Picture yourself traveling at 60 m.p.h., not sitting in your 3,000 lb. steel constructed automobile, but on your knees, inches above the water, bracing yourself into a 125 lb. boat. The boat is designed to break free and run above the water, unlike your car which is designed to hug the pavement. The slightest movement of your body weight affects the attitude of your craft over the ever changing contour of the water.

Now picture yourself surrounded by 11 other boats, separated by only a few inches. All boats and motors are the same weight and horse power. Your speeds are so close that one small error can put you behind the competition. Rougher water and the spray of the other boats wet you down, as you wait anxiously for your shot to make up time on your closest opponent, pushing your mind, your will and your body to the limit. Three laps of flawless manipulation - timing your start - staying out of trouble - and outsmarting your 11 competitors, leads you to a top finish. This is just a flavor of the exhilaration pulsing through you, every heat of racing. The heart pounding excitement lasts under five minutes per heat, but stock outboard is guaranteed to leave you thirsting for more. 

Stock Outboard boat racing began almost as early as the first production outboard motor was manufactured. Yacht clubs, towns and even colleges had race teams in the 1930's.

The boats in use are almost exclusively kneel down boats, with the exception of 45SS, which is a capsule style tunnel boat, a miniature Formula 1 boat. There are two main styles of boats.

Runabouts - make use of a flat bottom running surface. Runabouts have strict length and design restrictions. Runabouts turn on the inside chine (rolling it up on the chine) and require the skilled movement of the driver's weight to control turns. The craft are very stable, enabling drivers to run very close together and increasing the drivers and spectators excitement.

Hydroplanes - have fewer design restrictions but are typically built to trap air under the hull. This trapping of air causes the boat to actually run above the water's surface at top speed (hydroplaning). The Hydro makes use of a side fin for turning the boat in a level position. Turning in a group of boats is a different story. The side fins on a group of boats can produce a spray worse than riding through a car wash. Hydros are very tricky to run close together because of the delicate cushion of air they ride on. Too much air and you're over backwards, a sudden change to no air under the boat can cause the bow to dive (and you stuff it!)

Races normally run two(2) heats of three(3) laps in a counterclockwise direction. The consistent course rules allow drivers to design and rig their boats to turn left effectively.

Starts are traditionally clock starts. Drivers are given three minutes to get their boats on the course and in position for the start under a green flag. After the three minutes have expired the clock ticks down from one minute under a white flag. The object is to get to the start/finish line when the clock strikes zero. Too early, you jump the gun and your disqualified. Too late and you have given the advantage to your competitors. There are no lanes assigned to drivers. You fight to get your lane and have to clearly establish it 500 feet before the start line. This can often be the most exciting part of the race for the spectator. Once the boats start, it is on to the first turn with boats still battling for their lanes through the turn. The inside lane is the shortest route and the toughest to obtain. Everyone wants to be there.

One of the unique things about boat racing is that, the outline of the course remains the same, but the water is constantly changing, forcing drivers to stay sharp, watching the waves as well as the other boats.

Marathons are primarily for runabouts and the courses are at least 30 miles, in any configuration. It's the LeMans of stock outboard, an endurance race that leaves drivers sore and exhausted. Just to finish is a great accomplishment.

As you can see from this chart Stock Outboards are short and light. The relative speed can be exhilarating. Stock Outboard boasts APBA's greatest number of veterans. Stockers are the fiercest of all competitors. Racers range in age from 14 to 99 years and include some 3rd and 4th generation racers. Rivalries develop between drivers, classes and different regions, but when the racing is done for the day it is all put aside. You will never find a sport with more camaraderie. Half the fun is the people you race with and against week after week.

Get to a race near you and talk to the drivers. Catch the fever.

For free Stock Outboard promotional materials, go to www.raceboatpromotions.com

 

Photos by Roland Dechert, Schlotter Photos and others.