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the Electric Boat Association The Journal o~Afflliated with EVA)

F8 DESiGN sri Via {Xv Aprt~e. 38 22040 Annone Brianza (CO) Italy lel 0341577195 lax 577492 lelex 322819 COd. fisc.!n. part. iva 01805830138 cciaa 218088 reg. soc. 105541rib. Lecco

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gs answer to Lady Arran CRIJI>G GL E C T/r'C W/III MOIr l£ AM£) POLL"r~o,y l! (See page 7) ==~-- .. BELATRON BATTERY RHAPSODY IN BLUE CHARGERS

The unique features of Belatron Chargen make them the Ideal choice for battery powered boats, giving optimum charge In all circumstances

• Stabilised agaInst the effects of maIns voltage fluctuatIons.

• Very low current drawn from maIns due to specIal transformer desIgn gIves best chargIng economy. • • Reduced toppIng-up .

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FROM:

left: Hell ley Slipper Lnllllch For further informatiol1 011 our range of electric laun ches please col1tact: ~ BENNING UK The Old Foundry . Ludham . Norfolk NR29 5QD Oakley House, Hogwood Lane. Flnchampstead. Telephone: 069262745 Telefax: 069262312 Bertcs. RG11 4OW. Thames Office: 0932858730 Telefax : 0932821852 Tel: 0734 731506. Fax: 0734 731508.

IIJLTIJN

E. C. CONNECTORS CO. LTD. E. C. CONNECTORS CO. LTD. PEGASUS WORKS, 6 HAINGE ROAD, . 329 FRONT LANE, TIVIDALE, WARLEY, UPMINSTER, ESSEX RM14 1LW. WEST MIDLANDS B69 2NB. Tel: (04022) 24323. Tel : 0215224112. Fax: (04022) 21191 . Fax : 021 5224174. Speed Controllers from Curtis ELECTRONIC CONTROL YOUR CAPTAIN'S CHOICE SYSTEMS FOR ELECTRIC LAUNCHES AND NARROW BOATS From 125 Amps to 600 Amps From 24V to 120V ELECTRONIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT FOR: ON THE GRAND UNION CANAL ELECTRIC BOATS, MINING LOCO'S, FORK­ OR THE NORFOLK BROADS TRUCKS, MILKFLOATS AND ALL D.C. POWERED ELECTRIC VEHICLES. AGENTS FOR : SEVCON TECH/ OPS LTD., ANDERSON POWER PRODUCTS (Battery Connectors), REMA BATTERY CONNECTORS.

REPAIRS TO CONTROL EQUIPMENT CARRIED OUT IN OUR OWN FACTORIES INCLUDING: SEVCON, CABLEFORM, GENERAL ELECTRIC and LANSING BAGNALl.

~ CASTLE NARROWi-BOATS CABLEFORM USE SEVCON ELECTRONIC ~ SERVICE ~ CONTROLLERS- WORLD LEADERS IN DC MOTOR ~ CENTRE / SPEED CONTROLLERS Supplied by COLTON Cur'l1s Instruments (U.K.) lld , 51 Gratton Street, Northampton ~ [URTIS NNl 2NT Tel " (0604) 29755. Telelax: (0604) 29876 This Magazine has ~n published thanks to sponsorship from she following: •••••••• I:r!WA3#1jJ.

Rear-AdmIral P. D. Glck LDHAIW Old ham Crompton BatterIes Ltd. Steam & ElectrIc Launch Company ramptDn Harwln ElectronIcs B.M.I.F. I "Motorboats Monthly" L.D.A. Curtls Instruments BennlnglUKI Ltd. BrItIsh Waterways Hambleden MJIJ MarIna Specialists in E. C. Connectors Co. Ltd. Eastern ElectrIcity MARINE Blue BIrd of Chelsea BABS-MotorGulde ELECTRIC POWER Please note British Marine Industries Federation's new address is: Meadlake Place, Th orpe Lea Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 SHE.

N.B. We are lookIng for further sponsors. Why With a variety of monoblocs and traction cells we can not contact the EdItor for our most reasonable provide you with whatever electric power you need to rates? drive your boat majestically through the water. We can Telephone: 081-450 2219 also provide you with a charger as a package deal.

MORE THAN A REOUEST

"Electric Boat News" is the quarterly journal of the Electric Boat Association. To ensure its continued positivI benefit for both EBA members and on the boatinghlectric vehicle industries. YOU are asked to regularly consider SENDING IN any felevant information for publication. We If. always looking for For further details: reports (from the manufacturers) on th.latest boat. motor, battery, controller. charger or accessory. W. welcome instructive articles about electrifying and fitting out. particular boat (wrinen up by the owner Oldham Crompton Batteries Ltd. or his boatyard); regional progress reports. home and abroad (from those Ictive in thlt locality); reports on rlllies. rlces and records (sent in by orglnisers. sponsors or competitors); leners of constructive Edward Street, Denton, Manchester M34 3AT. criticism: historical articles and ideas for the futur.] these Ir. always of interest. PlelSe. therefore. send Tel: 061-335 0999. Fax: 061-335 0020. your contributions (500 words max.) with It least one photograph. to Th. Editor. Electric Boat News. Fairfield House. 122 Olive Road. London NW2 6UU. England. Thank you.

HAMBLEDEN MILL MARINA Gibbs Marine Sales MILL END, HENLEY-ON-THAMES, CHANDLERY : BOAT SALES: MOORINGS : SLIPWAY OXON. RG9 3AY. Russell Road, Shepperton, Middlesex TW17 9HY Telephone: Henley 571316. Tel: 0932 242977/220926. Fax: 0932 222817. The Thames agent for BAYCRUISER 16 The new Baycruiser 16 brings a sense The Steam & Electric Launch Company of the exotic to the quiet waters of the river. The lavishly appointed Baycruiser 16 will thoroughly entertain your guests. Two separate ice chests provide an abundance of chilled refreshments. Running lights, overhead interior light and enterance lighting for those romantic evening cruises. Its unique lapstake hull, nautical rope moulding and colourful Surrey canopy will fill you with nostalgia. The low maintenance, non­ skid flooring and deck are surrounded ~~rn~~:;~~~~i ~h~~fi~;-;:~:~f:d';nh: pedestal, complete with a solid teak tray with drinks holders for the Price: Baycruiser 16 from Captain. A pedestal mounted table £9,995.00 + V A T centrally located for the convenience of your guests.

PARTY BOAT 15 THE NEW DELTIC ELECTRIC CRUISER The Party Boat 15 is our most popular boat. Constructed with an eye for 2kw motor gives up to 16 hours cruise between charges. detail, safety and comfort. Cruise on Fuel costs about £1 per 16 hours or .06p per hour. it, fish, entertain and enjoy all the nice pleasures of quiet water. It can be Completely silent in operation. very romantic on a special summers night. The large one-piece, fibreglass, Large cockpit and comfortable cabin. double pontoon hull provides maximum stability. Moulded non­ 2 + 2 berths, full facilities, Toilet. skid decking makes boarding easy. The spacious deck has two full length From £21,737.00 including VAT. cushlon ed bench seat s and a Captain's chair at the hel m. Sole Agent: Colourful canvas available in a wide array of decorator colours. Stainless HAMBLEDEN MILL MARINA steel deck stanchions, canopy frame MILL END and entry gates. Extensive use of teak HENLEY -ON -THAMES wood accessories a nd trim. A mah ogan y ships wheel adds a OXON RG93AY. nautical touch, an overhead dome Price: Pany Boat 15 from ~.:..:::...:::..:::..::...:~R.:.:I:..::E:..::.S Telephone: 0491 571316. light sets the mood for a n evening of fun. £10,995,00 + VAT

Page 2 Electric Boa t News: Spring 1992 The Journal of the ElectrIc Boat AssociatIon Volume 5 : Number 1 : Spring 1992

Chairman/Editor: Kevin Desmond, "Fairfield", 122 Olive Road, London NW2 6UU. Membership Secretary/ Treasurer: Fraser Brown, c/o The Mouse Hole, Abbey Road, Knaresborough HG5 SHX. Chairman (Users' Group): Edward Hawthorne, "Waters Edge", Riversdale, Bourne End, Bucks. SL8 5EB .

Front Cover: Fabio Buzzi has take n up Kevin Desmond's "gauntlet" and has 8ent the EBA draft plans of hi8 record attempt craft.

OUR CALENDAR FOR May 23-25th: IWA NATIONAL August 16th: LOWER THAMES 1992 TRAILBOAT RALLY, Taunton. ELECTRIC BOAT RALLY. (Sunday). (Saturday-Monday). This is the first down river rally and This year is the tenth annivers­ The Rally is part of the West Country will be held on the Thames Ditton bank ary of the founding of the EBA. Waterways Festival being held to just downstream of the mouth of the The electric boat scene has celebrate the restoration of the River Mole opposite Hampton Court. changed dramatically over these Bridgewater and Taunton Canal. The (see Nicholson's Guide, page 117). years and there are more events rally is part trade and part private. Bring your own picnic. Contact Roger this year than ever. It will be well Emrhys Barrell, of Thames Electric Richardson (081-977-7921) for details Launch Co. will have a stand and, on and booking form. worth coming to meet other the water, one of his electric boats. We members and see the types of need some members to be on the stand August 29-31st: IWA NATIONAL electric boats now in use. to represent the EBA and stimulate WATERW AYS FESTIVAL, Wake field interest in electric boats. Better still, (Saturday-Monday). why not take your electric boat and join Last year 385,000 people visited the in the rally on the water? Black Country Rally and this year's Please contact Emrhys Barrell on rally should be as good. EBA will have (0491-873126). If taking a boat, book a stand. Trade Members interested in your berth with Richard Halliwell taking space please contact Gillian (IWA organiser), 0823-331522. Nahum (0491-579383). Will some members please help out on the stand June 14th: FIFTH WARGRAVE and/ or take your own boat. Contact ELECTRIC BOAT RALLY and 10th Gillian on Henley 0491 -578870. ANNIVERSARY of the ELECTRIC BOAT ASSOCIATION. (Sunday). To be held this year at the September 5th: COOKAM RE­ Why not g ive your boat an EBA pe nnant? The price, GATTA (Saturday). including postage a nd packing is£ 9.50 Please make Remenham Club halfway up the cheques payable to Electric Boat Association and Henley Regatta course. The rally will Last year there were 17 electric boats send to Fraser Brown The Mouse Hole, Abbey Road, also celebrate the 10th Anniversary of in the sail past at Cookham Regatta. Knaresborough HG5 BHX. the founding of the EBA. The Can we do better this year! There will President will present the Emsworth be an EBA Stand. Details from April 10th: River Thames Society/ Trophy, Lady Marjorie St. Davids will Edward Hawthorne (0628-521606). EBA Lecture "ELECTRIC BOATS­ present The St. Davids Trophy to the PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE". winner of the EBA Design Competition The National Motorboat Museum at Paul Wagstaffe, Chief Executive, and Ken Barge will present the Pitsea, Essex is looking for exhibits BMIF. Wargrave Trophy. to represent electric boats .. . motors, Liston Hall, Marlow. 8 p.m. Members Meet at 12.30 at Remenham Club by batteries, etc. Anything connected £2.00; Non-members £2.50. boat or car. Bring your own picnic. with electric boats most welcome. Contact Ms. K. Cuthbert, 0628- Contact Peter Butler (0732-403614) for Contact: David Standen 0268 550088 522975. further information and booking form.

EARLS COURT '92 business. Lots if enqmnes, and Thames Electric Launch Company subject to contact they sold the who not only exhibited their Recalling a time, less then five Frolic 31, a 21 to Norway and a Voltaire 18, a picture of the years ago, where our Association Frolic to Thames. Possibly 10 Voltaire 16 and the surprise wondered whether it could make its Mystics to a hirefleet operator. Electric Ranger 13ft, but also presence felt by squeezing onto showed themselves agents for both Stand 66B was taken by Gibbs Combi and MinnKota electric somebody's else's stand, it was Marine Sales, with their Bay­ encouraging to note that no less outboards. Emrhys Barrell of cruiser 14 and Baycruiser 16, and a TELCO told us: than 9 electric boats, divided onto Party Boat 12, dressed with a fo ur company stands were being "The hull is made by Outhill bottle-green livery. We were Boats from Studley, Warwickshire exhibited. Three of these shared a pleased to see that one of them little enclave on the Ground Level: as the Ranger 380. Then we sported our EBA bergee. developed the steering wheel Stand 66F was taken by Steam Stand 66D was taken by the Continued on page 6. and Electric Launch Company, with their Deltic, their Frolic 21 Produced by Caversham Lithographic Studios, and their Mystic. Although 16a Bridge Street, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire RG4 8AA. smaller than the Stand they took in Tel: 0734 481086 & 470415. Fax: 0734 484775. 1991, they probably did more

Electric Boat News : Spring 1992 Page 3 More than just a record ...

On the bitterly cold weekend of received the support of MotorGuide Race Control on the northern November 9th/ 10th, MotorGuide in America, Thanetcraft Ltd shore. These averaged from 27 up Challenger, a 17ft aluminium (Alustar agents), Stow Marine to 31 minutes, although various Alustar-52 equipped with twin (electronic log manufacturers). little hiccups - such as weed, an MotorGuide Stealth 350V out­ and Oldham-Crompton Batteries engine coming loose, or picking up boards, created a non-stop Twenty­ Ltd. Business pressure and an the anchor rope of a buoy tended to Four Endurance Record of 80.2 accident in which he cracked a give odd laps above 35 minutes. miles around a Measured Course couple of ribs, delayed Johnson's on the Welsh Harp Lake, North bid. Keeping going through the night London. Its twenty, 6-volt lead­ was a gruelling challenge in itself. But with an offer of help from As the course marker buoys were acid batteries (Oldham Crompton Johnson's friend John Baker, just 3KQII) were not re-charged not illuminated, relay crews oftwo fourteen days before the scheduled tended to sight on the lights from of through the full-day period. attempt, things looked better. MotorGuide Challenger was different buildings - JVC on the Ironically, it was not until 10 easterly down run and the domes of driven in three-lap relays by a o'clock on the morning of 9th seven-strong team, three of them Wembley Stadium on the westerly November that with the Alustar, return. At 8' oclock, the Federation teenagers from the Solihull-based the batteries, the log and the "Youth Afloat" Centre. of Wembley Sailing Clubs held outboards being delivered from their "Guy Fawkes night" so that Although a 23-Hour Endurance Teddington, Manchester, Water­ those on board were entertained Record of 101 miles was esta­ looville and Redditch respectively, with a bonfire and a fine display of blished on the Norfolk Broads in that the MotorGuide Challenger fireworks. From midnight, whilst 1986 by one of the Steam & Electric came into being. (She ceased to the bonfire died down, the Launch Company's Frolic 21 's, exist in as many minutes after the MotorGuide Challenger con­ this was achieved with an inboard run had been completed and tinued to cruise through mist­ motor. The Motorguide Chal­ therefore had a total life of 25 shrouded mirror-calm water, with lenger's 80.2 mile-Record is to be hours!) the temperature dropping steadily considered the first in the to below zero. Those out on that Outboard Class. In December 1987, North-West London lake were a distance of 19 miles was perhaps sustained by a magnifi­ established on the canal at Little cent starry sky and the thought Venice by a Wolstenholme skiff that every mile completed would powered by a prototype Lynch raise more money for deprived electric outboard, but this was children in South America. during a four-Hour race, and with only one battery on board. With wind and rain abscent for An additional achievement by the entire 24 hours, the final 46th the team was to raise £650 by lap was made by the three teenage boys from Youth Afloat Steven sponsored miles for " Radio A team e ffort . . . Cracker Neasden", a youth-run Forbes (aged 14), James Lyndsay local radio station broadcasting Although the initial intention (aged 13) and David Billingsely through December to raise money had been to use just one outboard, (aged 15) - who were given three for children in The Third World, its 35lb thrust would only give the hearty cheers as they arrived back particularly Brazil. aluminium V- bottom (weighing at 10.37 am on Sunday 10th November. Given the additional The idea of an attempt on the 24- 806Kg from eighteen Oldham­ Crompton batteries with hull) a distance the boat had travelled Hour Record attempt was proposed every three laps from course to in May at the Move Electric '91 speed of 2 V2 knots and just over 60 miles in 24 hours. A second motor jetty and back for a crew conference by Electric Boat changeover, EBA Chairman Association Chairman Kevin was fitted and two further batteries linked in series-parallel, raising conceded the team an additional Desmond to Victor J ohnson, UK 47th lap. concessionaire for MotorGuide the speed by half a knot. Once the electric outboards. But it was not correct positioning was found for Victor J ohnson and his team, the until autumn that permission was the outboards, the team told the equipment and charity sponsors requested to make use ofthe Welsh EBA official, Chairman Desmond, and the Wembley Sailing Club Harp Lake, otherwise known as they were ready to start. (including Commodore Sera Lee the Brent Reservoir. With British In sunlit calm water, the and Harbourmaster Graham Kyte) Waterways having negotiated MotorGuide Challenger set off are to be congratulated for a permission from both the Nature at 10.37 am. Being a Saturday it splendid team effort. It is to be Conservancy Council (the re­ was soon sharing a lake with some hoped that next year, an outboard­ servoir is an SSSI) and the 30 , and several flocks of engined boat will be able to eclipse Wembley Federation of Sailing undisturbed wildfowl. A careful the 24-Hour/ 101 mile record before Clubs, Johnson sought and record of its lap times was kept in an inboard boat gets in first. •

Page 4 Electric Boat News : Spring 1992 ... "Assembling" Motorguide Cluzllenger . ... Oldham-Crompton staff pre pare to link up the bank of 3KQII batteries.

(Postscript: Radio Cracker Neasden was on the air right up until Christmas Day and managed to raise £7,700 for the plight of Third World Children. We congratulate them! MotorGuide HQ in America were so impressed with the new record, that they issued a press release to their dealers across the United States and elsewhere. Youth Afloat at Solihull have already planned another attempt on the World Outboard Endurance Record on a lake in the Midlands. We cannot reveal too much about the project except that the boat will be of design and, of course, powered by MotorGuide outboards. Best of Luck Lads!) The Welsh Harp lake is a Site of Special Scientific Race Control! Interest.

Electric Boat News : Spring 1992 Page 5 produced some six years ago. WELL DONE PAUL! Ballance tested all the basic Congratulations to Paul Wag­ electric outboards (Mercury and staffe for winning the Emsworth Yamaha range). He chose the T45, Trophy. During 1991, Paul (and cut the top off, put a tiller arm on to wife Pat) cruised their electric make it complete remote and put Wagtail V some 313 miles up and the control switch which was down the River Thames, more than inside the pod before, onto the any other electric boating dashboard beside the steering enthusiast. Paul also well deserves wheel - making a remote­ this Trophy in consideration for steering, the cushion seating, the controlled electric outboard boat. his other services to electric boat battery boxes beneath the seats, Energy comes from four Chloride development over the past three and the Combi 7 outboard on the 175 Ah batteries in the middle years. Previous recipients of what stern. We've packaged it so that for section. Tethered trials give the donor Rear-Admiral Percy Gick four batteries, motor, automatic Suzanna (in line with Bossoms has called "scruffy duck" have traction charger and boat you pay lady's boat naming) seven hours been Viscount St Davids, the £3995. cruising flat-out, suggesting ten Countess of Arran, and Fraser "Among interested visitors we hours reasonable cruising. You can Brown. It is to be hoped that with did have a man from Brazil, who park her in your garage and there the advent of the live-on-board having rowed solo across the is a whole host of areas where you electric cruiser such as the Deltic, Atlantic, has built an aluminium can just go and launch it, annual mileage attained by future sometimes for free. Emsworth Trophy winners will go The price-tag is £4,000 plus VAT. to extraordinary heights . . . •

THE DUSSELDORF BOAT SHOW Took place from 1Bth to 26th January, also saw a range of boats and engines worth mentioning. From Schabmuller of Ingolstadt sailing boat for the Antartic and he came two new underwater electric wanted a tender for it, with electric outboard motors - the 500W / 24 power - so that he can get in closer volt "Speedy 500" and the BOOW / 24 to photograph the wildlife. He also volt "Speedy BOO" priced at around Listo 73 works for Alcan Aluminium and £900 each. Then there was the was complaining that he couldn't Florida-based Regal Electric get hold of their new aluminium/ Aussenborder four-boat range, price of this innovator which is air battery." from the 12 metre/B.BKW down to half the price of the Mirwald (see EB News Volume 4: Number 1) is To find the ninth boat you had to the 6 metre/ 4.3KW model, with seven x 12 volt batteries. Regal:s 147,000 Deutschmarken (or around walk back towards the Main £36,000). • Entrance and to Stand B7B taken particular advantage is its by Bossoms. Here we came across computer-managed motor with a the Suzanna 12 electric day picnic claimed energy efficiency im­ provement of 50%. From fa de J ong ELECTRACRAFf of Reeuwijk, the Netherlands By now electric boat enthusiasts (surely a member of our sister on the Thames will have become Stichting Electrisch Varen) came a aware of a new range of American­ DIY electric propulsion kit (twin­ built boats in the Baycruisers as drive 4B-volt 2.2KW) comprising built by Electracraft of Westlake over twenty component parts. Village, California. The importers Last, but certainly not least, are Gibbs Marine Sales of from the yard of Herr Heinrich Shepperton-on-Thames. There will Herwig at Bad Zwischenahn came be some seven different models to the "LISTO 73" solar-motor- choose from ranging from 10ft to with its highly manoeuvrable oil­ 21ft in length. The Baycruiser 14 free, Schottel rudder-propeller. The and 16 are easily identifiable by "73" is in fact 7.3 metres in overall their lapstrake glass-fibre hull length and powered by a 2.2KW sides, their square transoms, their ~ launch designed and built by the quadripole asynchronous motor. Ballance brothers at their Binsey With full sunshine, the makers works, near Oxford. Last June, a claim that their Listo can travel at couple of local residents living at 12km/ h full speed for 12 hours - or Long Witnam approached the yard at 9km/ h cruising speed indef­ and asked for a reasonably priced initely. Without the 9 square electric boat. One ordered a 12- metres/ 30 modules of 720 footer and the other a 14ft glass­ monocrystaline cells in operation, fibre version based on Vital Spark, Listo's cruising range goes down to an electric boat which Bossoms 6 hours, or 4 hours at top speed. The

Page 6 Electric Boat News: Spring 1992 pedestal steering and pedestal and a 1Y2 hp DC motor-calling it Jonty, the ToIlers have now table. the Runabout. increased to seven different In the early 1970's, Frank Butler In 1975 Skip ToIler joined Catalina models. A new 18ft and 21ft are in of Catalina Yachts purchased a Yachts and within a few years he the works and will soon be home at the side of a Southern and his wife Cheryl had expanded introduced. The 21ft will no doubt Californian lake where petrol­ the concept of battery powered be the flagship of a fleet which is powered boats were banned. He boating and established the now being marketed in other parts therefore developed a 15ft boat Electra Craft range. From just of the United States, Japan and equipped with four large batteries three models including the 10ft Europe. •

MANY WORD SPOKEN also if essential to the spirit of our of one mono ski discovered in the attempt, is a minor problem. back of his neighbour's garage, IN JEST fishbox hull-planking courtesy "As this record is mainly based Greenslaves of Poole (fish­ On October 23rd last year, Fiona on low weight/power ratio, of mongers); acid bath type batteries the Countess of Arran, current course, I cannot be on board and holder of the World Electric Water also as matter of respect to the built into the hull on each side of Speed Record (50.8 mph) in her An the motor; patented single piston, Coun tess of Arran, I can officially reciprocating osciallating double Stradag hydroplane, agreed that it announce that the driver of the was time to challenge others to acting electric motor connected attempt will be a real Italian direct to propshaft with shaft­ break her two-year-old record. In Countess and exactly Miss Paola collaboration with your EBA mounted commutator; half a Petrobelli. Of course as she is bucket seat; aft stabilizing wing Chairman, a written "gauntlet", typically Italian she is also young signed at London's Turf Club, was borrowed from a hang glider; offset and beautiful but also this is a dispatched to Fabio Buzzi of secondary problem. "cleaver" rudder; single-bladed Annone, Como, Italy. In recent surface prop mounted on coil years, Signor Buzzi has built and "The big problem is: who is going spring shock absorber unit (from piloted diesel-engined Class I to pay for it?" six-month old Lotus Esprit found offshore powerboats to World After a lengthy but equally in the local scrapyard). Championships, whilst the World amusing satire on the whimsically Lorne points out present design Diesal Water Speed Record 135 of Italian sponsorship, Signor problem areas as: "uneven mph was created 7 years ago in a Buzzi concludes: sponsons meaning boat is fastest Buzzi Powerboat. on a course with a 1.062 kilometre "In any case, back seriously to right-hand radius (very difficult Fabio Buzzi found our challenge: your proposal, my answer is: "So typically English that the for return run); Motor and single definitely YES, I accept your bladed propeller; one good point, acceptance from a typical Italian challenge at the only condition of like me is nearly compulsory." But however, is that we have a finding a minimum of sponsorship typically British noise from the with his mischievous sense of and we start now looking around." humour, in a letter sent to the motor (pop, bang, hic, splutter etc) Association last November 11th, Since then we have been and have achieved 185 rpm." Buzzi initially treats the idea as a informed by EBA member Lorne concludes "We are against joke: Leonardo Libero of Turin that pollution in the UK (if it is of the Buzzi is even now applying himself instantly noticeable type) and as "Of course," he writes, "my to the challenge with typical record attempt will be done in well as windmills, solar cells, etc, Italian flare. WATCH THIS we have tried other means of power typical Italian style so I enclose my SPAZIO! first electrical project (see front generation such as hamsters running in cage wheels connected cover) based on a nuclear power Passing on the Italian response plant (with an additional coal to mini generators and water to Lorne Campbell, who has turbines in sink and waste pipes. power plant just to add some smoke designed several successful racing pollution also) giving power to a We are checking how many of the powerboats, including three of Poole population 'run' hamsters. leg of 3Km, with electrical wiring Lady A's record-breaking hydros (probably supported by balloons) The waste pipe turbines are (the electric one included), we hopeful but would work better if to provide all the power that my received an equally amusing electrical boat needs to bring this connected to water closets. The response, again based on lack of latter, however, involves pollution stupid record up to 200 mph and sponsorship. forget it for ever after! problems (as to hamsters when on As illustrated here, Lorne's cut­ a high energy diet) extended to one "We are now studying how to price record-breaker will make use week for recharging .. ." • keep the trolley of the boat in contact with the power cables at high speed but be sure that this important problem will be quickly solved by our engineers. "Of course we in Italy, cannot tolerate the run to be noiseless so we are considering different sources of nasty noises, like Lamborghini exhaust with electrical amplification, but this,

E lectric Boat News : Spring 1992 Page 7