NAMBA Secretary News
By Al Waters
NAMBA Executive Secretary
As you probably know by now, Cathie
Galbraith has retired as NAMBA
Executive Secretary after 28 years of
service and I have been voted in by the
NAMBA BOD as her replacement. In
today’s world, 28 years of staying with
anything with the passion she has shown
is an incredible accomplishment. She was
there during the lean times, when there no
computers or Internet and we lived in a
pen and ink world. To see where
NAMBA is today where she has been a
major player in all of this is something
that we could never really show our
appreciation for what she has done. All I
can really say to Cathie is thank you very
much for what you have done and I will
do my best to continue the direction that
you have set forth for NAMBA. I also
have a boat for you to run at the next race
you attend.
Now for some information to the
membership. I am the type the person that
checks my e-mail three times a day when
I am at home (not at a race). Before I go
to work at 5:00 am, when I get home at
3:00 pm, and before I call it a night at
10:00 pm. That is Pacific Standard Time.
I have always done that in the past so I
can’t see where that would change. I have
a telephone and will return your calls after
I get home but e-mail always works best
as you and I will both have a record of
your concern.
All 2013 NAMBA applications are on
the NAMBA web site and the 2013
membership insurance form is included
with this newsletter. Please use it. If you
use an old form, it will go to the wrong
address and will definitely delay the
processing of your membership.
If you are a Contest Director and
would like a list of NAMBA members for
your district for an upcoming race, shoot
me an e-mail (no personal information
will be included). Just give me a heads up
in advance and you will have it before
your race.
I answer to the NAMBA President and
I serve the membership. Please feel free
to contact me.
Thank you very much.
PROPWASH
November 2012
19
More prop could easily boost the speed
well beyond similar nitro boats.
So what are the lessons? If I started
the conversion today, I would include
the motor in the sealed box. The boat is
heavier than a nitro boat, but the greater
power available more than makes up for
the weight. Even though high quality
components are now used, the overall
costs are similar to nitro. In addition,
the “fuel” (battery) costs should be in
line with nitro for a hard racing
season. Fitting all the components and batteries into an existing hull can be hard,
especially when the batteries need to come out after every heat for charging. If the
boat was built from the beginning as an electric boat, there should be little problem.
The table on page 9 compares the nitro and electric versions weights in pounds. The
hull weight is everything except the motor and “fuel”. The motor accessories include
the pipe with the nitro engine and the speed control with wiring for the electric motor.
I don’t believe there is any handicap system that will let electrics run with nitro
boats. Even so, there needs to be a system to keep the current draw in an electric boat
at reasonable (about 150 amps) level. RCU specifies the motor Kv, number of cells,
and maximum propeller diameter. For now, that’s as reasonable a system as anyone’s.
Whether it keeps people from burning up equipment remains to be seen.
The Executone with the FE setup
The 1982 Executone at the 2012 FE NAMBA Nationals running alone in first
place. Photo courtesy of Tyler Gerrard
Nitro Executone
Electric Executone
Hull with hardware
11.1
11.1
Motor with accessories
2.5
2.2
Fuel/Batteries
1.2
4.9
Total
14.9
18.3