New Team Will Try New Powerplant
Veteran Inboard racer Kelly Stocklin has acquired one of the boats built for the G Class automotive series and has been approved by H1 to run the boat as an unlimited using a Lycoming T-53 turbine powerplant.
Writing on his Facebook page, Stocklin says, “The boat was built a few years ago to start a big piston powered class that could run at the same venues as the Unlimiteds. That didn’t pan out and this boat has basically been sitting… idle. A few years ago the T53 turbine engine was briefly allowed in Unlimiteds with a much lighter boat weight limit because it makes about half the power that a T55 turbine makes. This year H1 Unlimited has agreed for me to run the T53 to see if it is viable.”
The T-53 produces about 1400 horsepower, compared to 2800 for the T-55 L7C currently used by the rest of the turbine fleet. Stocklin expects the 28 foot boat to weigh just over 4000 pounds, compared to the 6,575 pound minimum for T-55 powered boats.
Stocklin says he is working with Casale on development of a gearbox, and hopes to secure the number 18.
Stocklin hopes to have the boat on the H1 circuit in 2012 and says the answer to the question he gets the most is, “Yes – there will be some changes to the color scheme.”
New Team Will Try New Powerplant
Veteran Inboard racer Kelly Stocklin has acquired one of the boats built for the G Class automotive series and has been approved by H1 to run the boat as an unlimited using a Lycoming T-53 turbine powerplant.
Writing on his Facebook page, Stocklin says, “The boat was built a few years ago to start a big piston powered class that could run at the same venues as the Unlimiteds. That didn’t pan out and this boat has basically been sitting… idle. A few years ago the T53 turbine engine was briefly allowed in Unlimiteds with a much lighter boat weight limit because it makes about half the power that a T55 turbine makes. This year H1 Unlimited has agreed for me to run the T53 to see if it is viable.”
The T-53 produces about 1400 horsepower, compared to 2800 for the T-55 L7C currently used by the rest of the turbine fleet. Stocklin expects the 28 foot boat to weigh just over 4000 pounds, compared to the 6,575 pound minimum for T-55 powered boats.
Stocklin says he is working with Casale on development of a gearbox, and hopes to secure the number 18.
Stocklin hopes to have the boat on the H1 circuit in 2012 and says the answer to the question he gets the most is, “Yes – there will be some changes to the color scheme.”