Biggest Group of Spec Class Boats Making a Comeback?

Serious News

What's Happening
This year in Key West, at the SBI Worlds, there were two classes which had 9 boats registered in each class. The first were the Stock Cat Outboards. And the second were the (call them what you like), what we call the Vee Lites.


Vee Lites are canopied single engine boats which all used to carry stock, sealed, 525's in them. They became very popular because it was a class where one could race for a reasonable investment, and finish almost every race. Engines were known to last as long as four seasons.

But, the class became undone when rules failed to be enforced, some started cheating, and consequences for those actions were miniscule or non-existent.

That changed a couple years ago, plus with new technology, complete engine logging, Cu In tests, and Compression tests, the class appears to be making a very strong comeback.

Like we said, 9 boats in Key West. Here are what is currently in the pits in Englewood.
 
There also may be two more on the way which are not in the pits yet. And, a couple of those in the photos may be running in one of the GPS classes. But, nice group of boats there for the event.

Currently they run two different engines. The sealed 525 is still used in the SVL class. A single carb, 509 Cu In, spec built carb engine is used in the SVL-X class. The 525 engine is supposed to be phased out completely after next season, we shall see. But, it should be a very interesting event the next two days.

Nice to see the class making a recovery to what it used to be. Hope the trend continues with it, and all the other classes in Offshore.
 
I was speaking with Someone in the Pits (KW) about this, and They replied "SBI has no Class for a lot Our Boats"
 
svl class is awesome .when they were a boats they had a little too much power .
I like the 509 format myself.

as far as cheaters .doc payed not be teched proper,the other felt they had to cheat to have a chance .(opinion of course )lol.

stock class is great the everyday boater with an outboard ,they relate with them.

hopefully all get treated fairly this weekend,so the sport can regrow
 
I was speaking with Someone in the Pits (KW) about this, and They replied "SBI has no Class for a lot Our Boats"

SBI has no class for the boats with the stock 525's anymore, and Mercury did away with the 525 rebuild/sealing program. So once they need rebuilding, they are done. That's why the phase-out is in progress.

Some teams have both motors to swap in and out so they can compete wherever the competition is.
 
id love to next year .
this year itook off completely.
fortunately I miss it


I like being on the inside ,but as a spectator only I think ill be more positive about the sport
for a while anyway. (big smile )
 
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