Not at this lake, but that idea has come up. Dad and I are brainstorming something like a tug boat with arms sticking out the front to "collect" and push back.Is the rescue boat RC? That would be fun.
Something a bit different! Model Power Boating. RC Catamaran build thread.
- Thread starter Phate
- Start date
I am back on Saturday, going to the lake on Sunday.
When I was there last time I shredded a propshaft as there was a bit of solder in the driveshaft brass tube. oops.
Drilled that out and ordered a replacement
- Fuel mixture we believe is well set now but it stopped revving up, so we think its an exhaust length issue. Will be playing with that on Sunday - Fuel mixture is the hardest bit to get right and we're there with that My small outboard model boat was also finished when I was last there so I'll have a go on that as well
YepGreat stuff. I can see it has its challenges but that's all part of the fun. Just make sure that, until it's fully tested, you have a rescue boat on hand for the rescue boat.
- it would be ironic.Rescue boat would be electric, less reliability issues. Plug in and go.
Apologies for potato pic, only one I have of the Predators (small hydros) right now - mine is the green, Dads is the blue
Will get them in the water on Sunday.
Sure
Helloooo
So after a long "forced" break from the UK (thank you COVID) I am back. So whats happened since last time?
The last update on this was the boat would not rev up properly and was sort of stuck at around 12,500rpm - which considering its supposed to hit 22-25000rpm, its around half power which isn't good. During my time away, Dad sent the engine and exhaust off to a specialist (who actually supplied the boat and hardware in the first place) to dyno and test the engine & exhaust and confirmed both were fine without any issue, so the problem was to do with the setup within the boat itself.
This Saturday just gone, a club regular and expert on this brand of engine was there and I spoke to him in advance and asked if he could take a look as it felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall, constantly trying but not getting anywhere...
So on Saturday he took a look, we ran it, and he kept saying to us to "richen" the fuel mixture. Which means to increase the fuel flow into the engine. So, for those who don't know. With RC models with engines, the general rule of thumb was, if you can see the smoke coming from the exhaust, its running "rich" if you cannot see the smoke, its running lean. In terms of performance, you can increase engine output/performance by leaning out the mixture which means less fuel and more oxygen, but sacrifices reliability.
We thought the engine was already rich enough due to being able to see the smoke. But we followed his advice, increasing by a it, sending it out, another test, no joy, bring it back, increasing the mixture, rinse and repeat...until after maybe the 3rd or so test...suddenly the engine began to light up as you would expect...
EUREKA
Cutting an already long story short...the fuel mixture was way way off, and these engines like to run very rich. So throughout the rest of Saturday and for a few hours today Dad and I were working in adjusting the fuel mixture, exhaust length, propeller height/position and now the boat is really flying!
After a VERY long overdue promise...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/KDH8VvAj7dCKz9rK9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LavXehJ2w9hzfdqQ7
Couple of videos to show how its going.
The boat still has more to give. Making more modifications between now and Friday/Saturday. Also I have ordered an exhaust length adapter, which will move the exhaust to make it longer/shorter on the fly. This will allow me to have more torque in the corners to maintain power and pickup speed lost and more RPM in the straights for higher top speed. We've also got a couple of different propellers to try to see what fits this boat & setup best.
Also on Saturday I will hopefully have a GPS readout to confirm the speed, but we're guessing/hoping 50mph+ also I will put a GoPro on it to give a proper view
Over the moon to say the least
So after a long "forced" break from the UK (thank you COVID) I am back. So whats happened since last time?
The last update on this was the boat would not rev up properly and was sort of stuck at around 12,500rpm - which considering its supposed to hit 22-25000rpm, its around half power which isn't good. During my time away, Dad sent the engine and exhaust off to a specialist (who actually supplied the boat and hardware in the first place) to dyno and test the engine & exhaust and confirmed both were fine without any issue, so the problem was to do with the setup within the boat itself.
This Saturday just gone, a club regular and expert on this brand of engine was there and I spoke to him in advance and asked if he could take a look as it felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall, constantly trying but not getting anywhere...
So on Saturday he took a look, we ran it, and he kept saying to us to "richen" the fuel mixture. Which means to increase the fuel flow into the engine. So, for those who don't know. With RC models with engines, the general rule of thumb was, if you can see the smoke coming from the exhaust, its running "rich" if you cannot see the smoke, its running lean. In terms of performance, you can increase engine output/performance by leaning out the mixture which means less fuel and more oxygen, but sacrifices reliability.
We thought the engine was already rich enough due to being able to see the smoke. But we followed his advice, increasing by a it, sending it out, another test, no joy, bring it back, increasing the mixture, rinse and repeat...until after maybe the 3rd or so test...suddenly the engine began to light up as you would expect...
EUREKA
Cutting an already long story short...the fuel mixture was way way off, and these engines like to run very rich. So throughout the rest of Saturday and for a few hours today Dad and I were working in adjusting the fuel mixture, exhaust length, propeller height/position and now the boat is really flying!
After a VERY long overdue promise...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/KDH8VvAj7dCKz9rK9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LavXehJ2w9hzfdqQ7
Couple of videos to show how its going.
The boat still has more to give. Making more modifications between now and Friday/Saturday. Also I have ordered an exhaust length adapter, which will move the exhaust to make it longer/shorter on the fly. This will allow me to have more torque in the corners to maintain power and pickup speed lost and more RPM in the straights for higher top speed. We've also got a couple of different propellers to try to see what fits this boat & setup best.
Also on Saturday I will hopefully have a GPS readout to confirm the speed, but we're guessing/hoping 50mph+ also I will put a GoPro on it to give a proper view
Over the moon to say the least
Hey Andy!
Been a while, hope you're keeping well
No need to apologise at all. I've kept my visit fairly lowkey. There was some reluctance in me visiting from my stepmum as she was worried about my travelling (and potentially affecting the rest of the family) - but fortunately its all been ok I am here for a few more weeks, but for the sake of keeping the peace, I will stick with only seeing the family I am isolating with each day. I understand their concerns, and grateful I was allowed back...so while it wasn't mentioned about seeing friends, its a decision I have taken upon myself
Been a while, hope you're keeping well
No need to apologise at all. I've kept my visit fairly lowkey. There was some reluctance in me visiting from my stepmum as she was worried about my travelling (and potentially affecting the rest of the family) - but fortunately its all been ok
I am here for a few more weeks, but for the sake of keeping the peace, I will stick with only seeing the family I am isolating with each day. I understand their concerns, and grateful I was allowed back...so while it wasn't mentioned about seeing friends, its a decision I have taken upon myself Oh hai Feek, pulling me out of the cobwebs are you?
How are you doing mate?
Oh god, boat has been finished for some time but I had a crazy year this year and barely visited as I've got a little baby boy
But last year I visited quite a lot. Had lots of fun annnnd I built something else....
This thing is insane....havent finished setting it up (gf got pregnant, how inconsiderate) but its an animal. Doesn't want to go straight, accelerates insanely. Its just bonkers. The green cat is well controlled and managable, this is like trying to walk 2 rabbid dogs pulling you along
How are you doing mate?
Oh god, boat has been finished for some time but I had a crazy year this year and barely visited as I've got a little baby boy
But last year I visited quite a lot. Had lots of fun annnnd I built something else....
This thing is insane....havent finished setting it up (gf got pregnant, how inconsiderate) but its an animal. Doesn't want to go straight, accelerates insanely. Its just bonkers. The green cat is well controlled and managable, this is like trying to walk 2 rabbid dogs pulling you along
There was one, I've got video. I'll post it later. Was racing my Dads boat and he cut me off but it was a bit too close for comfortI wanted more crashes
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CVGYn45xf1aeSg646 heres some video from last summer
I'm sorry for the late reply, life is chaos at the minute. I've got some onboard footage of the red thing going around, its insane tbh. Like the way to describe it is the green one is very controlled and behaves well
The red one is like a rabbid animal on a leash, trying to go in every direction except straight. It's a real handful and huge surge of adrenaline to drive.
The red one is like a rabbid animal on a leash, trying to go in every direction except straight. It's a real handful and huge surge of adrenaline to drive.