Newbee to boats

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Newbee to boats

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9 December 2015 at 19:27 #61920
Adrian Sandercock
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@adriansandercock41668
Hi, Just bought this boat, fibreglass hull and 5 foot long. I'm experienced in RC but not boats. I'm looking to take this on the river with the kids come springtime.

I know nothing about the boat, what make or anything…. Just spotted it on eBay, it's a bare she'll.

My name is Adrian and I live in Shrewsbury (Shropshire) I will be using my boat on the river Severn that runs around our town. I had a boat many many years ago called a spearfish. I have owned RC cars and I used to compete with fighting robots/robotwars. My previous projects have included a full size automated Dr WHo K9 and my last project now finished was fully restoring and converting 2 X dodgem bumper cars for the kids to drive around the cul de sac.

I'd like to utilise parts I have already. I have 12v 3700mah Nimh battery packs (plenty of) I want to run it on 12v and will wire batteries in parallel for longer running. I also have a dimension engineering speed controller which I'd like to use as it has built in mixing.

I'm going to use 2 motors as power as this is what was fitted previously. I'm not really looking for speed just something to cruise along with some torque.

Anyone able to recommend something suitable I should use, or where to shop? Ideally I'd like to get motors, mounts and fittings from one place.
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9 December 2015 at 19:27 #2532
Adrian Sandercock
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@adriansandercock41668
17 December 2015 at 15:51 #62120
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Hi Adrian. Welcome to the Mb forum.

The lack of replies to your post is not so much just a blanker but reflects a lack of suggestions. This is very difficult, fitting out fast boat hulls, as there is so much in the way of choice…motors and running gear.

The first choice has to be motors..brushed or brushless……

For brushed motors, just to motor about the pond with, a pair of MFA 850 and X50 props would do, or some 12v Speed 700 with say 40 mm props, but you have quite a large hull, and so a brushless setup would really be required and perhaps ringing round some shops, Model marine supplies, for instance may be a good starting point. They would likely have all you need, they specialise in racing craft and could point you in the right direction.

Ashley
17 December 2015 at 17:25 #62125
shipwright
Participant
@shipwright
Adrian,

Sailing a boat on a major river seems (to me at least) a bit risky given the strength of the current. Most (all ?) model boaters sail on a boating lake or pond with some sailing on canals. However, your post seems to imply you have had experience of model boats in the past so maybe the river isn't an issue.

Ian
26 December 2015 at 18:50 #62316
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Adrian

For slower cruising on the river I would go with Ashleys suggestion of a pair of MFA850s and X50 props, this setup will provide plenty of grunt to help counter some of the river currents that Ian has quite rightly raised concerns about.

Paul
26 December 2015 at 21:01 #62318
mike farrell
Participant
@mikefarrell21522
Hi Adrian .welcome to the forum .As Ian said I am wary of taking new boaters near rivers

Reason 43 years I took my canoe and enjoyed a afternoon on the river until I dropped my Gees Paddle(£35 in the day .never to be seen again .

Your creation will be of value to you and trust me if you loose control of whatever reason you will not get it back (unless you are extremely.

I hope you build and enjoy your boat but I suggest you use the Shroppie for a relatively safe sailing and there is some nice pubs near most locks .

So welcome and remember your opinions will be welcome (sometimes)

I suspect you have a lot to offerMichael
28 December 2015 at 17:38 #62336
Adrian Sandercock
Participant
@adriansandercock41668
thanks for warm welcome guys, I used to use a spearfish years ago on the Severn and even drove it upto the weir a few times and never ran into problems hehe. The river is close to me goes right around our town with lots of places to launch with easy car access. I'm not sure of many other places near me I could take it tbh.

I was looking at the Mfa 850's and quite interested in them is their a speed controller that could mix both or would I need to use seperate speedo controllers and mix it on transmitter. I already have a spektrum DX7?

Also what batteries should I be using to obtain a half decent run time, I just want to cruise with the kids and not looking for speed.

Edited By Adrian Sandercock on 28/12/2015 17:39:21
28 December 2015 at 17:42 #62337
Adrian Sandercock
Participant
@adriansandercock41668
http://youtu.be/YUAphTKok3Q

Here are a few of my last projects to show you. I'm hoping to do something special with the boat

http://youtu.be/r3GF0iY15pg

http://youtu.be/I1jGE4YcYaY

Edited By Adrian Sandercock on 28/12/2015 17:46:30
28 December 2015 at 17:47 #62338
Adrian Sandercock
Participant
@adriansandercock41668
Sorry having link trouble
29 December 2015 at 09:01 #62345
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Adrian. An 850 on 12v would take 10-12A approx. One speed controller of 25-30A capacity would in theory be man enough for the pair, but in practice may get a bit warm or even hot working at max output all the time. For cruising purposes of course it would be fine.

I would suggest separate speed controllers, perhaps 20A Mtronics, just use a "Y" lead and run them off the same throttle lever. Only if more manoeuvrability is required would you need mixed props/motors, and by the sounds of things, you don't need that sort of turning performance. Electronise do a mixed unit ESC, not sure of its current handling capability. Also be aware that one of the battery feed wires would need to be disabled from one of the ESC if using a pair.

Although Paul T says the 850`s would be ok for slower cruising, I think that on 12v you would get a reasonable performance from the boat, not fast, but reasonable.

Batteries, I would also suggest a 12v Nimh pack as large a capacity as you can afford, for max running time and cost effectiveness.

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 29/12/2015 09:01:58

Edited By ashley needham on 29/12/2015 09:02:12
29 December 2015 at 14:23 #62346
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
On second thoughts it might be worth considering the MFA 800s, built for grunt rather than speed they would allow longer battery life (and so longer playtime)
30 December 2015 at 09:48 #62354
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
My 13 inch beam 4 foot long Fantome has twin 800`s and it goes ok, using a 12v Nimh battery. Would be a touch slower yours, but likely not much slower.

One project next year is to fit twin 850`s to make it really go well.

Ashley
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