First boat, Delta Force 35" Pirate

[millzee]

I have wanted a rc nitro boat ever since I was a young child, about 9 months ago I thought I'd get myself a Monster truck so I could learn about nitro engines before just throwing a boat in the water and stalling it out in the middle of the lake and so forth. I have gotten right into the hobby and after getting sick of people talking to my wife about the noise of my truck, I reluctantly decided to convert it to electric. The thought of missing the smell and sound of the engine soon faded during the first run after the conversion, the power, quietness and conveinence of an electric motor have increased my enthusiasm for the hobby even more and I can say after 25years wanting a nitro rc boat, I know now, I will never have one.
I was looking into the Spartan but after waiting months on end and reading the forums I then started looking for a RTR boat, the DF32" Cyberstorm caught my eye but then I found out it'd be a month or two away so started toying with the idea of putting a FE boat together myself. After lot's of reading and searching the web I have made my mind up on the Delta Force 35" Pirate. Any Help through my build will be appreciated, I lack confidence in my own decisions in these areas and would appreciate it anyone would point out any tip's, trick's or anything that may assist me through my first build. I learnt quickly with the truck that newbie errors can be costly and I really want to get this boat right. This is to be a "basher" build, I doubt I'll ever race, I wouldn't even know where to find a race, I just want to fly around on our lake.

So far I've put together shopping cart list's, read up more, changed my list and it goes on, I beginning to think I could continue like this forever so I'm going to bight the bullet and order the following:

Delta Force Pirate 35" Boat Hull - White -

Speedmaster Stinger Strut
Prop Shaft Size: - Stinger for 3/16" Propeller shafts -

Speedmaster Billet CNC Aluminum Tabs

Speedmaster Dual Pickup Tapered Rudder Assembly
Rudder Style: - 5" Set Back

One set Metal Turn Fins, medium.

Teflon Liner for .187 flex cable

Hughey .187 Assembled Cable for 3/16" Propellers
hughey .187 length: - 18" cable & shaft total length

Octura Coupler Flex Hex 5mm to .187 Cable

Octura Large Drive Dog for 3/16" Prop Shafts

Octura Brass Bullet Nut for 3/16" shaft

K & S Brass Tubing
tubing size: - 9/32" Diameter pn#132

Octura Auto Bailer

OSE Large 1/4" Tubing (3')

Gundert Water Pickup
gundert pickup: - 4191 3mm

Hatch Lift Nut - Large

Servo Mounting Stand Up Standard Size

Dubro Waterproof Pushrod Seals

Futaba 1.0" Long Servo Arm

Great Planes 4-40 Linkage Rod

Du-Bro E/z Connectors 4-40

Du-bro Swivel Ball Link 4-40 w/Hardware

Rubberize-It Grip Dip Coating
color: - Black
Pacer Z-Poxy 2 Part, 30 Minute Epoxy
Pacer Z-Poxy Finishing Resin
DuBro Epoxy Brushes
3m 1" Wide Velcro
AquaCraft Speed Grease by Grim Racer

Im going to run the Castle 1717 1580kv on 6s 40c 5000mAh, Im not sure if to use 6s1p or set up the hull for 6s2p. I'll use the traxxas water proof servo with a spectrum Mr3000 and Dx3s telling it what to do. Im still a little unsure on the Esc, Im guessing the swordfish 240 or could I get away with the seaking 180?
Im also when it comes to prop's, I want an efficient set up to start me off, once I get my head around things I will play around more but Im guessing a x445, x447 or x450, what would give me cool trouble free running?
Let me know if Im on the right track and of these last few things so I can get my order in.

Thanks, Danny

[CharlieBucket]

Danny,
I am building the same boat, same hull, same motor. I'm not quite as far along as you, but from what I've picked up from a thread I posted a couple days ago, the 180 amp esc will work. I'll post a couple links to other builds.
I look forward to seeing how your project comes along.

[CharlieBucket]

http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ad.php?t=21587

[CharlieBucket]

This is the link to my post.
I hope some of these guys help you out.
Good luck, and have fun!

[steveo]

if it were me i would stay away from the water proof traxxas on boats only because they have plastic gears and it a fairly large boat, get a hitec 645 metal gears not water proof but the price is right

[Fluid]

First, welcome to the world of FE boating! There is a lot of fun to be had, and a lot of challenges too.

I would re-think the motor choice, especially for a first boat. It will run well on 4S but 6S will let you use a lower amp draw. Several club members have slightly larger vees, and they run the Neu 1527/1Y with a Kv of 1250. On 6S they are around 60 mph, plenty for that hull and with reasonable run time - this is really a competition setup. The higher Kv of the Castle motor will stress your electric components even more, I don't recommend it.

For a budget motor the Leopard 4082/1250 Kv motor would be a better choice IMO. I have a couple Leopard motors and so far they've worked well. Others on OSE like them too. They are not quite Neu motors in performance or price, but they seem to be a reasonable low-cost replacement with good quality.

6S1P will reduce the run time and will stress the ESC more, but it is doable with the 1250 Kv motors. IMO if you want to run 1P, go to 6500 mAh 35C cells. You are more flexible running 2P.

More amperage capacity is better as far as the ESC is concerned. I have no experience with the Chinese controllers so I can't recommend them.

For that size hull a 45mm prop is on the small side, but with the 1580Kv motor that's a place to start. With a 1250 Kv motor the x450 is a good place to start. You can probably go on up to an x455 with the latter motor, depending on the run time you can accept.

I have yet to strip the plastic gears on any servo in an FE boat - in over twenty years of racing. Nothing wrong with metal gears, but stick to quality servos like HiTec or Futaba. I have gone to digital servos like the HS-5645 in most of my race boats, but the old standard HiTec HS-645MG is hard to beat.

.

[LarrysDrifter]

On the servo-I dont think one needs or could benefit from a metal gear servo in a mono.They turn very well on their own.I think you can save your money and run the Traxxas servo and save the metal gear (and high torque) for cats and hydros.This may not be a fact,but this is my opinion from running my own boats.

[LarrysDrifter]

And always listen to Fluid-he is one of the most knowledgeable people here.

[Make-a-Wake]

The 1717 won't like 6s1p, go 2p. An x447/x448 should push you close to 60.

[Rich]

Welcome to the forum Danny! You will find a ton of info for you build on this forum. So you got the white hull? I was going to order that one soon! Oh well guess ill have to pick a different color...As for Fluids advice, I would most defiantly take it. He is one of the best; he helped my mean machine hit 57mph. Anyway back to your build, the leopard motors are very good for their price. I used the 4074 2200kv to hit that speed. IMO you could use a leopard 4082 1500 kv on 5s2p for a reliable and fast setup.

[keithbradley]

Danny,
I am building the same boat, same hull, same motor. I'm not quite as far along as you, but from what I've picked up from a thread I posted a couple days ago, the 180 amp esc will work. I'll post a couple links to other builds.
I look forward to seeing how your project comes along.

If you plan on running 6s with that motor, I would run the SF 240HV. With that motor, at that RPM, its easy to pull current at the high end of whats acceptable for the T-180. Add to that the fact that you would be running it at maximum voltage.

In my opinion, its worth leaving a little bit of room and not running everything at absolute max. You will spend less time/money replacing parts in the long run.

[johnson22456]

I think the pirate hull is a great choice. I received mine from Steve last week, and just love the design of this hull. Heres some pics next to my df33 to show the differences in the hulls.

[LarrysDrifter]

That new Pirate sure looks good.The "windshield" looks nice too.Maybe we can get together some time and run?

[johnson22456]

That new Pirate sure looks good.The "windshield" looks nice too.Maybe we can get together some time and run?

You mean run into each other again. Thats where the damage to the front of my df33 came from. Your cyberstorm took the worst of it, RIP.

[LarrysDrifter]

That was the best thing to ever happen to that junk hull.I way way over paid for it and am glad to see it ended up where it did-the dumspter.