Thunderboats
 

I'm thinking about building a gas thunderboat. I've seen the insane zipp aeromarine are there any others out there? What about a dummy allison engine to cover up the gas engine? I want to do a replica of Miss Bardahl so it needs the exposed motor. Also anyone know a company that makes decal sets for those old boats? After running nitro cars for a number of years the idea of a gas motor and a fairly large gas motor sounds really cheap in the long run. And not really expensive initially either. I could have bought almost 3 of those Zenoah's for what I paid for the last modded engine I had in my top fuel rail. The ones I've seen running are on stock motors and they are plenty fast for an old guy like me to keep up with so no need to get extravagant on the motor. Although I will no doubt play around with it a bit myself. I think there are a few things they will allow you to do. I'll have to wait until after I get back from Phoenix in Nov to get started on it but I should have it finished up by spring. Doesn't really get that cold here in the winter so outside of a few weeks you could run boats year round.

Griz

RE: Thunderboats
 

Griz,There are a few places to get dummy engines for a thunderboat .Here is an Allison http://www.classichydros.com/ As far as graphics goes this place makes them at a reasonable price and if he doesn't have what you want on the site he'll do custom ones www.pgsignsofva.com

RE: Thunderboats
 

here you go mate.
[link]http://www.pgsignsofva.com/17%20Thunder%20boat%20decals.html[/link]

RE: Thunderboats
 

Hey Mart,

Good looking graphics. You gotta love a website with no pricing [sm=75_75.gif]

RE: Thunderboats
 

Griz, if you go to the Thunderboat registry over on JRCBD they list the maker of the hulls on most of them. There are a bunch of thunderboat manufacturers now. It's the hot class at the moment. As for the engines, I believe they have to be stone stock, no mods at all other than a 257 carb to be legal in the class. Of course if you just run for fun you can do whatever you want to the engine. Doug

RE: Thunderboats
 

Tony at whh hobbies makes a nice one.

RE: Thunderboats
 

The thunderboats to beat right now are the Greed (they have a glass version and a wood version) and the Blazer Marine Lauterbach. Both are known to run in the low 60s with a stock 260. The Lauterbach is slightly cheaper at 300 for the kit. But the 3 that were on the market sold for 1800, 2300, and 2500. The reason behind it was they can keep pace with a sport hydro running full mod 260s and they are just gorgeous.
Another option is the Feecraft. Like dwr9 said, there are quite a few MFG of thunderboat right now. So have fun shopping, ;).

RE: Thunderboats
 

I got mine from him- he is very reasonable. His graphic sets come with the dashboard panel and all of the little sponser stickers. Just shoot him an e-mail and ask.

RE: Thunderboats
 

Cant remember the exact price of those graphics off hand but as said hes very very reasonable.As for best thunderboat im biased but i say the zippkits are the best and at the price $179 for the kit cannot be beaten,also a wood hydro will be faster than glass as theyre so much lighter :D.Id be a bit sceptical about claims of a glass thunderoboat hitting 60+ with a stock zenoa too but i could be wrong:eek:.How about some video of this 60+ thunderboat with some numbers?,be good to see.
Mart
[link]http://www.zippkits.com/[/link]

RE: Thunderboats
 

Im right there with you Mart. 60+ is an incredible number for a stock engine. Theres really not THAT much difference in a Zipp and a GREED or Blazer. I just dont see someone pulling a stock motor from their 50mph Zipp it in a heavier Greed or Blazer and instantly gaining 10mph or more. The bottoms arent really any different and they arent any more aerodynamic...

Im only skeptable 'cause I have thunderboat with a full mod and Ive experienced the tuning and time nessicary to get it to run in the 60s, and it runs with other Sport Hydros competitively.
Please show me a video of a stock Zen thunderboat running over 60...not being smart, Id just love to see it and pick your brain!


Matt

RE: Thunderboats
 

Insane makes a very nice Thunderboat as well. Also keep in mind that if you do intend to race it you need to know if you will be doing IMPBA or NAMBA. They have slightly different rules mostly about the size of the hull.

And I'd love to see a 60 mph+ T-Boat as well.!!

RE: Thunderboats
 

Matt i had no trouble hitting 60 in mine with a full mod :D,only joking mate .I totally agree its not easy even with a full mod so heaven knows what work you would need to do to hit 60 with a stock motor never mind 60+ as was claimed [X(].Ive spoken to a few guys who have seen and run against these other types of hydros with a zipp and they all said the zipps were faster,the size of them and lightness compaired to some of those BIG hydros has to play a part.Ive no doubt 70 mph is possible from a zipp with a full mod and some serrious experimenting with props ,pipe length and such.
Mart
ps i see someone has used the zippkits rivett as the bases of a new glass hydro so it must be good ;)

RE: Thunderboats
 

Griz- to make a list of hull makers for you;
Insane
Zipp kits
Greed
Blazer Marine
Aeromarine Laminates
Warehouse Hobbies
Herzog
Speedcraft (just started making glass hulls)
I'm sure I may have missed one or two...and that is not to mention plans that are available to build your own from scratch.
Plenty to choose from, glass or wood.

RE: Thunderboats
 

For all of boat dock members, you shoulda seen this video over there already. In case you missed it, here you go.
[link]http://www.blazermarine.com/videos/Lauterbach42708.mpg[/link].
Do a search at JRCBD about the Lauterbach and it'll come up.
In this early testing video, the Lauterbach hit 59, with a bone stock Zen. I don't think Brian got any video of it running in the low 60+, but I could be wrong. Too bad he sold it before I can get the video of it running at higher speed.
Believe what you will, until you have to run against it. Seeing is believing, and I know I've seen it, in person. ;)
For all that don't know Brian's boats, all you have to do is look up the record book, both IMPBA and NAMBA.
For the Greed video, you might have to do a better search, or contact Greg.

RE: Thunderboats
 

thats pretty darn fast in that video for a stocker...well done.;)
matt

RE: Thunderboats
 

I was basing my post on the 30 or so that I have seen heat racing here in NAMBA District 19. I cannot recall seeing any of the Blazer T-boats. We have mostly Insane, Greed, Feecraft, and a couple others. They all seem to run high 50's in heat racing trim.

RE: Thunderboats
 

Brian only made 4-5 prototypes that were completed ealier this year. Its first race was the Celina Summer Challenge 08 and it took 1st and 2nd for the 2 Lauterbach that were in the race. I think it only went into production a couple months ago. And I got the first one ;).