ime thinking about making a very larg ship about 9ft+ i plan to use a 2chn rado with it to keep costs down ime going to use 2 maby 4 33amp 12volt slead lead batterys if i can i want to make most things myself i have a transmitter and all the wires and things im thinking about using car relays to and mirco switches to operate the motors i might consider making a tug also with a operrating time of about 4 hours with to batterys not sure yet lol any iders i just come acros a load of free sled batterys and the firs thing i culd think of is a big boat

what are you making it out of? It will have to be strong with the weight of the batteries. I guess fiberglass covered wood would be cheapest, not cheap but, strong and reasonably cheap. You probably could use trolling motors with different props. Could even keep them somewhat stock and use steer by vector thrust. I suppose also you'll need a trailer. too I guess you wouldn't have to register the boat since it's electric.

At 9' long, I wouldn't bother with a radio. Just get in the boat and steer it yourself.

Have you thought about using a trolling motor(s)? They are designed for long run time using deep cycle marine batteries so this may be your ticket. Plus you won't have to mess with stuffing boxes, water cooling, shafts, couplers, etc. (i.e. they are cheap and simple to install). You just need a hi-torque servo pushing each motor or rudder.

I started a build of a large tow boat not too long ago with similar goals (cheap, big, long run times, able to carry a 12-pack to thirsty swimmers at Party Cove ). It used a Sevylor electric motor made for inflatable boats that I got at a garage sale for $5. You can also get these motors on eBay for cheap, and they don't draw much power at all, less than Minn Kota types. I had planned on using a Novak Super rooster for speed control. The Sevylor motors are rated for 5-10 lbs. of thrust and the 3-blade prop helps with a scale look under the waterline. I think this tow boat could have easily pulled a couple of kids on a floatie toy. Unfortuantely I sold the boat before I could finish it, because I had to move and lost my workshop.

I know a great guy who built an r/c scale boat he could sit in it and drive with his head sticking out of the wheelhouse. It ran on a trolling motor. I heard (but haven't confirmed) that the lake patrol sent him home with a warning that since he was riding in the boat, it needed to be licenced, titled and USCG compliant [X(]. If you want to see pics, go to www.mikeshobbyshop > Mike's garage > Big RC Boat.

While we're on the topic, has anyone else had sucess/failure using trolling motors in really big r/c boat projects?

NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THEM
I WILL PROBS MAKE IT OUT OF WOOD IME THINKING OF USING A 24VOLT SCOTER MOTOR IT HAD A SPEED OF 2500RPM AND 250WATTS OF POWER REALY I DONT WANT TO SPEND MORE THAN 20£ DOLARS ON THIS ABOUT 40 DOLARS


THE BATTERYS I HAVE GOT ARE DEEP CUCLE MOBILITY VEECHUL BATTERYS I HAVE THE ABOUT 15 7 AMP ONES 10 17 AMP 5 33AMP
ONE 55AMP AND ONE BIG ASS 70AMP ONE THAY ALL HOLE MORE THAN 70%CHARGE BUT HOLD LESS THAN 80THE PEPOLE GET THEM REPLACED IF THAY ARE UNDER 80%CAACITY

I have seen 8-12 foot ships, and only one of them used a trolling motor. The trolling motor was under a 12 foot replica of a Fletcher class destroyer. It handled very nicely.
The rest are using direct drive pittman motors, and standard Gel cell batteries 12v, 7-24ahr

11 foot USS Enterprise 1/96
8.5 foot Iowa Class 1/96
11.39 foot Bismarck 1/72
8.13 foot USS Pensacola 1/72
8.23 foot Graf Spee about to engage an 8.08 foot Houstan 1/72
Lutzow, Houstan and the Louisville with Destroyers 1/72nd
8 foot Kinagusa 1/72
Motors in the Kinagusa Pen on the deck for referance. [8D]

thay are some very nice boats
i like the uss enterprise any one got plans or now of free plalans its got to be free lol

Umi & others,

I have a 1/96th scale BB-63 Missouri (in my gallery) and it uses 1 large motor with Dumas compound gear reduction units driving 4 screws. I use a large gel cell battery and can run the 'Mo all day long without losing a charge. For what its worth.

Pete

Hi can you tell me where it's possible to buy Uss Enterprice kit RC or scale plans 1/96?
let me know
best regards