 20km's done in pure darkness at night amognst the biggest population of great white sharks. http://www.transagulhas.com/home/agulhasmain.php

This boat managed to land this incredible jump in 3 meter surf (so hes 4m above 3m wave, making it a 7m jump - copilots at 11m inverted(boats 4m long)) and carry on to win the race. Top New Zealand driver while in Australia.

Do you know if they race thundercats in the US? I cannot find any website info on it.

**Bob Valachovic** · 11-05-2005

Great shots ....I like the guard on the propeller

**Bob Valachovic** · 11-05-2005

http://www.apba-racing.com/Home.html

They are called performance inflatables here. The APBA site has some images of these boats running. Bob

**Jeff Akers** · 11-05-2005

[QUOTE=Thomasj]thanks mate
mines the blue boat with Aquarius on the side #222
QUOTE]

Very nice pics, thank you!
Reminds me of my days jetsking in "BIG SURF" sooomutch fun

I'm a big fan of these boats.....thinking about buying one as I live on the beach

Please Keep posting and updating us on your racing .

**arcticracer** · 11-16-2005

Hi Thomas:

There is a type of racing in Alaska you might be interested in, the Yamaha 50 is king. Unmodified other that rev limiter removal, and nosecone. 12" X 20" to 22" cleavers. 24' long, over 4' wide, crew of 3, 45 gallons of gas, designed to run 400 miles without stopping then a return race back 400 miles. 1500 pounds and speeds of up to 78 mph. You could contact racers off the website if you want to know more about props, etc.

www.yukon800.com

Best regards-Dale