Well I have to be honest here. I've avoided some of your posts for several reasons. Mainly due to wondering if you're here for answers or hoping to spark conversation in order to give them. Now I'm not a degreed ME. I ran a R+D dept in a major engineering company for 6 years, have several pattents under my belt, and have built literally thousands of engines in every shape and form.
And honestly one of my easiest successes was offshore boat racing. Although the torque curve of a pleasurecraft is similar to an airboat, the power of a race boat is nothing like it. So I guess the worm that I had to bite on was your statement about grunt, but also stating your prowess of HP. High HP is much more valid in typical marine applications in my opinion mostly due to fluid dynamics and inertia of the propeller. After all, the most common engine dynamometer is a water brake, and I think you would agree that it does a less than optimum job of simulating actual performance in a vehicle.
I came into this game ~10 years ago with all my formulas and resume of HP/victories. I was met with a decent amount of success mainly because at the time the airboat world was still very crude IMHO. But there have been a LOT of factors I didn't see that nothing but the school of hard knocks has taught me and teaches me everyday, mainly due to the fact that airboat manufacturers and propeller/gearbox manufacturers are developing leaps and bounds at the same pace.
You're obviously a smart guy, but try not to be too much of an engineer. Any calculation is only as good as the data you enter, and when someone who's been runnin airboats for years tells you your calculations didn't work....Listen....At least that's what I do. I try to build a better moustrap, but results are exactly what they are........results. Take it for whatever it's worth.
Felber.
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