Posts: 7742
Joined: 6/11/2003 From: Northridge,
CA, USA Status: offline
Hi guys,
I bought this ABS airboat around 5 years ago. Tried a prop on a 540 car motor and connected a battery and melted the motor!
So I put it away. I got it out the other day and have been playing around with a couple motors I had. Right now it has a Gold Fire 550 (currently marketed as an Electrifly S-600) and an APC 7x6 prop. I have tested it briefly in my pool with a fixed rudder position just to see if it would move and it actually moved out pretty well. It even scooted across some wet grass, once I gave it a nudge to get started.
The prop ring and rudder were very flimsy so I reinforced them. I added carbon fiber strips to the rudder, and I added three layers of fiberglass cloth inside the prop ring.
Next up is to make the steering servo linkage and install a servo. Then make motor lead wires, install caps and diode on motor, and position and secure the Rx and ESC. Once everything is sorted, I will disassemble the boat and give it a paint job.
Posts: 1716
Joined: 5/7/2004 From: prospect park, NJ, USA Status: offline
Hi I had 2 of these boats i put a nitro motor on one and the other i ran a kyosho magnetteic mayhem motor on8 GP 3300 cells it flew I learned to make em work much better cut the motor mounts and make it so the prop is a puller not psher it cools everything down and makes the boats go faster ...I have some photos and videos I will find them for ya,,,,
Posts: 1716
Joined: 5/7/2004 From: prospect park, NJ, USA Status: offline
Here they are in action!! these hulls handel really well as you will see in the video...almost like a normal boat!! Enjoy! http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ror4R0SJyVA
Posts: 7742
Joined: 6/11/2003 From: Northridge,
CA, USA Status: offline
Shenlonco! Awesome!!
I actually have pictures of your airboats saved on my hard drive from many years ago!
I finished my airboat today and then tested it in my swimming pool. It runs really well, but it is risky running it in the cement walled pool. I did some tight donuts in the center and ended up getting water in my radio box and the Rx shorted out.
Here are pics of the finishing work today: Installing the steering servo, and linkage. Radio gear, motor wires, etc. Now I am going to disassemble it again and do a paint job.
Posts: 1716
Joined: 5/7/2004 From: prospect park, NJ, USA Status: offline
Cool! If you noticed in my other photo for my electric ....i made the motor sit in the puller position by moding the motor mount ...this way it keeps the motor running cooler and runs better.
Posts: 7742
Joined: 6/11/2003 From: Northridge,
CA, USA Status: offline
Okay, got some more painting and pin striping done today. The hull has been striped along the demarcation line between the deck and the hull. The radio hatch has been striped around the perimeter. And the rudder has been striped along the carbon fiber reinforcement strips. I also have reinstalled the motor mount. The prop ring is drying after its second coat of paint. The Nyrod tube popped loose from the epoxy glue due to my not removing the masking tape properly.
Posts: 7742
Joined: 6/11/2003 From: Northridge,
CA, USA Status: offline
I think I may have found a better motor to use. It is an Astroflight 05 Cobalt 7T. It draws the same amps as the Goldfire but I know it is a much more quality motor.
Anyway, the paint scheme is more or less finished.
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ABS electric airboat - 
Here they are in action!! these hulls handel really well as you will see in the video...almost like a normal boat!! 
