2026 rule proposals approved by membership

With many thanks to very engaged membership voting on the 2026 proposed rule changes, voting is now closed and we're happy to announce the results.

The seven proposals sent forward from the ERCU competition committee and recommended by the ERCU board of directors passed with easily more than the required .667% of those voting. Club bylaws require a two-thirds (.667%) of the ballot turnout for passage of rules changes.

With the 2025-26 rule change process now complete, the club's rulebooks will soon be updated and posted to the club website, while also being distributed directly to members.

Here’s a rundown of the changes for 2026:
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• Two boats make a legal class: PASSED 18-1 (.947%)
  • NEW RULE: Any class can be officially run with a minimum of 2 boats. If only 2 boats are present, the race will use an alternate format consisting of 3-lap preliminary heats and a 5-lap final. When 3 or more boats are entered, the race may run without restrictions on the number of laps in the preliminary heats.
    
    Competition Committee's Reasoning: This would give a chance for people to show up with a modern boat (typically the class that has lower counts) and still be able to race.  This would also keep the classes separated as is done in 1/10th scale.  Finally this would also encourage the growth of the class and hopefully encourage more participants with a 3 lap race if only 2 present. After the 2026 season this should be re-evaluated

• Motor testing procedure: PASSED 19-0 (1.000%)
  • NEW RULE: Motors may be tested for KV compliance at any event by the board and/or technical inspectors. Motors will be tested by club purchased and approved KV meters only. 
    
    Competition Committee's Reasoning: The rule book does not currently include any official rule stating how motors would be tested. It is recommended by the Competition Committee that the rule be added. Also the club should own multiple KV meters (2-3) of the same brand and model, just in case of any motor testing over the KV rating. This would eliminate the confusing method of using a drill to test for KV, which currently no one in the club knows how to do. This would also help so any member of the board could test at any time. 
    
    
• 1/7 scale motor requirements: PASSED 18-1 (.947%)
  • NEW RULE: Bearings and connectors may be replaced at any time.
    
    Competition Committee's Reasoning: If the club does test motors, this would eliminate the issue of modifying the motor to have a higher KV than is allowed. The bullet connectors should be allowed to be larger than 5.5mm as if anyone is using any Castle ESC, you are required to use an 8mm connector. This would eliminate the connector issue, which many are not following currently. This would also change the verbiage to be consistent with what is used for 1/10th scale. 

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• Race Course size: PASSED 19-0 (1.000%)
  • NEW LANGUAGE: Modify Race Rules A. VII. X. to the following:
    All heats will be five laps run in a counterclockwise direction. If a race course is deemed too large for 1/10th scale, then 1/10th scales may run four laps. At the discretion of the chief referee a heat may be reduced to three completed laps if only a single boat remains running.
    
    Competition Committee's Reasoning: Do not add buoys for a second, larger, course as it would cause confusion for racers. Also most race courses would not allow for a longer course (Elma, Long’s Pond, Waughop, Ellensburg, possibly others). If we want to have a large course (at Longview, Twin Lakes, Scott Lake or any other lake that you could potentially) we could allow for 1/10 scale to run a 4 lap race instead. This would allow for a larger course to be set up and would eliminate an issue on battery usage for 1/10 scale. 

• Clearing up propeller rule ambiguity: PASSED 19-0 (1.000%)
  • NEW LANGUAGE: Add the following rule to Technical Manual D (1/7 and 1/10 vintage and classic propellers):
    The hub of the propeller counts as part of the propeller.
    
    Competition Committee's Reasoning: In order to not make the rules too ambiguous and make less confusing the Competition Committee recommends to clarify that the hub of the propeller counts as a portion of the propeller.

• Vintage/Classic struts/shafts: PASSED 17-2 (.895%)
  • NEW RULE:  (1/7 and 1/10 vintage and classic struts/shafts) Any legal shaft may be used, and shaft does not need to maintain a straight line from hull exit through the strut.
    
    Competition Committee's Reasoning: This will make the rule more uniform with other classes of racing and with 1/7th scale as well.  It makes the rule book a little less ambiguous and more inviting for members.

• Most recognizable form: PASSED 19-0 (1.000%)
  • ​DELETE: If a club member desires to build and race a boat in any configuration other than “its most recognizable form” a variance will be required. i. The member shall submit in writing the brief history of the boat in question including pictures and a description of why they want to race that boat to the inspector(s). The inspector(s) will review the information and make a ruling within two weeks of the submission. If the request is denied then the member may appeal to the ERCU Board of Directors, which shall make the final ruling. ii. The member shall submit in writing the brief history of the boat in question including pictures and a description of why they want to race that boat to the scale inspector. The Scale Inspector and Technical Inspector will review the information and make a ruling within two weeks of the submission. If the request is turned down then the member may appeal to the ERCU Contest Board, which shall make the final ruling.
    
    Competition Committee's Reasoning: In order to be more inclusive the Competition Committee recommends deleting the following from the rulebook. Instead, simply refer to rules stating it needs to be at an official race. We don’t want to be so technical that we detour people from joining our club. The way the rule currently states, this would eliminate some boats that are currently racing. Example: David Newton’s 2025 Goodman Real estate has a salt water scoop. The real boat raced in five races, but only raced once with the salt water scoop. As the rule book currently states, he would have to take off the salt water scoop. This would open it up for members to make their favorite version of the boat and to be less penalized of what members want to build. Also this would align the rule with NAMBA and other clubs in the area.