Yesterday, IJSBA released the Managing Director’s recommendations for changes to the 2025 Competition Rule Book. Each year, IJSBA requests input from the general public for potential rule changes. The input received is compiled and further public comment is solicited. These comments are integrated into a set of recommendations. This year, an ad hoc rule review committee was also created to make a set of recommendations independent of those from the Managing Director. The votes are being tabulated and will be presented to the public tomorrow. Both the Managing Director recommendations and the committee recommendations will be submitted, together, at the upcoming IJSBA Board of Directors meeting for voting. If you have questions or comments about this posting, please email: [email protected].
Following are the suggested rule changes and Managing Director recommendations (in bold):
- IJSBA will modify the promoter participation exclusion. This will allow promoters, and their children, to participate in IJSBA Sanctioned events. IJSBA will require that there is a backup race director for the entire event if it is the promoter participating and that this designated race director will be the active director anytime a promoter or a promoter’s family is in a heat and this substitute director will take over if the promoter becomes incapacitated or unavailable to continue to the race management for the event. The race director decisions for any heat/class/etc. where the promoter participates are appealable to IJSBA for review.
Recommendation: Yes, IJSBA should remove the promoter participation exclusion where proper safeguards and reviews can be implemented. - IJSBA will work with the homologated hull manufacturers to changes to allowances in aftermarket hull provisions. This includes approaching such topics such as lengths, lengths of pumps, handling features on the upper deck, etc.
Recommendation: IJSBA will convene a series of meetings with representatives from each manufacturer of homologated aftermarket hulls to carry this subject further. The focus of discussion for 2025 will be upper deck features which affect handling and stability. Many of these features are currently being described as “splash guards” or hoods. The features should be normalized for what they are doing and for the handling and stability needs of the aftermarket units. - Shall IJSBA redefine any parameters of the intake grate for use in Freestyle competition:
Recommendation: IJSBA should clarify, where necessary, that a minimum intake grate is required for freestyle Competition. - Shall IJSBA remove the requirement for a restrictor plate for 1500cc based Ski in Junior classes?
Recommendation: No, IJSBA should not remove this requirement. The displacement to weight ratio of an SXR 1500 is higher than an 1100 Stock/Rec Lites Runabout. IJSBA has previously determined that this ratio is outside of a parameter that is appropriate for Junior category racing. Very little support was received for the removal of restrictor plates. - Shall IJSBA clarify, restrict, or expand any provisions for swapping of OEM camshafts between OEM units?
Recommendation: No. The only conceivable way to accurately regulate the swapping of OEM camshafts between OEM unit would require a graph chart that would be monotonous to create and complicate the tech inspection process. For more than a decade, engine bases have not changed and most models of a watercraft are a reoffering of a previous watercraft with a slight horsepower improvement accompanied by minimal cosmetic changes. Trying to determine a cut off point of where one OEM camshaft can and cannot be replaced by another OEM crankshaft promises to be a lot of work trying to tackle a nearly unsolvable problem and where the problem can be solved it will be extremely challenging to implement. Small gains by matching specific year OEM camshafts to specific OEM engines of mismatched years may be something that we just have to tolerate. - Shall IJSBA clarify whether additional tubing and ventilation is allowed or not, in addition to the OEM ventilation tubes?
Recommendation: Yes. IJSBA should revisit the wording for possible clarification to ensure that competitors are aware of limitations on changing ventilation where allowed. - Shall IJSBA restrict aftermarket impellers to single type impellers instead of allowing for dual type impellers?
Recommendation: No, there was insufficient support received for this suggestion to justify consideration. The installed base of dual impellers is extremely high and this type impeller is a costly investment in performance. To remove this allowance would require extensive research and notice of at least one year before implementing - Shall IJSBA publish the Formula Naturally Aspirated rules as a specific class set of rules?
Recommendation: Yes. - Shall IJSBA remove boost limits in Ski GP?
Recommendation: Boost limits should not be removed as this would allow for uncontrolled speeds on the race course and unleash heavy cost potentials. Boost should be raised 1psi to be consistent with springs typically found in the type of boost controllers currently mandated by IJSBA. - Shall IJSBA allow electronic boost control as an alternative to mechanical boost control?
Recommendation: With the support received by the public, it seems this is a pathway that IJSBA needs to travel. However, there is insufficient information as to exactly what electronic boost control to use. The current state of things would seem to require that a fixed electronic device could be used or, in the absence, a datalogger (provided by competitors) which would be checkable by technical inspectors which would result in instant disqualification if the data showed higher than allowed. This provision must be further developed. - Shall IJSBA change Runabout 1100 Open to Runabout 1100 GP?
Recommendation: No. There is already a Runabout GP class for competitors who want extreme speed and expensive exotic modifications. 1100 Open costs are reasonably controlled and allow a mid point for extreme runabout performance without uncontrolled speeds and costs. This class should be preserved. - Shall IJSBA eliminate Expert Ski GP and replace the category with Expert Ski Modified instead of running both classes?
Recommendation: No. These classes should both be allowed. Expert Ski GP allows a preparation point for a pathway to Pro Ski GP and allows development of riding skills in a premium performance class. There are a significant amount of competitors who would have to abandon their GP built Ski or go into Pro Classes where they may not yet be ready. Expert Ski Modified can stand alone as an alternative. - Shall IJSBA clarify Stock and Modified rules to specifically allow for timing gears to be installed on camshafts?
Recommendation: Yes. Timing changes are allowed. IJSBA’s interpretation of this rule allows for the timing gears to be used. Therefore, it should be specified in the rule book. - Shall IJSBA allow aftermarket fuel tanks in Ski Modified class?
Recommendation: IJSBA should prefer the use of OEM tanks from homologated watercraft. IJSBA could leave open the opportunity for thoroughly vetted fuel tanks USCG/UL/UE approved. - Shall IJSBA allow for any aftermarket pump to be used in Ski Modified?
Recommendation: No. There have been no pump companies requesting to be included as an approved pump which has been rejected. IJSBA should continue to limit pumps to ensure cost controls for Modified Class [Note: this was erroneously posted as a fuel pump answer from older notes and has now been corrected.] - Shall IJSBA change Rules VSK 2.2 to allow modifications to the bottom of the ski, as long as it stays within the original length (front to back) and width (left to right)?
Recommendation: No. IJSBA should continue to require OEM bottoms for Vintage Ski. This restriction controls costs, keeps the intention of Vintage Ski goals, and will help maintain conservative evolution of further upper deck modifications are allowed. Vintage Ski competitors risk splitting this class between a Modified/Limited or similar spit of further exotic modifications are allowed. - Shall IJSBA change the wording of Vintage Ski Rule SK 2.4 to allow for one set of traditional sponsons and one set of tubbies indicating left and right of each system?
Recommendation: No. This allowance would be a further departure from the goal of Vintage Ski which is showcasing the traditional power, handling, and style of the historic watercraft which gave birth to our sport. The purpose of this class is not to have modern handling aftermarket ski that look like historic ski watercraft. Vintage Ski competitors risk splitting this class between a Modified/Limited or similar spit of further exotic modifications are allowed. - Shall IJSBA change wording in Vintage Ski Rules VSK 4.3 and VSK 5.2. VSK 4.3 to eliminate conflicts for signals pertaining to CDI and fuel injections?
Recommendation: Possibly. This requires further research with technical inspectors in regions where decisions are being made about CDI and fuel injection where current wording is causing conflict. - Shall IJSBA change wording in Vintage Ski Rule VSK 6.1. to allow for titanium?
Recommendation: Yes. Public input supported this recommendation. [Managing Director’s comment: I am personally against it for cost control reasons but if this is what the Vintage Ski community thinks is best then spend away Vintage racers!!!!]. - Shall IJSBA clarify Vintage Ski Rule VSK 6.1 is regarding ‘the overall length of a complete pump and nozzle assembly. This is to account for the fact 750 pumps don’t have a shoe as part of the assembly while the 550 does. The rule clarification is for the allowance of additional length compared to the stock length of the “complete pump assembly.”
Recommendation: Yes. Public input supported easier allowances to use the 750 pumps and this change seems necessary for the allowance. - Shall IJSBA allow Sea-Doo 1998 XP (a.k.a. XPL Hull) watercraft to utilize an aftermarket hood in Limited Classes where Two Stroke Runabout are allowed?
Recommendation: No. Public comment was mostly against this. Furthermore, this is not a like for like comparison for the same allowance for X4 hulls. Where aftermarket hoods were allowed for X4 hulls, the weight savings was negligible in comparison to the cost and difficulty of obtaining used OEM hoods. In the case of an XPL style hood, the weight savings is so significant that an aftermarket hood would provide the same advantage of a lightweight hull. - Shall IJSBA mandate what brand and models of the device to use for checking boost pressure so everyone will have the same reading in Ski GP, and Sport GP classes?
Recommendation: Yes. IJSBA needs to ensure systemic normalization between events and mandating as much equipment as possible will remove uncertainties and reduce conflicts as competitor go from event to event produced by different organizers. - Shall IJSBA print clarification in the Runabout Superstock Class to clearly and specifically indicate the allowance aftermarket rods and pistons?
Recommendation: Yes. These modifications were allowed. If wording needs to be changed to make that more clear then IJSBA should do that. - Shall IJSBA implement the impede of progress rule as presented online?
Recommendation: Yes. However, rather than this be a specific rule which is difficult to make as a uniformed rule, IJSBA should create a “Race Director Guide” viewable by the public which would include this concept as well as others in an effort to publish guidelines on how some penalty calls are made.
