I have a bare skunk works cat hull an a complete hardware setup from aeromarine was going to power it with a cmb nitro motor but its been over a month since a company (no names) has taken my money but as of today has yet to deliver. Now I have moved to an apartment an beign able to maintain an work on nitro is limited so decided to switch to electric. I already have a brushless lipo heli that Im thrilled with so here are my questions. I will have aprox $700 (as I look at the reciept i think GOD how could I spend that much on a little engine! ) to play with here. If your not familiar with the Skunk Works cat its a 30" by 11" stepped cat, will post pics tonight. I already have all hardware an a FM transmiter/ reciever now need suggestions on motor/esc/batteries to consider. Would like to not spend all that money on just this boat would like to convert a SV27 to their brushless setup too. But anyone with this boat or if the gurus of electic power (taylor shaw an company) could throw out some suggestions Im willing to look at the greener side of RCing.
Let me re state
Have: Rudder w/pickup, Strut, .187 flex shaft all nessicary drive bits, Radio FM, reciever, Hull, Kick arse lipo charger (from heli)

Need: Motor preferbly brushless, ESC, Lipo batteries, Prop


Suggestions????

Want reliable speed upper 40s to 50s hell with the nitro combo I was looking at seen this little boat scream the low 60s but I'm no electric guru so not expecting that
Thanks in advance for your help
-Wayne

I have one with a feigao 9XL motor and an Hetroniks 120 amp. I run a Octura X637 and a X640 on mine. On 4s1p it blows my SV27 away. It's a good hull and handles great. Good luck on your build. It's worth it and alot of fun.

Where would I find the esc you describe. I know of Offshore Electrics but of any othe websites to attain these products I know not.
Whats the difference between the 8XL, 9XL, 10XL I see there a matter of RPMS per volt but how does that apply in finding the right motor. Is there a web sit that breaks this all down in dummy talk. I.E. explains the ins an outs of understanding esc's,motors, battery like some of the nitro motor guides Ive read so much of, I feel if I could grasp at what each in turn does for me then I could make a better choice of parts needed
Thank you all for your input so far. I am really excitied about putting this together
-Wayne

Welcome to the fun world of FE Boats. There are alot of ESC's out there. The Hextronik HXT 120, Castle Creations Hydra 120 and 240, Pulso 100 amp, shultze esc's etc. You can get these from Unitedhobbies.com, Offshoreelectrics.com, finedesignrc.com etc. Good forums for info. would be here, Offshoreelectrics.com, rumrunnerracing.com. To calculate amp draw in general and estimated speed, use fecalc. Do a search on google for that. I don't remember where to get that off hand. I think it is at rcboataholic.com. I hope this helps and keep us posted on your build. Sharing of gained knowledge is also what makes this hobby fun.

You can check out this thread....http://www.rumrunnerracing.com/fefor...ght=skunkworks and this one....http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ght=skunkworks and you can get fecalc here...http://rcboataholic.com/fe_calc.htm

These should get you going. Do you have pics of your current setup?

yeah I have some of the build start up I had orginally decided to put a mean as heck .45 nitro motor in there but now been 2 months since I told the company to build it an over a month since they said it was ready to be paid for an shipped. 30+ days an no mototr an pipe. I did a lot of reinforcing to the hull with carbon rodding to stiffen it but add only a few grams to total weight of boat so Im not to worried about ripping it all out. there was some flex in the design when I got it no flex now. Ive built big boats an several other projects just to see if I can type projects an have learned light,strong and rigid are the ways of the fast in my book. you can see the start of the build here
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6538540/tm.htm
Once I get my monies refunded I'll be posting the build over here so all can see
Again thanks for the input!
-Wayne
of course some things are to go to the way side, no need for the huge rails I was planning maybe some monor ones for motor placement no tank obviously, really just got to sit down an figure out whats to be ebayed an whats to be used an whats to be ordered!!

Did you order your engine from TwistedLiquid? I've learned to search forums now before I deal with new vendors. I think it has saved my ***** a few times.
Then I call to get a feel for the type of people I'm dealing with.

Sure did. Sons o you know what. Talked the talk but definetly cant even crawl. Now Im pissed about nitro since my SV27 siezed up an just tired of the mess want an little more time playing with my toys. I love to tinker dont get me wrong an I was so ready to drop some serious cash to get this thing to scream in a nitro pitch but I started to like the whine of a FE an though shoot this is as good as any boat to start out with. Ive already corrected the rounded strakes an edged the whole boat perfectly true according to my trusty square a laser line so i think its ready

I hope everything works out. I left my hull unmodded. It turns on a dime and gets on plane nicely. Not ready to race yet. I just like to run mine for fun, for now. I run 4s1p lipo's in mine. I like your stencil. I'm going to use Sonic the Hedgehog for my pic. Just been working on my Blackjack brushless a little too much. I'm going to try 6s lipo's soon. Just got another Hextronik to do that with. Hopefully I won't let the smoke out. If this is your first FE boat, I would try a feigao 10 or 11XL with a 100 amp ESC on a x440 prop. Then upgrade to hotter setups as you get more comfortable with it. I have an SV27 and this one is way more fun and faster. Where'd did you get your carbon fiber? Was it expensive?

Got it at my LHO its in the building supplies near the balsa wood at least thats where I find them. Wasnt bad the carbon rod an slats were like $6-8 for a four foot section
thanks for the help wiggle.
Now since youve sorted me out on motor esc I am gonna need a few batteries whats all this about 4s 6s an the 1 anwhat not p designation for them for the most part I run 1800mah lipos on my heli I guess Ive never paid attention to see their s an p (thats right now Im a friggin stock broker ) but any help in sorting that all out an a place youd suggest getting batteries from.
Youve been a great help those website really gave me a heads up on a lot so I guess I have a lot more reading to do tonight after I file a complaint with paypal on those twisted bas tards
-Wayne

In Lipo's, 4s1p means this... 4 cells in Series in 1 Parallel wiring or just 4 cells which is 14.8v 4s2p would be 4 cells in Series with 2 in parallel or 8 cells total but would still have 14.8v. however, the amps output would double. So if you have 4s1p at 4000mah with a 4s2p you would have 8000mah.

I hope that makes sense 'cause I just confused myself. Oh, because of the higher amp draw, you may want to get a minumum of 20C rating packs with 3700mah being the lowest mah rating.

Did you get any pics of your hull? I'd like to get some ideals to improve mine.

I will post some shots tonight of the hull. Havent gotten any further since the christmas season is in full swing in my jewelry store. Also have had to report Twisted to paypal, I had notified them over a week ago by phone and email an have heard nothing nor recieved my money (surprise surprise...[&o]) but I will get my money you can bet on that[>:]. Have had a chance to do a little shopping around let me know what you think of my choices.
These were priced either Offshore or Fine Design LET ME KNOW if I should be wary about ordering from either of these guys dont want another repeat

Motor
Feigo540 9XL 1,853 RPM / Volt $69.99
Motor Specs:
6-24 cells in a medium to large sized mono or hydro.
35.8mm dia x 75mm long
5mm Output Shaft. Use 5mm Couplers.
372 grams
50,000 rpm bearings!
Aluminum Purple Anodized Casing
2-Pole Neo Magnets & Compressed Windings

Extra Long Cooling Jacket with 90 degree fittings 21.95

ESC

Castle Creations Hydra 120 $179.99
Programmable with transmitter or Optional Castle Link Computer adapter.
Continuous Maximum Current: 120A
Dimensions (WxLxH): 3�x 1.6"x .6� (76.5mmx40mmx15m)
Weight: 3.2 oz. (93 grams)
Full On Resistance: .00043 ohms
Wire Gauge: 10
Cells w/BEC: 5-12 NiCad/NiMh, 3S LiPo
Cells w/o BEC: 5-20 NiCad/NiMh, 6S LiPo

Or maybe the Nemisis Blue motor/Hydra 120 esc combo for $259 from Finedesignrc.com
dont know anything about Nemisis its only $10 more for them than a Fiego motor any guesses which would be best?????

LIPO
Let me say this I KNOW NOTHING about lipo brands but most had suggested 4s so these looked pretty hot an the price? seems not bad

Firefox Lipoly 4S waterproof $180.00
4S - 14.8 volts
3700 mah
25c rated
14.8volts
3700 mah
75 amp Continuous drain That is Double what a Nimh pack can give up.
Weight is 14oz.
6''long 1-3/4'' wide 1-1/8'' Tall

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated..I.E. know where I can get this stuff cheaper? A better setup?

Finally
I'm posting a pic of the battery charger I have its worked great on charging my 3s 11.1v 1200mah lipos for my heli an says it will handle all the way upto 5s
any comments on it?

Thanks a lot everyone in advance!!!!!
-Wayne

NEU 1515/1y for a motor, ETTI 125amp esc, x642 prop and 4s2p lipo's.

ok I'll bite. Reasoning behind your suggestions on motor an esc? an were to find them?

BB, have you used any of the Etti stuff?...looks interesting.

I've dealt with both OSE and Finedesign. Both have been good to me. But OSE has faster shipping and Steve responds very quickly to emails.
The Feigao and the Nemesis are the same motor. But I bet a Neu would kick some (can't curse) chickens out the way! The lipos on battlepacks look pretty good and ya can't beat the price. I just ordered some more today. You want to get your packs in 2s1p configuration. In that way you will have more choices for battery position and weight distribution. I haven't used the Etti's yet. I've been looking at them. From what I've seen and in the near price range, go with a Castle Hydra.

The NEU will last longer, run cooler, make more power and take a bigger load. Finedesign has the motor. The ETTI controllers are 100% flawless, Iv sold every esc i own (cept the big girls for my 7k+watt motors and only because they don't make a esc YET that can run them) and replaced them with ETTI controllers, i use the 45amp units in my SV-27's and smaller boats, i like the 20cell 125 and the 200amp unit for heatracing, they always come back cool and clean, i tested 1 in a glass of salt water for 30mins with a 14-4 prop on my funtana s40, used a lab psu delivering 45amps on a hacker xl can motor. I cant say enough for the controllers, buy 1 and see, you wont be upset at any part of the units!

Besides ebay, where are the Etti controllers sold? What kind of warranty? How is their customer support and service?

Contact "Easy rider" on this website for more info,Never had to send 1 back (yet) but every time i email Easy rider it only takes 2~3 hours max, most under 10 mins for a reply. Ebay is the only place i know of at this time.

Maybe this is one of those undiscovered gems? I myself have never tried one so I can't really offer an opinion. Maybe I will try one in the future.

Ive tried to find the NEU motors on Fine Design to no avail have a link? Or another source really interested in something like that. Will check out Ettis on ebay see what their going for.
-Wayne

Edit: This what your suggesting BB http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...link:middle:us
man the price seems right

Hey wiggle so I think I get what your saying is get two battery packs each 2s1p so I can distribute weight evenly on each side? an wire them what series or parrell (agh! spelling my brains fried[:'(])

The Neu motors you can get from OSE and I think BBY racing. The 2s1p would be a good starting point. As you prop up, or want more run time, go 2s2p.
In series for a total of 14.8v. And if you really want to get squirrelly, and if your ESC can handle the volts and amps. Go for a total of 6s. That's 3s per side.
Others on this and other boards may have better suggestions. Now only if we can get them to speak...

whoops i meant Fullers! http://www.drcwebservices.com/ffe/motors.htm