Inspection at The 2023 APBA Stock, Modified & Junior Summer Nationals in Wakefield MI
by Chief Inspector Kurt Romberg
If you plan on attending the summer nationals at Wakefield MI this year you can expect much of the same inspection procedures that you have seen for the past few years. All boats are required to have 2023 Nationals safety inspections before testing or competition. We will be doing safety inspections and motor sealing starting Sunday morning, 7/30/2023, at 10:00 am and going all day until somewhere around 5:00 pm. Then again on Monday, 7/31/2023, from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm (times may change without notice). These time slots are specifically devoted to completing these safety inspections and sealing motors. After inspection closes on Monday, a competitor will need a written excuse from the Chief Referee to get a safety inspection and can expect to volunteer for additional flights working in inspection to help carry the extra load.
The safety inspection process will be looking at all the things that we normally look at. See the list below. Plan on bringing your equipment to the inspection area where we can perform the safety inspection and seal the motor. Don’t forget to bring your life jacket, helmet, and Kevlar’s. Also check your kill switch lanyard. Make sure it releases prior to reaching within 12” of the transom. If you run the coiled plastic lanyard, check the coils for small cracks that tend to develop over time. We will be checking these and if yours is cracked we may ask you to replace it prior to getting a sticker.
Remember that helmets certified with a Snell 2010 sticker are no longer legal. A Snell 2015, or newer sticker must be located inside the helmet, under the padding.
There will be no pitting inside inspection. We need all of our space for prop swaps in the Junior classes and in 300SS.
Safety Inspection List
1. No fin or mounting hardware shall protrude beyond the vertical plane of the boat (except 750ccMR and 850ccMR, not more than 1") (MO-SR 3.9). (SO-SR 2.8)
2. Turn Fin LE radius not smaller than .500" (GSR 29)
3. Throttle: (SO-SR 2.5, MO-SR 3.5)
a. Return Spring
b. Securely attached
c. Smooth operation
4. Motor must have full butterfly (SO-SR 2.5, MO-SR 3.5)
5. Operational Steering System: (SO SR 2.3, MO SR 3.3)
a. Closed connectors must be used
b. No "S" hooks or swivel pulleys
c. 2 Cable Clamps at termination of steering cable ends
d. Springs are permissible if looped and 2 cable clamps are used
6. Tether activated operational ignition cut-off switch (SO-SR 2.5, MO-SR 3.5):
a. Mounted forward of the driver
b. Switch must cut off ignition to all cylinders
c. Tether end cannot come within 12" of the top of the transom when connected to switch. (SO-SR 2.5)
d. Taping of cap on tether is illegal (SO-SR 2.5).
7. Spray Shield. (SO-SR 2.1, MO-SR 3.2)
8. Bow handle or tow eye. (SO-TM General Guidelines 10, MO-SR 3.7)
9. OMC A, J and 200cc Mod motors that have steering bar-powerhead bolts must be safety wired. (SO-SR 2.8, MO-SR 3.14)
10. Windshield or cowling must have protective edge molding. (SO-SR 2.4, MO-SR 3.4)
11. Cut resistant ankle length pants and wrist length sleeves. (SO-SR 2.6, MO-SR 3.6)
12. Permitted helmet colors are yellow, fluorescent high visibility yellow, lime green, orange, international orange, or fluorescent red. Upper 50% must be a solid color. (GSR 3.A.1) Minimum Snell 2015, SFI, FIA or newer. Snell sticker is located inside the helmet (under the padding) and has year date and serial # on it (GSR 3.1). Check Helmet Standard Info pages from APBA, 2/2/2021
13. Eye protection (SO-SR 2.4, MO-SR 3.8)
14. Jacket must be 70% upper surfaces above the waist with international orange or yellow in color (GSR 3.B.1.d) Impact protection is required on front back and sides but may be separate from the jacket. (SO-SR 2.4) Check Manufactures label for Category. Must be A or A-100. (GSR 3.B.1.c). Also check for 2013 manufacture or re-certification date. Must be readable (ABPA LJBMS 4.9).
15. All flywheel type self-energizing ignition systems with external exposed rotating magnets must have 360 degree guard of sufficient strength and design to completely contain the magnets should breaking occur (Mod motors where found) (SO-SR 2.7) (MO SR 3.12)
16. All pickleforks on hydros must meet a 1" radius, 3/4" - 1/2" thick (inside to outside) (SO-SR 2.13). For Mods, only hydros built after 10/31/2007 have the pickle rule. (MO SR 3.18)
17. MO All hydros need a date of mfg. on inside of transom. Magic marker is acceptable. (Mod only MO SR 3.17)
18. Ballast must be securely fastened to the boat to count as weight. (MO-SR 3.20) (SO-TM Weight Restrictions)
19. Boat Numbers, Black on White or White on Black. 6" tall, 1" stroke. Hydros = vertical (no deck) (SO-RR 6.1 & .2, MO-RR 6.1 & 3)
20. APBA approved logos or APBA.ORG. "APBA" must be a minimum dimension of 1.75” high and 7.25” long on essentially vertical surfaces, port and starboard. (Article 1, section 1.4 APBA Bylaws)
Reference
SO = Stock Outboard
MO = Modified Outboard
RR = Racing Rule
SR = Safety Rule
GSR General Safety Rule
TM = Tech Manual
LJBMS = Life Jacket Basic Manufacturing Specifications
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