The F1 Powerboats

Over the last three decades, Formula One powerboats have attracted a worldwide audience of millions. Few would argue that the sight of these awesome machines skimming across the water’s surface at speeds of up to 225 kph is a truly breathtaking spectacle. While today’s F1 catamarans bear a striking resemblance to those in action throughout the 1980’s there is a world of difference in terms of driver protection and general safety. Earlier boats were constructed from thin plywood. They would reach phenomenal speeds but the driver sitting in an exposed cockpit - would face a high probability of death should he suffer an accident.

Safety cell
During one particularly tragic season the sport suffered several fatalities and serious injuries. British F1 designer, boat builder and racer Chris Hodges concluded that unless more time and effort was devoted to safety measures he would have very few friends left alive. Hodges set about improving the situation and constructed a safety cell that was produced from an immensely strong composite material. Instead of the cockpit being part of the main structure Hodges’ capsule was separate and was fitted to the hulls and centre section. For the first time drivers were actually strapped into their seats. The idea was that if a craft was involved in an accident, the timber hulls could break up and absorb the impact forces while the driver remained well protected inside his cell.

Canopy and airbag
Ironically, several pilots were opposed to this new device but after it successfully proved itself in several major crashes, the UIM called for it to be compulsory. British builder Dave Burgess introduced canopies in the early 1990’s that made cockpits fully enclosed. Although not built to withstand a major impact, the canopy did protect the driver from the full force of water if his craft nose-dived. In the late 1990’s further developments saw the introduction of an airbag in the cockpit that would inflate in a crash to ensure the capsule wouldn’t sink before rescue crews could attend.

Horrible accidents - driver unscathed
Over the years, F1 boat construction has been developed and today few craft are built of timber instead of modern composites. While F1 Powerboat racing is still a dangerous sport by any standards, driver welfare has been improved to such a degree that while craft are still involved in spectacular and horrifying accidents, the unlucky victim usually swims away unscathed.

Gliding on air
For those watching an F1 powerboat Grand Prix for the first time, the usual question is how an earth do these boats stick to the water at such high speeds? The simple answer is they don’t stick to the water - in fact just the opposite. Working on the same principle as an aircraft wing, the twin hulls lift out of the water when power is applied and a cushion of air is trapped between the two hulls. The craft rides on this cushion.

Source: f1boat.com