Resident Dawg

MsDarla,

I am sure it is.....From what I gather it will work for every gasser with a water pump. I have a WHH Manta Ray that was just not running up to Tony's standrds, so I drove to have him look at it. It had line 8-10 inched of tubing ging from the carb block to the pump. NO kidding we changed that to the reccommended 5.5 inches and I gained 5 MPH.

It is all based on compression, if you use a stiffer tubing it allows less flex and give more compression to the crankcase, which is where it should be.

shumzz,
The WHH clutch will not fit, well it will but you will have to do some SERIOUS MODS, not worth it in my eyes. IF my clutch goes out agian i am going back to the direct drive, I had it in once and it liked it.

Sympal

Shumzz and Resident Dawg,

How is the fiberglass work on the Blackjack 55? I am planning on getting one but weary of all the previous Proboat owners' comments. Does it look durable and thick? Overall, how's the quality of the boat? Thanks and any info would be appreciated.

shumzz

Resident Dawg,
What oil do you use and what mixture? Especially for brake-in. I have never owned gas RC before. Do I need a spare plug right a way? Or can I use CARB cleaner to get the build up off for better starts?
I'm Chevy big block 454 and 502 savvy because of my jetboat, but this little thing and 2 stroke. Not really into dirt bikes so no experience there either.
So you think the direct drive is the way to go then? What is needed to set that up. What do you think about the other clutches I listed Prather and BONZI?. Thanks

Sympal as soon as it gets here Friday I will be drooling all over it. And I'll let you know all my experience with it to help others decide weather its worth the time and money. My motivation on this boat was the look and being a 55" CAT for $1100.00 I know the hull is nothing to the Enforcer boats as far as strength but they do not have a CAT yet. But they will and I will then look into there boats, till then I'll bet this thing up and learn on the way. I'm talking with Twistedliquid, just today is a mater of fact about there hopup coming out for the BJ55. There a grate place for Proboat hopups.

Any words from others will help as well.
Thanks

aluminum crusher

Hi all I have not put my SW 55 in the water yet but what is all the needed fix up's before I do. Thanks for your reply's

Resident Dawg

Sympal,

The glass work is fine. It is not as thick, like Shumzz said, as a WHH boat, but it seems fine. No blemishes or chips. I have run mine Wide open in 6 inch chop and no ill effects. As for the over all quality, I would give it an 8 on a scale of 10, some room for improvement, but a Fun, good built, RTR.

Shumzz,

I am running 8 oz of Amsoil Dominator to One gallon of fuel. I downloaded the Zenoah owners manual, and in there is states that THERE IS NO SPECFIC BREAK-IN PERIOD REQUIRED. The engine will break it self in the more you run it. Obviously, you do not want to run her balls to the wall until after a few tanks of fuel. As for staring, mine fires right up, there is a choke on the carb. I close the choke, pump the primer ball 4-7 times, and yank the starter till she barks, open the choke and 2 more pulls and she is fired up.

I like the clutch, but if it fails again I am going back to direct drive. Pro Boat sent me a new clutch and I have yet to have an issue with it. I am not sure any other clutch will be a DROP IN addition. ya might have to make some serious mods to the guts of the BJ (at least for any of the WHH clutches you will).

The direct drive is simple; you can get one from WHH. It is called their CLUTCHLESS ADAPTER. It simply screws in where the old clutch screw was, the Drive cable has a square end so WHH adapter will work. I actually used a Colet, the type the screws down on the drive cable, and I did not have to mod the cable itself (shorten or replace it).

Honestly unless you REALLY have to replace the clutch, I would not bother. I am waiting to see what Twisted comes out with as well.

I have one more Mod I am doing to my BJ 55, I am taking the Engine up to WHH on Thursday and having Tony do a semi mod to it. Intake and exhaust work. I will let ya know how she runs after that.

Sympal

Thanks, Resident Dawg and Shumzz for the quick replies. Shumzz, please also let me know your impressions when you get it. Like the both of you I want to get the BJ55 based on the look and it's a bonus that it has a Zenoah engine instead of the Fuji engine in the V24. I think Proboat makes better gas boats than Aquacraft after reading about all the problems V24s are having. I watch the video of the BJ55 on Proboat's site and I must say it is a pretty looking boat standing still and running. I wished Tony would make one but someday. I have a Magnum 57 and love it based on the performance and sheer size. I think the ProBoat BJ 55 will make a great addition.

shumzz

I guess WHH is going to have a CAT at some point. It’s on the drawing board I guess but did not sound like it was going to be available any time soon. I'm sure it will be a nice boat when it does make it out.
I was surprised with Aquacraft Miss Vegas, I drove one last weekend it was faster and better handling then the 1/12 Proboat hydro. They got one good boat that I know of any way. I’m after one now.

Bullitt01

Shumzz...where is powaw calif?...im in san diego. where do you run??

Resident Dawg

I was just up at WHH yesterday having Tony mod the engine in the BJ 55. His cat project is on hold for a bit he said; he is having issues making it run right with a clutch. Also he is not sure he can market a direct drive Cat. I told him coming from WHH it will fly of the shelves clutch or not.

I am getting my new rudders from pr boat today, and will be out running my NEWLY MODED BJ 55 tomorrow.....

I solved the issue with the rudders breaking, ONE....DON'T hit any more rocks.....and two, Tony's rudders will fit on the BJ 55, all you need is some plastic washers to fill in the 1/4 gap cause his rudder are bigger, I will be adding WHH rudders to mine when the FREE SET from proboat goes. The beauty is....they are the SAME PRICE, around $20.00 per rudder.

shumzz

I live in Poway, CA I go to Mission Bay there is a model boat pond for sail, scale, and power. It’s nice but saltwater. Its right next to the Princes resort. Every year the thunderboats come and they run 1/8 scale hydros there. For fresh water I'll go to Lakeside there is a pond on Lake View LN. I go waterskiing in AZ to Apache Lake up towards Phoenix AZ. Or for local skiing I go to San Vicente
Its fresh water and it’s out toads El Cajon CA about 20min from the house. All the lakes I got waterskiing at Ill take an RC boat with me for the down time. I got to get my BJ55 to do about 55mph to keep up with the 19'jetboat w/ 454ci Chevy.
BJ55 came in last night so ill be bracken it in this weekend at the pond in Mission on Sunday. Wow this thing is big I definitely will not be jumping her. I don’t want it to crack open. It is light for the size but it does not seem super strong. But I bet on glass she will move. I still love the boat even though I have not run it yet. I went all threw the boat last night prop work relocated the water pump for a short vacuum line for better presser. Pulled the drive out and inspected every thing greased up. I also took the clutch apart and made sure lock tight was used so it does not loosen up on me.

Like I said will see Sunday if your in the area and would like to see a BJ55 run Ill be there around lunchtime.

Resident Dawg

OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best of luck with her. I am glad you took eth time to make sure eveything is right I wish I had. Let me know what you think of her after this weekend. Remember Dial down the steering rate or tip toe through the corners until you geta feel for her. Mine is set at %50 it may not look like enought travel on the rudders to turn her,,,but she moves.

Bullitt01

Shumzz...ok i know about Mission Bay. I just got thrown off when it said you live in Powaw. Very familiar with poway. Yes, would like to see the BJ55 run. Great looking boat!! I have to work this Sunday but i will get away and come by for a bit. Say "hi" and check out your boat. See ya.

Bullitt01

benny2.0

any one see this video
http://www.proboatmodels.com/Product...ProdID=PRB2850

shumzz

I drooled over it for a week before mine got here, you bet I've seen that video. See how they filmed some of that beside a real boat. Well that’s what Ill is doing all summer. Because it wont fit in my jetboat with the wife the kid and the ice chest of drink and food.

Bullitt01

shumzz...cruzed out to the pond today in mission bay. wow, over run by sail boaters. first points race of the year.
oh well, ill check out the bj55 next time. it was a nice day out there.

shumzz

Yaw, darn sail boats
I went to Fiesta Island instead it was nice there as well. Sorry I missed you. Ill be out there next Sunday. Hope to have the BJ55 up and running by then. But that’s why you never just have one boat.

Just like the story goes the clutch on the Proboat BJ55 is junk. Only ½ tank in new boat.
The main baring on the clutch came lose from the clutch front plate causing the whole clutch bell to be loose making a huge mess.
I’m still happy with the boat. It was fun wile it lasted. I’m going to look into the Prather clutch and when it gets here Ill let you all know how it goes.
Do I regret getting the BJ55? Naa is to cool and fun to drive.

Resident Dawg

Sorry to hear about your clutch, it is a reoccuring porblem with the proboat clutch. In the mean time you can contact Proboat and they will send you a replacment, or you can go to direct drive. I went out this weekend to dial in my recently semi modified BJ 55. I hand Tony at WHH mod the jung to remove the gap at TDC, and do some exhaust port work to raise the timing a little, took the stock Zen 260 from 3.5 to 5 HP. I wish I had out the GPS on the boat prior to the mods but here are the results.

All props were sharpened and balanced and the MPH were from an onboard handheld GPS, and ran with eth ctock Proboat Clutch.

Stock BJ 55 prop Prather 270.....33.7 MPH
Prather 275..............................38.7 MPH
Prather 280...TO BIG.................37.6 MPH

THE WINNER..OCTURA X670........39.9 MPH I got a little prop walk, but she setteled down at top speed, the boat never really got a good solid stright run. A little more tweaking and fine tuning I suspect she will break 40 with EASE. None the less I am EXTREMELY HAPPY.

shumzz

Orderd the Prather cluch this morning for the BJ55. I Will send the cluch in to get a new one but Ill just hang on to it. Ill let you know how the prather cluch works.
RD, So you say the OCTURA X670 is a good one? Do you think it will work out for a stock Zen? or should I stick with what came with the boat for now?

Resident Dawg

It never hurts to try different props. If you have access to one to try before you buy, by all means go fot it. I think the P270 prop that comes on the boat is to small. I would give one a go for sure.

shumzz

Resident Dawg what is the part number on the direct drive unit? Do you know.
Thanks

Resident Dawg

The direct drive is not through Proboat......I am using a Colet style direct drive( that screws down on the cable) you can get them from just about any one that sells Gas boats, WHH, Areomarine, Bonzi.

shumzz

BlackJack55,
Ok after getting the clutch-less adapter from WHH I got to run about 4 tanks today on the BlackJack55. I love this boat its fun to drive. It could use longer rudders you do slide in the turns but it keeps you on your toes. Thinking of just lowering the rudder brackets. Ill see what Twistedliquid does first and just slide her in the turns for now. Could flip if it hooks too much. I have not flipped, yet, but don’t really plan on it. I’m still running rich so she seems slow but I got the 275 cut, balanced and polished prop, the Walbro 257 Big Bore Carb with BONZÍ Carb Velocity Stack, BONZI' "Very Cool" Water Jacket, and zero drag seals going in tomorrow. Then Ill start doing some real tuning. I do already see some stress in the gel coat back buy the transom. Could be the way I’m pushing it in the turns, but I think the hull is just so thin it flexes a lot. This sucks but is not the end of the world. The boat is light and could see a lot of speed. But I will have to look in to this as it gets worse. More then likely I will have to brake out the fiberglass and send it to the pant shop for a new gel coat some day. But it will be just fine for a wile there real small. I’ve never driven a boat this big before and man it’s a lot of fun. The hull has a nice ride to it looks good on the water. The handles are a nice touch, they work well and do not flex the hull. There very sturdy. A few thing I don’t like are the steering, could have used longer rudders, Clutch is a joke, gel coat is thin, I like the hull thin because of the wait. As far as not having glassed in stringers, I think the glue they used is fine, if some thing happens Ill let you all know. The only thing I don’t like about that is the water proofing of the wood. Have to keep a close eye on that wood rot. The radio gear I did not ever give a chance because I’m hooked on my Airtronics M11 w/ spectrum DSM and Digital coreless Mega Torque servos buy Hitech.
I give it an 8 but a 10 on the price. I’m Happy. Ill mod it to death like all my cool toys.
Have fun out there every one.

Resident Dawg

Did the Clutchless Adapter Fro WHH DROP right in?? No Mods to the legnth of the drive shaft?

I am curious to the speed you are getting, I want to know if modifing the the cylinder head really helped or if it was just the prop. If you get a chance can you GPS it?

Oh one more thing.....LOL....The rudders do NOT like rocks, or turtles, they will snap at the welds if you hit something. I say better the give there than to RIP the brackets out of the back of the boat.

I have not noticed any problems (cracking, ect) with my hull yet. Like you said the hull flexes and I am sure the cracks and what not are on their way.

shumzz

I did have to cut about 1/4 inch off my flex shaft to drop the Clutch less Adapter in. Did it with a dermal tool the must need in RCing. I also had to run down to HomeDepo to get 4, 5-8mm lock nut's and lock washers to get the engine brackets back on due to the fact the clutch was holding them in before. Launching the boat is tricky buy your self. I have to toss her in with out the radio in my hands. Then quickly grab radio and go. No big deal. But if you’re a small guy it could be a pain. I will not be putting the clutch back in when it comes back from HH. I will just put it in a box and there it will sit. I don’t want the $100 headache in my boat. I like direct drive any way, no slip. Just GO! What are we sitting around in the pond for, lets race!
I will work on getting a GPS and let you know what I get.
Then the Zenoah is getting the BZx4 Ultra Mod 5.5HP@16,800RPM and the polished dry tuned pipe and header from WHH, with the BONZĂŤ Water-cooled Manifold. All my hop up parts will be a anodized red to match the boat a little more.
Have fun. I sure am.

coach06

I understand that WHH is going to be selling a new line of parts made out of injection molded nylon that will fit other boats like the BJ55. From what I know about this material, it is a composite that is way stronger than aluminum and much lighter. They are going to be coming out (hopefully within the next month or so) with a new clutch and mount kit to fit the Zenoah. These parts are of WHH quality but at a more affordable price than what is currently on the market (about half the price.) WHH has this new joint venture with RMB products and they are the exclusive North and South American distributers. They should be adding even more replacement parts in the near future as WHH works on the designs. More information can be found on the WHH website (www.whobbies.com).