iStart Pro (Balboa Racing) automatic race starting system CLOSED

[Somebody Else]

As a Race Committee person, I have used the iStart for many events and I have been satisfied with its operation and reliability. But Marty has recently discontinued making them. I will treat my personal iStart with loving care but I will also be on the lookout for a replacement when it bites the dust.
Can anyone tell me about:

• Sailbot
  
• Echo Systems - Ollie Box
  
• Regatta Pro
  
• others?
  

Looking for opinions from people with experience.

 

[George Hackett]

Timex, paper, pencils, and excel? Back to basics?  

 

[Somebody Else]

Timex, paper, pencils, and excel? Back to basics?  

The iStart and other horn systems take the place of an entire human being. Experienced human being. And the error factor drops to virtually zero. So you can take your basics if you want, but for me, the most difficult part of running races is rounding up personnel.

 

[Roller Skates]

Good discussion going in Dinghy, but mostly around "make your own".
 

 

[Foreverslow]

Ollie served us well at my last yacht club.

equivalent to a spare person on board.

Paid for itself in less than a year when we no longer had to buy black powder blanks for the cannons except for the 1st across the line in each fleet at the of a race.

Here is a way to roll your own on youtube

https://www.instructables.com/Build-your-own-Coutndown-Regatta-Ollie-Box/

Only mod is we added a quick disconnect into the air line for the horns and mounted a set of trucker horns high up on RC boat roof aimed aft as the sound travels better for the racers and does not blast the RC members in the boat.