nick 30

its alot of work but it helps in the long run

there was a good diffrence in terms of speed, you can get a bit more speed by having a batt with a larger C rating

ryancc

del.

srt10

My Feedback: (20)

The balance point on a Hydro needs to be just behind the turn fine, moving the battery to far back will alter that and the hydro will not runout as fast as it could
these need some weight up on the nose

nick 30

i know, just to much weight at the nose

srt10

My Feedback: (20)

They look just about perfect in the pictures!

carakter

Hi guys . . . also got mine from HK . .  I have not even maidened my boat as our local pond has almost dried out . Hopefully the coming rains next month chnages all that fast!

Anyway, as I always do, I disassembled mine to do QC. I noticed that the flexshaft is split into 2 . . . highly unusual! I didn't expect it to be like this. I think this is a major issue for water seeping in. To grease the flexshaft you can go at it two tedious ways - one is to unbolt the motor or . . .unbolt the stern tube. I rarely get a drop of water in my SV and Miss Vegas EP with a well greased flexshaft.

You can also change this out into the Mini Cat style stern tube and one piece flexshaft - parts available from OSE.

The advantage of the stock setup is that you won't ever loose your flexshaft in the pond
The disadvantage?  Re-greasing it is a time consumming affair.

Have you guys tried a 4800Kv motor . . . also available from HK?

dhoyt7141

I'm still running the stock motor, mainly because I am very pleased and satisfied with how it runs right now.
I haven't greased the shaft yet though and I've had the boat for about a month, sounds like I should probably do that!

Pekka L

Or maybe just try with 4s batteries? 14,8V x 2604kV makes ~38500rpm :-P
I used two 1250mAh 2s 30C batteries in series. Works well... Altough I have different ESC.
With two batteries you can place each battery (partly?) in front sponson. In the maiden run video I placed my batteries deep in the sponsons. Having mass spread wider inside the boat should make it more stabile... ?
I'm not sure where the COG should be?

dhoyt7141

haha i had no f_ing clue.

I just have a strip of velcro in the front to hold down my batteries =) I used silicon insulation to prevent the battery bridging in the connector, but thats about it in terms of safety from the batteries' side!

but yea... i'm sure that spreading out the weight like that would help a ton, but i think it would also get really front heavy. as it is, mine is just a tab too front heavy, but the x432 makes up for it and then some! i'm so happy with that prop =)

carakter

More questions . . .
So how is she in the straights and corners?
Any change in behaviour with different battery placement? 
Any thermal issues with the motor / esc with bigger props?
Any of you tried running side by side with the MiniCat hydros yet for comparison?

dhoyt7141

1. Not too bad but I wouldn't turn too sharp at high speed cuz it will flip for sure. Overall though, it looses a bit of speed but not too bad. Just don't be stupid about it and you won't flip.
2. no idea, i've only run 2200mAh 3S 25C Turnigy. I have some 1300mAh Flightmax coming in though so I'll post those findings.
3. I haven't noticed anything, but I also haven't been checking. I'm running an Octura x432 made of Berylium and it has improved the boat very significantly.
4. nope

carakter

Thanks for the quick reply!
Now I know it really needs a sponson turn fin.

dhoyt7141

you're welcome! and ya, that would probably be a good idea!

nick 30

any hydro should have a sponson turn fin, makes a great difference when turning

Basstronics

My Feedback: (2)

I should have the paint all sorted and reassembled by this weekend. Just waiting on new batteries.

The 42 mm OD prop someone mentioned using... I use that exact prop on my DF 25" copy with a 28x68 2900 kV motor... I cant even begin to think that it works on this little boat?

You guys boat is only like 15" long also, correct?

plane-addict

http://www.rc-international.info/Blo...l-RC-Boat.aspx

Basstronics

My Feedback: (2)

Oh gawd, you used my video?



Its not a good video. Its the boat on a 1000MAH 3S 15c battery... Way to little voltage.

carakter

385mm as specified so yeah . . around 15".

carakter

With regards to the submarine issue, I think we can learn something from the UL-1. If you look at the sponsons AOA (angle of attack), you will notice a steep, flat angle. I believe this will cure the issue - of course, you need a little elbow work, and the usual materials (balsa wood, putty, epoxy, paint and sandpaper).  For those of you who have "wrecked" your boats - this would be something to consider when putting it back together!

tman52748

My Feedback: (1)

I maidened mine over the weekend and it was taking on water too. I had disassembled and siliconed most everything but the rudder and strut mount. Guess I'll have to do a bathtub check and see whats going on. It's a neat little boat, but such a pain to remove all the hatch tape and install a new battery. I'm thinking about ways to reduce the tape method. Anyone else modify their canopy?

Could one add some foam up in the sponsons to help with the submarine affect?

dhoyt7141

I was thinking about that, but I'm not sure it would help. Foam is way less dense than water, of course. But if you don't increase volume, like add length to the sponsons or something, you won't actually make the boat float any higher above the water. You might be able to stop water from getting into the front of the boat and waying the front down, but then the water will just go to the rear of the boat, possibly making the front lift up a little bit. but the weight will still be there, possibly making the boat sink into the water a little bit. From what I can make out, adding foam to the front won't do a whole lot.

The best thing I could think of would be to put a little flap on the front of the boat which directs water more under the boat.

Basstronics

My Feedback: (2)

Man... HK is sleeping on the job... It took them a week to get my order shipped. Im anxious for my new batts

dhoyt7141

Haha really? they were claiming they were shipping out within 24hrs but I guess thats not happening!

I just got my shipment in. The Turnigy prop that I order to try out for sure doesn't fit so I was bummed about that, but I did get two 1300mAh FlightMax 3S 20C packs. I haven't had a chance to try them out yet, but I'm sure they'll do well!

What did you order?

tman52748

My Feedback: (1)

Don't you guys find it is a pain to keep removing the hatch tape to replace the battery with a fresh pack?

dhoyt7141

I couldn't agree more. But for the time being, I can't really think of any solution which would be as waterproof and use less tape. I tried a silicon sealer around the edges of the hatch, but that didn't help the tape problem.

For the small bolt, I'm fine with taping it upevery time. Ya, its annoying, but I'm ok with it. This summer, I plan on building a boat of my own with my brother. I'm going to make a v-hull using fiberglass and give my best shot at custom modeling! I'm not sure how I will latch the hull, but it will certainly use as less tape as possible.