Stuart Field investigates the deliciously tempting world of affordable race boats . . .

Throughout history, the Scandinavians have displayed a strong affinity with boats. Come to think of it, they have also exhibited a rare ability to load quite diminutive craft with crew and provisions, before crossing extremely inhospitable seas to pillage unsuspecting nations and return safely home with their spoils.

Fortunately, things have changed and the Nordic nations seem content to savour their remarkably high standard of living while peacefully trading with the rest of the world. But somewhere along the way, they have become acute petrol heads, developing an almost supernatural ability to design fast boats, aircraft and cars. Remarkably, despite their small populations, they have also endowed the planet with a disproportionate number of people able to get rally cars through snowy forests at horrendous speeds, drive F1 cars to podium places on the world’s circuits, and design and pilot (very successful) race boats. But perhaps the marine success of the Scandinavians, the greatest boat owning nations on earth, is down to their kids learning to handle powerboats almost as soon as they can walk - which brings us in a characteristically roundabout way to the heart of this story . . .

The Scandinavian speed fetish
The inherent ability of Scandinavian designers to produce extremely efficient fast craft has been demonstrated for decades. From the easy-running and stable Witt hulls of the 1970s to the remarkable Ocke Manefeld ‘Bat boats’, the awesome Goldfish RIBs, the sophisticated Nimbus and Storboro cruisers, and the fast ferries of today - there has always been a constant stream of very efficient Nordic designs reaching our shores.

Significantly, a similar tradition was established long ago in the UK by legendary boat builders such as Fletcher, Shakespeare, Ring, Phantom, Stapeley and Sorcerer. These people conceived and built small, sporty and affordable craft designed to perform on the low horsepower engines of the day. Remarkably, many of these craft are not only still running but have changed hands many times, thus introducing countless new people to powerboating over the decades. Inevitably a great many fans of these extremely efficient boats began to race them competitively, providing a training ground for young drivers and a sound basis for many of the fast craft we see today.

But just getting a foot on the ladder of any motorsport, including powerboat racing, can be extremely expensive. Even the remarkably popular and successful Formula 4-stroke craft represent an investment that is beyond the average family. There are quite a number of opportunities for youngsters to sample motocross, go-karting or even quad racing at a budget equivalent to that of an affordable used car, but in the powerboating world it’s probably fair to say that, up until now, only Zap Cat and Caesar Cat racing could be entered at a similar budget. And so, in a bid to encourage young people into powerboating and sports boat racing, new starter classes are being introduced under the auspices of the RYA and the UIM.

New ‘green’ race classes
A perfect example of affordable race boats are the delightful little monohulls you see here. Designed by Winrace in Norway and built here under license by FSG Composites, they currently fall into the existing JT250 class, using 15 and 30hp two-stroke engines - and in this form have been racing in Europe and Scandinavia for four or five years.

However the UIM and RYA are eager to promote new GT15 & GT30 class boats using ‘green’ engines which meet the RCD’s tough emission regs. The proposal is that the new GT30 boats should run with Evinrude’s 30hp E-Tec engines and identical props but, under existing rules, the GT15 boats would be able to race with any ‘green’ engine. That means a choice of direct injection two-strokes such as the new Evinrude E-tec 15 or lightweight four-strokes from competitive makers such as Suzuki, Yamaha, Tohatsu, Mercury or Mariner. Now that should put the cat among the pigeons.

The boats themselves, 3.9-metre ‘wing boats’, very similar in concept to the famous offshore Bat Boats, are light, easy to handle, exhilarating, safe and yet remarkably affordable. With 15hp astern, they can reach 40mph and with 30hp on the transom, you can expect 50mph - far quicker than classic deep-V monohulls of a similar length.

A hull for your kids and your mum
The GT15 and GT30 hulls are identical, allowing new boaters as young as nine to cut their teeth in GT15 boats. Then, on reaching 14, they can fit a 30hp engine and race in the GT30 class without changing boats. And this is where the affordability of these race classes really comes into play. You can buy a hull for just £2,000 and rig it yourself or, if you feel lazy, you can get a ‘ready-to-race’ GT30 for under £6,000.

You will have to find your own trailer but that’s still cheaper than some personal watercraft and a 15hp JT250 boat, ready-to-race, is even cheaper. It means that if you put off changing your car for a year, you can get your ambitious little ankle biters on the ladder to a lifetime of boating bliss.
Another big bonus of getting into GT15 or GT30 racing is that (physically) your kids are not going to outgrow their boats, so you won’t have to update the machinery every season. And when racing is over, there will be a lot of mums and dads, possibly even grandpas, eager to get behind the wheel.
A complete GT30 boat is such good value and so light to tow, they will also appeal to those looking for a small craft purely for fun. I’ve been around for a millennium or so and I am happy to affirm that there really isn’t much else out there that offers so much power-driven joy at such little cost.

Contact
Powertech Marine: 02392 637222
www.powertechmarine.com