East Texas RC Boaters Club

August 1, 2010 ETRC Boaters from the Prez:

The next meeting out at the pond will be weekend of August 14th or 15th. Please let us know that you are intending coming out, where as we can have the right mix of boats for an interesting day of practice racing.

We still need to have a brief club work day as soon as possible (heat considering). We have located most of the materials to reset the buoys. Our course is pitiful. The club met and with the help of Kenneth who supplied a scale map of the pond, Tim, Ed and Tommy layed out a plan. Most agreed to stretch a string from the Gazebo to the Spillway gate valve walkway, then center 330 rope along that string to center the course off of the driver’s area. Location pins will be drove into the pond bottom with T-post driver and then we can lay out the 35’ radius with a 6 buoy course. Tim has loaned Kenneth and the club a 300 ft tape. I will have the buoys available and painted. I have purchased a 330 foot floating rope and a 35’ radius rope.

We just need to locate volunteers and up to 3 “work boats”.

July 17 we had 5 members in attendance. Tim and his Dad came out and delivered the buoys for the new course and displayed his Lauder Bach Thunder boat. I real work of the wood workers art. It was beautiful and well designed. Ed Sidders came out and supported, but did not run. We did not have a retriever system that worked that day. Kenneth brought out his well engineered Rio Mono and it performed flawlessly. Tommy brought out his yellow UL-1 and so did Ted. We got in some good racing for the day. We really had a great turnout and see the attached pictures of our members.

Looks like we have a class of electric UL-1’s building up We now have 4 members with them and need to “line them up” for racing.

Being that we did not have a retrieval system (ESC was out in my electric hammer); I had to wade into the pond to retrieve my Insane Cat. Well, the bank of the pond was dug out by a backhoe last winter, as far as the backhoe could reach and as deep. Well, I took one step off the bank to get the boat and went head over heels to my neck. I had to swim to get the boat and me back to the bank. Anyway, when Ed stopped laughing, we discussed that back up retrieval systems are needed. We need to complete setting up the club organization and make plans for a fund raiser in order to purchase a safe retrieval boat.

There are three of our club members with a key to the gate, Tommy, Kenneth and Ted. Members need to display club event pictures to other potential boaters to encourage them to come out and join.

Safety note: Do not boat if all of the safety equipment and retrieval methods are not in place. It is reported that after last weekends episode there are “no swimming” signs posted