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Several of the small race tunnels have been very successful in drag boat racing.
Here is an example:
This is a Mod 90 Yamaha
https://www.facebook.com/43386707704567 ... 85/?type=3

There appears to be a common feature with these later small tunnels be they the Asian 30 to 50 hp classes or this 90 to 130 hp drag boat .....it’s the depth of the tunnel. They are not as deep as the early models.

The speedcat moulds are still in Ontario...Jamison Stoss. That boat is larger size wise compared to the other 12-13 foot mirage or Grand Prix fiberglass production tunnels. I think the problem with the mod VP version was the center pod was too large and the tunnel depth is too deep. The boat gets too much lift. I wouldn’t be surprised that a speedcat can be built with or without that center pod.
The larger hull makes it a better lake boat and changes to the mould can make it a better Mod VP.
It is currently our best “new” boat option .

I bet most don’t know that most race tunnels actually have a center pod. The bottom is not flat. This is a video by Chris Fairchild explaining how an F1 tunnel turns.
Notice the large center pod in the boat. Having a pod is not a negative feature in that boat. It’s a benefit and improves the handling characteristics of the boat. Certainly the Mod VP pod has to be larger but it wouldn’t hurt the Mod VP boats performance as much as the original designs.
Update a raceboat Mod VP bottom and the production versions will be updated. But, today there are no Mod VP race classes. MOD-TBOAT could kick start a few tunnel classes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTsFnZK ... IGJvYXQ%3D

According to Al Stoker, "the last 3 feet of the ctr pod had to have at least 8 inches of it's width even or below the lowest part of the sponson". His boats had the center pad deeper than the sponsons.

I think the center pod helps the MVP boats carry weight and makes them better for recreational use than pure tunnels. But how would you define the difference without specifying a center pad height? Even just seems arbitrary and potentially limiting. It does have have the benefit of simplicity for both design and measuring at the race course.

The link in the post above is interesting. I did not know that current race tunnels had a center pod that big. But it's inches above the outer sponsons.

Here is an AE21 pad project just started. February 19, 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDFGs_lWdcw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UxJXcL1Up0