Throttleman

A throttleman is a crew member in offshore powerboat racing who controls the boat's speed and engine power while the driver focuses on steering and navigation.

Unlike most motorsports where one person handles both steering and acceleration, offshore powerboat racing requires two people working together. The driver steers the boat and chooses the racing line, while the throttleman operates the throttle controls that determine how much power goes to the engines. This team approach exists because offshore racing happens in extremely challenging ocean conditions where waves, wind, and high speeds make it too difficult for one person to safely manage everything.

The throttleman's main job is managing the throttle levers that control engine power. By pushing the levers forward or pulling them back, they increase or decrease the boat's speed. This sounds simple, but it requires constant attention and quick reactions. The throttleman must also adjust the boat's trim, which changes how the boat sits in the water. Proper trim helps the boat stay stable and run efficiently at different speeds.

One of the most important skills for a throttleman is reading the water ahead. In rough ocean conditions, waves can cause the boat's propellers to lift out of the water. When this happens, the engines can over-rev and suffer serious damage. A skilled throttleman watches the waves constantly and reduces power at just the right moment to prevent this problem. They're essentially protecting the engines while keeping the boat moving as fast as safely possible.

Communication between the driver and throttleman is critical. They often use hand signals or radio headsets to coordinate their actions. For example, if the driver sees a large wave approaching, they might signal the throttleman to back off the power. The best driver-throttleman teams develop an almost instinctive understanding of each other. The longer they race together, the better they anticipate each other's moves, and the faster their boat performs.

The throttleman position became necessary in the late 1960s as offshore powerboats became significantly faster and racing grew more competitive. Before this, boats were slow enough that one person could handle both steering and throttle control. Modern offshore race boats can exceed 100 miles per hour, making the two-person crew arrangement essential for both safety and performance.

Learning to be a throttleman takes time and experience. Each boat handles differently, and a throttleman must learn the specific characteristics and limits of their vessel. They need to understand how hard they can push in different water conditions without putting the boat or crew at risk. The goal is to establish a rhythm, maintaining constant speed and "skipping" across the water from wave top to wave top.

Famous throttlemen like Steve Curtis and Johnny Tomlinson have demonstrated that this role requires as much skill and experience as driving. The throttleman position remains unique to offshore powerboat racing and represents one of the few examples in motorsport where controlling speed is separated from controlling direction.