The Ideal balance point will allow the driver to control the ride attitude of the boat by shifting body weight front to rear at ANY given point thru out the course. If you watch most veterian drivers they will pull UP (only up, without rocking) on the steering wheel when exiting a corner to help POP the front of the boat.(boats that are bow heavy will not allow the driver to do this). Then they are at that back of the boat all the way down the straights. You need enough saftey factor to your weight placement however to hopefully bring the bow down if you get in trouble down the straights by moving up on the wheel to bring in down, but not slam it down. We rig our boats with motor and fuel race ready with no added weight and then balance it on a saw horse with a broom handle mounted to the top of it. Find your balance point. Mark this point with a magic marker. Know place any weight over that balance point to start out with when first testing. Adjust accordingly from there to drivers feel of the boats handling thru out the race course. Remember however that different race courses will sometimes need weight moved around depending on the number of bouys,wind conditions/direction and how tight the turns are. If you notice the fast drivers thru the turns they will carry the bow high thru out the turn with just enough turn fin grabing in the turn to keep the boat locked in place. The following picture is of a Sorenson runabout. The boat is entering a turn (as noted by the turned engine). The boat is riding high with just a small amount of turn fin in the water. This set up had 15 pounds total weight added to make weight. It was placed at the centerline of the throttle. 10 poinds under the throttle and 5 pounds on the right side at the same centerline. The boat is 1 pound over weight at the scales when checked after the heat.The driver scrubs very little speed thru the corners balancing the boat like this.(on a flat turning runabout). This boat has raced in "J" class,AXSR class,ASR class and FAR class. It has run well with both a cleaver and a tulip blade style props. Weight has always been at drivers knees /forward depending on the class raced and speeds.Does this mean you shift your weight to the rear for straight-a-way attitude near or at the end of the turn for optimum acceleration and top end.
Bookmarks