[Jeff Higgins]

Yeah, it looks like the only game in town around here if one wants to race is Classic Thunder, the only local club that seems to have a race schedule. And, yes, their "hull registry" shows most of the desirable boats have already been taken. The good thing is, though, their rules do not allow them to camp on a boat without actually racing it. It sounds like they are pretty strict about it - don't race it with them for a year (it might be two), and you forfeit that boat, and it gets put back in the pool for someone else to use.

They have weird motor rules in the lower classes as well. The motor they spec is no longer available, and has not been manufactured for over ten years. I've asked them about that. It appears there are enough out there that they don't think it's a problem. Besides, they all have theirs... not very welcoming for anyone interested in joining... Their modern era class is "any motor" and speed control, so the sky's the limit there. Not sure that's where you want to start, though.

So, I finally got the speed control and other items necessary to finish my boat. In short, I bought the wrong boat. My Dumas Miss Unlimited hails from the 1960's. I built one as a kid and ran it on a tether in the Sammamish Slough, at Marymoor Park, powering it with a Fox .35 control line engine. Just free running on a tether, like a control line airplane. Well, with the motor and speed control in hand, but with no batteries just yet, it's obvious this thing is going to be crammed full (if everything will even fit) and a good deal heavier than it was ever meant to be. I'm getting kinda discouraged...

I might finish this one up as a "display model" and buy a more modern kit. Maybe ML Boatworks, but I really like the idea of a fiberglass or carbon fiber hull. We'll see.