caylen17

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I had been wanting to build a new boat for quite sometime now. I already had another hull like the one I just sold and was going to use that until I went to some local races here on the St. Johns. Then I wanted to build something for a different purpose. Drag racing. So I went with a stephull deckover. I knew my motor selection the whole time, just had to change the hull. I will be using a ff240 or a ff320 os engine to keep it with a scale look. The first picture is a step hull and is what my hull is modeled after.

The next pictures are my boat. I started on paper with three different models and picked the one I liked best.
From then I want to the steel yard and got two small sheets of .045 alumium and some angle and started building. The rivits are the smallest fastenal makes and I have already went through 500. I have another 500 coming monday. The last picture is what I did today, got the bottom on but not fully rivited off. I do need help on what to do about eletronics I would like something below deck with a not so noticable lid. Any suggestions? Let me know what yall think and if you have any questions.

Nitrofin

Looks great , keep us posted on your progress.What are your plans for power ,Gasser?
NF.

DONS BOAT WORKS

My Feedback: (3)

The only problem I see is that I think the rivets on the bottom will cause a lot of drag.

Don M.

dhpt99

The rivets on the side look awsome!

crispyspa

I saw that and thought the same thing.

mintie

You can fix the drag problem on the bottom, by dimpling the rivet holes and fitting countersunk rivets.

caylen17

My Feedback: (2)

Its going to have slick bottom, which will cover the rivits and protect it also.

Selph-Inflicted

What are you going to use to cover the bottom with?

crispyspa

With "slick".....LOL

caylen17

My Feedback: (2)

Slick Bottom is also called Frog Spit it's like a polymer bottom, but you roll it on with a roller. I also got the transom on today with the few rivits I had left. I will try to have pics up tonight.

crispyspa

There is ACTUALLY something called "Slick"?????

Post up a URL.

Mr Cajun Gator

I've been doing a 2 step process on the bottom of my hulls that works well and finish out very slick. Both steps can either be rolled or sprayed on. Working on getting smaller cans for the stuff, then plan to offer it to every one. I will give more information later.
Nice build you have under construction.

caylen17

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I have been looking for a dry box that had a low enough profile that it would fit in the 2 inches I had. Couldn't find one. I will have to make my own. It will be a sheet of alumium raised off the bottom of the boat. I plan on taking allen head bolts and welding them in the up right posistion and letting the plate sit on top of them. This way I could bolt from the underside when I mount servos. Above the step to the top plate will be sealed off as well as the front of the box before the bottom bends up. I have included a picture of this. Any better ideas?

caylen17

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Pic of the transom and water break.

caylen17

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Pictures of the bow. Where I stopped the top deck is the start of the radio box.

Selph-Inflicted

I am enjoying watching this build! [8D]
I can't wait to see the motor mounted up.

Nice work! [8D]

asmithnc

SInce your boat has a water brake I now you have been around full sized drag airboats now. Great build.

caylen17

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Sure have, I actually have a friends boat in my shop right now that has a water break and thats where I got the design of mine.

greygoose81

what do you think your final weight will be?

nice build...

caylen17

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I have read in other posts how people say how heavy alumium boats are, but this one really isn't. My biggest factor of course will be the engine. Between the hull, rigging and motor 12-14lbs. I will defintly have a final weight when im done. I hope with the 240 that will still be a good power-to-weight ratio. I would like to put a 320 on it, but can't give up the extra money right now. If anybody can help me find one of these motors, im ready to make a deal. I check RCU, Rcgroups.com, Ebay, and google search every day. I need the motor to build the rigging and im about to that point. Thanks, Caylen

jasperrc

There aren't a lot of aluminum RC airboats that I've seen and I think a good deal of it is the difficulty most people have working with sheets of it without trashing it or cutting themselves. All that to say nice job with the metal working! You've got some skills.[8D]

caylen17

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Im a sheet metal punchout guy for my dads company , been working with metal most of my 24 years. Didn't get much done today, a little bit of the radio box. I need to run to my LHS and get some pull-pull cables and horns, and also get the mounting dimensions of the 320 motor, im told it is the same as the 240. This way I can start building my back half of the top deck and know where to put my stringers. Got a order into tower hobbies and Whobbies.com, got some cool stuff coming. I'll post pics tomorrow.

DJLaPalme

Caylen17, nice build. I've looked into aluminum, but as others have said, it's not easy to work with and very time consuming. Yours is looking sharp. I live in Pt. St. John and I am trying to get people together in this area to race and have fun. I have raced with the M.AB.A. in La. and in Ocala last month. Had a great time. If you might be interested let me know. I will P.M. you. Dennis

caylen17

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Sorry for not havin any recent pics. I am still working on it everyday, but camera went down. I will post some recent pic tomorrow night.

caylen17

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Got the motor!! Dave from D's Hobbies in Oregon responded to a wanted ad and it worked out great. A new in box ff-320 with manual, tools and whatever else comes with it. I need the motor to mount my steering and throttle cables and put the back deck on. Tomorrow if all goes well I will have the completed hull ready for riggin. I will have pics of the hull and motor tomorrow March 12th.