Automotive engine airboats being called mini's

[chuckitt]

On SA, in the mini forum is a post about 4 cyl & 6 cyl automotive engines
being built for their mini airboats. I posted and stated that it should not be in
the mini forum. They should come up with a class for their high powered
little airboats and give them a name like we did. What do you think. Post
and let us know your opinons. Thanks, Chuck

[Papee]

That is why I created Mini Airboat Association, so the REAL MINI did not get lost in the struggle for more power. With a Mini Airboat it is not about power, it's about using small power efficiently. And I agree, they are the same as say a VW powered boat, just a fuel efficient small airboat.

[Randy Jr]

agreed no auto engines on mini's

[Spyda-Ryda]

I agree as well. Totally different classification.

[Snapper]

I already posted my piece on SA , and I would rather leave that mess over their .

[chuckitt]

If we had a class for the bigger motors, ( VW, Harley, Suburu, 4A084, 4 cyl
auto, and 4 cyl aircraft, What would the class be called? We know some
people are going to run them. What do yall think. Chuck

[av8or]

I think ya should call them little airboats that are mini wanabes. I would be proud to be a wanabe. Just to damn fat to do what I want in a true mini and think I would be safer wit a little thicker metal under me. Call us what ya will, we will all be playing together. I don't need a title or class to belong to....if that were important, I know the defination and would live by them. I am just looking for a safe, fun, afordable way to have some breeze on my knees and not be up in the air on a lawn chair....have been there and done that, was great, but now I am here wanting to do this. I love water, the sound of a prop spinning, and the thought of getting some good fishing in. Maybe even learn to gig a frog or two. Looking forward to joining a great bunch of people of like interest as I enjoyed in aviation for many years.

John

[Randy Jr]

amen i think thats how everybody feels about it...... Do assosciations have to become legal somehow so everyone has to follow the rules? or what how dose it work?

[Papee]

Randy we are forming an "association", we adopt a set of rules and anyone who wants to participate in an "association" event has to follow these rules or guidelines to be eligible for any trophies or prizes for that event. If there is a points system in place only "association" sanctioned events may count toward the points total. This does not mean these rules are law and anyone can do or call their boat anything they want including a mini, they just cannot be included in the "association" events if not following the guidelines set up by the "association". We set up these guidelines hoping that others would agree and build a boat that follows these guides to participate it these events. I have been blamed for wanting to "control" this "association". I am not trying to control anything, just trying to promote a new hobby and get other people together with like ideas. There is no money in "controlling" this, in fact I have been spending my own money to promote this new hobby.

I formed the founding members group to help decide what modifications would be set forward to a public vote if these is a need to amend the guidelines for determining the description of a mini airboat. Eventually, I hope that many people belong to the association, not just people who have computers but also people that go to shows and sign up by filling out a form at a show. If there is this association, as things come up we can address them as group, club, or "association". I am just looking ahead, I spend a lot of time working on mini's, my own and friends. I tend to stick with the low budget boats using direct drive. For me it is the challenge in getting a boat to work with as least hp possible.

Thank you for that question.

[Randy Jr]

so basicly what your saying is now we have to get bigger and.. save up enough money to host an event... correct?

[chuckitt]

Someone had suggested a super mini class. What does everone think of:
Class 1: Mini Airboat the way it is now.
Class 2: Super Mini, 2 cyl- 1001 to 1400 cc, 3 or more cyl- 751 to 1400 cc.
Class 3: Max Mini, 1401 to 2000 cc, and that would be the maximum size
for any mini classification.
Everone has to have a place to belong without fear of being out-classed.
As a boat builder, I have to build what the customer wants and what the
market will support. Let me here what everyone thinks and we can put it to
a vote. Thanks, Chuck

[Papee]

so basically what your saying is now we have to get bigger and.. save up enough money to host an event... correct?

We don't necessarily have to host the event, just provide the trophies and prizes for the mini airboats classes.

[Papee]

Someone had suggested a super mini class. What does everone think of:
Class 1: Mini Airboat the way it is now.
Class 2: Super Mini, 2 cyl- 1001 to 1400 cc, 3 or more cyl- 751 to 1400 cc.
Class 3: Max Mini, 1401 to 2000 cc, and that would be the maximum size
for any mini classification.
Everone has to have a place to belong without fear of being out-classed.
As a boat builder, I have to build what the customer wants and what the
market will support. Let me here what everyone thinks and we can put it to
a vote. Thanks, Chuck

I think you have it about right Chuck if that covers some of these 4cyl motors.

[Spyda-Ryda]

This seems to have become a major issue in the quest to promote the mini. In my opinion, it's a touchy subject. For example, I just got off the phone with Steve Beaty of Airscrew Performance in Glendale, Arizona. I was inquiring about the 583 rotax. Wich if I understood correctly is approx 580cc and puts out 97 hp(2 cyl.). That motor probably weighs about the same or less than a 40 kohler. Basically if Chuck was to put that engine on one of his mini's do you guys think that powerplant and his existing set-up should be in the same class?? I think there would have to be several different classifications. I would look more towards the horsepower rating to determine how they would classify rather than prop diameter or the above mentioned cc specs. I'm not knocking you for suggesting that Papee, I'm just saying that I think that would be leaving the classes far too open or vague if you will... Just my two cents. Although, I do agree with using engine size over prop size.

[Spyda-Ryda]

oops! Sorry Papee and Chuck. I forgot that Chuck was the person who suggested those clases. But regardless, do you guys see where I'm coming from with that? I think the first class is too broad. It makes no difference to me because I don't plan to show or race my boat, but... I'm just looking ahead for others that will someday.

[chuckitt]

Thanks Spyda-Ryda, It's members like you that help us to get things sorted
out. What I made was a suggestion to try and get things going so everyone
that builds a mini would have a clasification to be in. I think as far as the
boat shows, the rotax 2 cyl is OK in the mini class. It is smaller and produces
more HP but it also cost more. Most of the judging at shows is based on
quality of the build anyway. Knowone has talked about racing classes at this
time but I know they will. If racing comes up we will have to decide if we just
go by engine size are weight the boat are whatever. I am fine with the rotax
being classed as a Class 1 Mini Airboat. The market is still small but growing
as more of the non-beleavers see the results of the Mini's. I know we will
have to make some rule changes as time goes by and that can be done by
voting. If anyone thinks the size of the engines should be different, then
please post. Thank You, Chuck

[Spyda-Ryda]

Ok, works for me if it works for you guys too. I just wanted to make sure that everyone would keep that in mind.

[Lester Burch]

chuckitt wrote:
Someone had suggested a super mini class. What does everone think of:
Class 1: Mini Airboat the way it is now.
Class 2: Super Mini, 2 cyl- 1001 to 1400 cc, 3 or more cyl- 751 to 1400 cc.
Class 3: Max Mini, 1401 to 2000 cc, and that would be the maximum size
for any mini classification.
Everone has to have a place to belong without fear of being out-classed.
As a boat builder, I have to build what the customer wants and what the
market will support. Let me here what everyone thinks and we can put it to
a vote. Thanks, Chuck

That looks good to me with the max at 2000 cc .
Lester Burch

[Randy Jr]

i would put my 2 cents in but i dont have enough exp.. with small engines to know the CC's of all the possable engines.. so i dont know witch engines we're talking about as far as cc's so im just gona have to agree with the people that know all the possiable engines that could be used roughly in cc. vs. hp.. how many cc's dose it take to make 1hp...?

[chuckitt]

This is the Mini Airboat Assoc.. I think we should take a primary vote on the suggested classes for the mini's and maybe
this would bring up some more suggestions. What do you think? We could start the voting on June 1st and let it run till
June 30th. That should give everyone a chance to vote or post their comments. After the primary vote, we could take
2 weeks to discuss the outcome and have a final vote to run from July 15 to July 31st. What dose everyone think?
Hey Papee, could you set up a voting format? Thanks, Chuck