Saving Old Seagulls

Modification Standards for Racing Classes

I think it's time there was some discussion about the racing classes & modification limits

Our standards here in NZ are based around the well established 'Waikato River race'

http://www.seagulloutboard.com/1_10_Waikato-River.html

Questions;
* Should the modified class be limited to genuine seagull parts only or should it be an open slather
* What about a new modified class for anything vaguely seagull or with seagull parts goes?
* How standard does a standard motor have to be? props/cav plates/internals

Opinion;
* I think accommodation of new people to 'have a go' is paramount
* It's good to encourage innovation & experimentation. Some people are into hulls, others engines, or props

Rex

Hi Rex

Having looked at your rules, it looks like you have most things covered.

It is a shame that we can't make more use of similar rules in the UK.

My only thought with my very limited racing experience, is that unmodified should mean unmodified.
No anti ventilation plate and no prop enhancements.

There are other classes to progress in to, but totally unmodified should be the easiest class to start in.

H-A

Rex
I do have some involvement with the current Waikato rule change discussion & I'm sure JC with furnish you all with a summary of the current fisticuffs.

As your question is a bit ill timed, your not going to get an answer till we can come up with worthwile proposals.

So please be patient, there is loads of time till Easter saturday.

In my opinion the dinghy classes are for stock engines,

* anti cav plates give sod-all benefit look really butt ugly, &
* the OEM spring drive together with any clunky OEM prop (no modern conversions).

Propose standardized tests for 'stock standard' engines;
* rod thru the back pressure relief holes to test for exhaust mods, &
* depth measure (high & low) thru the spark plug hole looking for high comp head/planed block/thinned gasket/ piston mods/re-stoking/other
* poke an endoscope thru the carb into the crankcase to look for mods.

Rex

Rex nobody wants to scrutineer anybody, all this should be done on trust, No Cash Prizes.

The only scrutineering done at present is for safety.

Cav plates have a value on hulls with rocker as they work like a trim tab & keep the hull at the right angle of attack, not everyone wants to spend a fortune on a perfect hull or has the ability to build one, you can't disadvantage them!

Charles it sounds like what is required is "sportsmanship" like, conduct and behavour.

Your joking this is all about going faster than everybody else by fair means or foul!

Just tiding up some of the casting dags, a litle polishing here and there and aligning the ports seems to make a big difference. I wonder if this is classed as a modification. More like blueprinting, I reckon.

It's not classified at all, until someone knows about it!