| Predator Jetboats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This an exciting form of jetboating that can be done for relatively little cost. My thanks to Frosty for the runs and drive in his boat. The Predator class is designed to put all drivers in similar performance boats, so that competition is decided by driver skills rather than the tune of the boat. The sport is controlled by the PredatorJET Club and contact can be made as follows
The boats are manufactured by Triangle Marine, Henderson (Doug Dingle). The basic idea of the club is to eliminate all variables except the driver - ie, a deep chequebook does not create a winner - all boats are as equal as possible, and are strictly policed so that it does not change. At our official sprints, we often have seven or eight boats within 1 second (electronic timing). We hold a minimum of 10 sprints per year, and hold 10 or more social events as well, interspersed throughout the year. The emphasis is on inexpensive fun, the cheapest motorsport I have ever done! There are no brakes, clutches or tyres to wear out, the only maintenance being a plastic wear-ring between the impeller and the housing (protection for both). As this wears with use, it is replaced, taking around 2 minutes. This is only done about 2 times a year (more if you run through rocks) and cost less than $10 each. During a sprint meeting, each driver uses less than $10 worth of 96 pump gas for the day. (You use more getting to and from the venue). These boats are very versatile - sprint one day, go fishing the next, waterski the next, river run and riding rapids the next, hunting backcountry, just pure fun - and nothing is changed from one use to the next, with minimal maintenance in between. Then at the next sprint, it is just as competitive - the most fun you can have with your clothes on! Only 1 type of engine jet unit and hull is allowed. No engine, hull, or jet unit modifications are allowed and this is strictly monitored. This ensures very reliable boats with minimal maintenance required. The idea is that you can bolt a motor bought from a wrecker straight into the boat and go racing. This of course leads to very close racing. The racing is jetsprint format and can be held in shallow water around sand banks or in deeper water around buoys. Apart from close racing the sport allows whole families to take part if they wish including Mum Dad and the Kids. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 The Cookes Boat owned by Lianne and Ross Cartwright.  Frosty (Robert Frost -- Junior) and myself after a blast. THANKS Frosty  Frosty's Boat  Frosty's Engine. These boats are really quite simple and immaculately presented.  Nissan Engine  Coggan Jet unit  A Typical club day.  Lianne and Ross Cartwright in Action | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||