We're into Hydroplanes

Independent AMSOIL Dealer Casey Jones, in his own words.

“Hydroplanes get their speed from essentially being an air wing. So, as air is going across the top and air is coming down the bottom, it wants to lift the boat,” said Jones. “Just a very small portion of the boat is in the water. And, when you’re maintaining about a three- or four-degree angle, you’re going to achieve your fastest speed. That allows a 15-hp motor to have speeds over 50 miles an hour.

“My wife, Ava, and I are avid boaters. We were married on a houseboat, as a matter of fact. But we also spent a lot of time at race tracks, so that kicked off the idea about getting into boat racing. We’ve been racing over three years. Started helping teams out and doing some one-on-one sponsorships and then ended up getting our own race boat.”

“Meet Miss AMSOIL”

“She’s a SCSC Sportsman A Ltd. Hydroplane. Miss AMSOIL is made out of wood. She’s made from Okoume plywood with spruce runners. It’s the same kind of plywood that you’d use for aircraft, so it keeps it light and strong.

“All my propellers come from a shop on the East Coast. They’re custom-made. They consider propellers to be snowflakes because none of them are exactly alike. So, when I get a prop, I go out on the lake and, based upon my input, they’re able to customize and reshape the prop to get me the acceleration or speed that I need so I can win the race. I race this about five, six times a year; and I’m the 2016 Sportsman A Ltd. Hydroplane Champion.

“Most racing starts with flags. If you’re thinking about car racing, they have a flag. Well, we start on a clock. With a clock start, you want to be crossing the start line at full speed when the clock hits zero, and that is nailing the start. The driver can use his weight to manipulate the boat, so you actually can jockey the boat. That’s the closest I can call it. It’s like being on a horse and jockeying a horse. I’m tucked in there.”

It’s like you become a part of the boat

“We’re doing over 50 miles an hour on a quarter-inch piece of plywood, essentially, is what it comes down to.”

“The only thing closer to being on the water would be if I just connected the outboard to my back and went out there.”

“There are times where you may go back and forth with somebody where somebody is going to get in front of you, you get in front of them. That’s actually the most exciting racing. And, instead of just getting in front and doing laps, I’ll wait back for a driver, race next to them. That also gives them mentoring because some of the drivers aren’t used to having a boat next to them, and then it’s more sporty for the fans.

“My future in this sport is going to stay in outboard hydroplanes. I intend within two years to go up to a faster class and a little bit bigger boat, and Miss AMSOIL will most likely be retired at that point. But she’s not going to go nowhere, so she’ll stay with us. [I’ve spent a] lot of times with the boat, so I feel emotional there. But, you know, it brings family together, brings people together.

“Through AMSOIL and through racing, we have an opportunity to have that environment to where we can meet quality people and make friends for life.”