Hi All I wish to find out if any member has used a gyro to keep a boat level .I,m still working on plans to build a very fast catamaran and remark by a member suggested that using 2m Ducted Fans as extra drive might cause the bows to rear up ? so am thinking to use 2 Ducted Fan Jets to help stabalize the boat. They would be centred fore and aft so would need a third stick to control with 2 hands could become difficult .

A friend who flys a helicopter suggests trying a Gyro as it can be set on a decent radio to keep a craft level

To Paul thanks for putting thoughts in my mind .

Any thoughts would be appreciatedMichael

Hi All Firstly thanks for your replies

Secondly as Glyn Guest suggested we should firstly research our subject ,I did and have a sketchy understanding of a (gyro) usages During my search I found Radio Controlled Racing Cars now some use gyros to keep cars on a straight line as use of Brushless motors and Lipo batteries made the cars difficult to control .

All that said I had better explain how I will use a gyro.

2 Ducted Fans will be placed fore and aft in the middle of the hull ,they will activated when the catamaran is up to speed when they will be activated .

They need to be controlled to keep the boat level whilst in motion (as Ashley some time ago said I may have trouble with the boat lifting when extra power is applied.

One stick on radio will be used to control the drive train and via a V.tail unit control the steering

Stick 2 will be used to control the Ducted Fan Jet located up in the superstructer so the need for a giro which will be set in the radio

Thanks Paul for activating my mind as after the loss of my son I needed something to get my mind off our loss . built a mock up which was too heavy and needed to rejig the hull so it will be a little longer before a proper model will be started .It will be built in 3mm light ply (I used 9mm for formers not the best decision) .I have ordered 2 extra Ducted Fans and 1 extra speed controller

Paul Freshney ,yes it also means buying a new computerised radio .

Hope I,ve made my intentions more clear Michael

Hi Bob The best way I can show you what its to relate to the( U tube of the American X-Craft " Seafighter " )

I was excited with the thought that I could make a model of a very fast craft ..To build a catamaran which could speed across the water .The cost to make a drive train powerful enough to drive the boat was excessive ,hence the thought to fit 2 Ducted Fan Jets up in the body of the boat to give me more thrust.

The original plan was to have a fast small boat deposited from the Catamaran body ,after a word with Paul I looked into the idea of 2DFJ mounted in the floor of the boat to help with lifting the boat when up to speed to cut down the drag on the bows ..I reasoned I would need to be able to control the lift and stability of the DFJs .

Hope if you take a look at the U.Tube film of the X-Craft it will explain better Michael