The History of Offshore Powerboat Racing
Offshore powerboat racing was first recognized as a sport in 1904. A race took place across the English Channel. Soon after, the American Powerboat Association formed in the United States. The first U.S. powerboat race was held on the Hudson in 1904. Over the next few years, the sport increased in popularity, with 10 different races being held during the 1917 season. In the 1980s, the sport entered the catamaran and then the "superboat" era. The 1000 cubic inch total engine displacement restrictions were lifted for boats over 45 feet, and soon, 3- & 4-engine boats sporting F16 fighter canopties replace the venerable 35- to 40-foot deep vee hulls that had been the sports top category for 20 years. Modern races are short, track style events with much improved viewing for spectators and the different categories of boats have multiplied far beyond the basic 4 classes of the past.
Powerboat Fun Facts
1. Many powerboats are driven by a high-speed jet of water as opposed to a propeller screw.
2. The design of a catamaran powerboat is based on geometry and not weight. Since they have two hulls, they are very stable. That's why they are so difficult to tip and the likelihood of having an accident is much less.
3. Power catamarans come equipped with at least 2 engines. They bring together the best features of powerboats and multi-hulled ships.
4. In the 1920s, racing boats adopted "planing hulls" for skimming across the water at high speeds, rather than traditional deep v-shaped "displacement" hulls.
5. Post World War I, metals and fiberglass became more popular materials for building boat hulls, as opposed to wood.
6. The fastest powerboats can speed over 200 miles per hour.
7. As of 2007, all powerboats are required to have a protective crash box installed for safety.
8. F1 powerboats are actually tunnel hull catamarans that usually have a weight of around 860 lbs, 260 lbs of which is from the engine.
9. During the Prohibition, fast boats were used as "rum runners" transferring illegal liquor from larger vessels waiting outside U.S. territorial waters to the mainland.
Come check out all the catamarans and other powerboats at Super Cat Fest at Camden on the Lake! Our race dock outfitted with a Lake of the Ozarks Galva-Hoist boat lift, work platform and the class act WindShip helo parking up top will be there all weekend long. If you like big, beautiful, fast boats, Super Cat Fest at Camden on the Lake is the place to be this weekend! The best boat lift dealer at Lake of the Ozarks hopes to see you there!
1165 Jeffries Road Osage Beach, MO 65065
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