I have yet to see a gas mono run 89 MPH in a SAW, and still have some left.

Good point !!

Not taking anything away from the 89 mph pass, but it was not a NAMBA-legal boat. IIRC it had 40% more power than the top NAMBA FE class allows. He couldn't run faster because he destroyed his ESC and couldn't make backup passes. I believe that a competition-legal FE mono can run 80+ mph with the right setup. We will see what happens at the SAWs in Valdosta next month.




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Electrics now have the power of internal combustion engines at less weight for normal heat racing. In fact, the new NAMBA rules allow electrics with over 20 hp. The classes will probably need to be adjusted in the future, and electric racers are looking for ways to make less expensive power units equal to the high end power plants. As an example, my new classic thunderboat complete will cost less than the motor, batteries, and speed control of my 33 inch electric mono. The thunderboat will also run for a very long time on a 250 cc IV bag. Don't start selling your gas engines yet.

Lohring Miller

But Lohring, FE boats now run 1-mile heats and a mill lap with ease - so the "longer run time" of fuel boats is of no consequence in competition. Perhaps we need to make longer heats to even the field?

There is certainly room for both fuel and FE in this hobby, and no need for anyone to feel forced to change.....


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Although FE boats aren't my cup of tea I still have to give them the respect that they deserve. I'm clueless as to what all of those numbers mean plus the battery technology has really advanced the past few years.
At the Gas Nat's I was vey impressed with Steve Reesor's boats and to top it off, he's a really nice guy as I had the pleasure of talking to him for a little while. Anyone who's met Paul knows what a blast he can be also.
I've been to one FE race, the Michigan Cup when it was still in Lansing and had fun there with those in attendance. There used to be the Great Lakes Scale Ship Regatta literally 2 miles down the street from my home and have gone to 3 events that they've held. Yeah, they're slow but the boats are well detailed, enough where they'd drive most of us to drink trying to pull off what they do. Try driving your boat through a course with buoys barely wider than your boat and not hit one or pilot your boat through the same course with your back to the pond while someone else tells you when to turn, slow down, speed up or stop.
We're all in the same but yet different boat so just enjoy whaty we do but at the same time see what others are doing also, you might just be amazed.

Electrics are now very competitive in heat racing. I have 3 electric monos and plan to add a rigger soon. Most electrics are now faster than similar nitro boats. They have dominated SAW racing for years. This illustrates the improved battery technology. However, I watched a one hour gas marathon where a team's boat broke a shaft so they ran the other boat for 20 minutes at full throttle. Years ago I won the open marathon class with a slower gas cat against nitro monos and cats. The nitro boats couldn't run for 10 minutes. It's very hard to beat gasoline as an energy storage medium.

Lohring Miller

I ran supercat from eddie barnes and a laser 45 , they where awsome I got 54 mph from the laser at the most. I had to sell because noise problems at the lakes. Now I have a M1 supercat 36" 60mph and a BBY rigger 34" 70mph. If speed is your thing go for Fast Electric. If you need economy go for gas.

I miss the large size of the gas hulls. I want to get a large notro rigger for electric conversion . Please help me with this if you can.

Also gas is cheap, nitro is expensive and batteries are +_ expensive but you can use the same packs on different boats. And now there are cell that can be charge fast.

I tell you if you are going for runtime you have to run at 40 - 45 mph if you go for more that 50 mph maybe youll get 5 to 6 min. but if you go 60 to 80 4 or 3 at the most.

For me, I had no option but to switch. (green stuff) clean and silent.

THX ;D


Leon G