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Airboat Racing
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Published: October 4, 2006
Airboat racing is a burgeoning sport for a water-vessel that is gaining popularity all over the world. Its versatility makes it a force to be reckoned with. The propeller engine on the rear of the craft gives the boat something no other boat can boast about: it is an all-terrain vehicle.
Airboats can travel across land, water, ice, mud–you name it and it can pretty much be traversed by an airboat (except perhaps mountains and highly rocky areas). Airboat racing has not yet been picked up by the American Power Boat Association so it still remains relatively small. At the same time, even though it lacks a national constituency, government officials of numerous counties are allowing private landowners to conduct airboat races a few times a year, ostensibly giving airboat racing at least the chance to grow.
Running the propeller at tremendously high rpm's produces a lot of noise during airboat racing and is drawing criticism from townspeople in various communities. Some say that the loud noise of airboats creates an unpleasant albeit temporary noise pollution. Others bring up a quality of life argument. When used irresponsibly, airboats can be a nuisance because of sound and the high speeds of wind emitted from the propeller wash. Airboat racing cannot be done the same as racing regattas, their noise and wash are more than merely a nuisance to other people enjoying a lake, marsh, or river.
Privately owned and specifically designated areas are the best places for airboat racing. A permit will most likely be required due to the noise level from multiple airboats racing at a high rpm. Airboat racing can be dangerous, so practice safety precautions when going out to race. An airboat can reach speeds of over 135 miles per hour on a smooth surface, and can reach this in four seconds, or about an eighth of a mile. Drag racing is a popular style of airboat racing as well as course racing with obstacles, but this can be really dangerous as airboats slide across the water surface sometimes unpredictably due to the wind and waves.
There is a National Airboat Racing Association, but as of right now it does not have a website or offer much information on the internet. Airboat World Magazine, a publication for Airboaters, is complained about in internet forums as having mediocre content while rarely getting their magazines to the shelf on time. Local clubs and internet forums seem the best ways for those interested in airboating and airboat racing to communicate with each other and keep this fast paced sport growing.
Airboat FAQ. 1 Sept. 2001. American Airboat Association. 3 Oct. 2006 http://www.americanairboats.com/ab-FAQ.htm.
Southern Airboat. 3 Oct. 2006. SouthernAirboat.com. 3 Oct. 2006 http://www.southernairboat.com/.
Running the propeller at tremendously high rpm's produces a lot of noise during airboat racing and is drawing criticism from townspeople in various communities. Some say that the loud noise of airboats creates an unpleasant albeit temporary noise pollution. Others bring up a quality of life argument. When used irresponsibly, airboats can be a nuisance because of sound and the high speeds of wind emitted from the propeller wash. Airboat racing cannot be done the same as racing regattas, their noise and wash are more than merely a nuisance to other people enjoying a lake, marsh, or river.
Privately owned and specifically designated areas are the best places for airboat racing. A permit will most likely be required due to the noise level from multiple airboats racing at a high rpm. Airboat racing can be dangerous, so practice safety precautions when going out to race. An airboat can reach speeds of over 135 miles per hour on a smooth surface, and can reach this in four seconds, or about an eighth of a mile. Drag racing is a popular style of airboat racing as well as course racing with obstacles, but this can be really dangerous as airboats slide across the water surface sometimes unpredictably due to the wind and waves.
There is a National Airboat Racing Association, but as of right now it does not have a website or offer much information on the internet. Airboat World Magazine, a publication for Airboaters, is complained about in internet forums as having mediocre content while rarely getting their magazines to the shelf on time. Local clubs and internet forums seem the best ways for those interested in airboating and airboat racing to communicate with each other and keep this fast paced sport growing.
Airboat FAQ. 1 Sept. 2001. American Airboat Association. 3 Oct. 2006 http://www.americanairboats.com/ab-FAQ.htm.
Southern Airboat. 3 Oct. 2006. SouthernAirboat.com. 3 Oct. 2006 http://www.southernairboat.com/.
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