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Greetings! I thought I'd share my first build project with the forum - A Brushless FE Aeromarine Mean Machine Catamaran. I mostly learned from pics online. Everything for this project was purchased from Offshoreelectrics.com (Steven is very knowledgeable and honest). Here's my initial set up:
Motor: Feigao 540-8XL (2084kv)
Battery: 14-cell IB4200 NiMH
ESC: Castle Creations Hydra 120
Prop: x442/2
Hardware: All Speedmaster. 0.21 Round Bottom Strut, 6in Rudder (Cut to 5in).
Connectors: 5.5mm Gold on ESC and motor, Deans on NiMH
Floatation: 2in. Foam Pipe fittings for 3/4in pipe.
Sealing: 3M 5200 Marine Sealer on all external fittings
The trickiest part of the construction is making sure that your drive line is straight from motor to strut. With a propane torch, anneal the brass stuffing box until it's red, except for the last one inch at each end. Most designs seem to have an "S" shaped drive line. I think this increases drag. For the motor mount, I hammered out a more steeper motor angle pointing into the hull, so that I ended up with a "C" shape drive line for less drag. I placed 3M 5200 Marine Sealer on all external fittings and hardware to create a waterproof seal. The boat runs bone dry.
It's important to prop down on your first run, and come in to check the temperature on the motor, ESC, and batteries after 1 minute. Use a timer! On its maiden voyage, I started with a x440. I am happy with a x442 for now using NiMH power. The Strut angle is 0-degrees and you may have to move the batteries to the bow or stern to get the proper weight balance on your set up.
To ensure that everything runs smoothly at first, I am running on 14-cells. This set up runs 40mph. I'll step up to 4S2P LiPo after a couple of more runs and most likely prop up to a x642. At some point, I may substitute my Feigao 12XL motor with 6S LiPo. With either LiPo set up, it should run 50-55mph. The limit of stability of this hull is 60mph and can turn at 40mph.
I would appreciate any advice or suggestions from your experiences on the Mean Machine. Thanks guys!
A huge step up from my SV27. My first RC boat ever was the SV27 where ultimately, some fishing line wound around the prop and pulled the back end of the boat down into the water. No rescue boat around - End of Story! I was told that people go bass fishing in that part of the pond and just toss the broken lines in the water. FYI: Ask around, know where you're running your boat and avoid fishing hot spots!
Motor: Feigao 540-8XL (2084kv)
Battery: 14-cell IB4200 NiMH
ESC: Castle Creations Hydra 120
Prop: x442/2
Hardware: All Speedmaster. 0.21 Round Bottom Strut, 6in Rudder (Cut to 5in).
Connectors: 5.5mm Gold on ESC and motor, Deans on NiMH
Floatation: 2in. Foam Pipe fittings for 3/4in pipe.
Sealing: 3M 5200 Marine Sealer on all external fittings
The trickiest part of the construction is making sure that your drive line is straight from motor to strut. With a propane torch, anneal the brass stuffing box until it's red, except for the last one inch at each end. Most designs seem to have an "S" shaped drive line. I think this increases drag. For the motor mount, I hammered out a more steeper motor angle pointing into the hull, so that I ended up with a "C" shape drive line for less drag. I placed 3M 5200 Marine Sealer on all external fittings and hardware to create a waterproof seal. The boat runs bone dry.
It's important to prop down on your first run, and come in to check the temperature on the motor, ESC, and batteries after 1 minute. Use a timer! On its maiden voyage, I started with a x440. I am happy with a x442 for now using NiMH power. The Strut angle is 0-degrees and you may have to move the batteries to the bow or stern to get the proper weight balance on your set up.
To ensure that everything runs smoothly at first, I am running on 14-cells. This set up runs 40mph. I'll step up to 4S2P LiPo after a couple of more runs and most likely prop up to a x642. At some point, I may substitute my Feigao 12XL motor with 6S LiPo. With either LiPo set up, it should run 50-55mph. The limit of stability of this hull is 60mph and can turn at 40mph.
I would appreciate any advice or suggestions from your experiences on the Mean Machine. Thanks guys!
A huge step up from my SV27. My first RC boat ever was the SV27 where ultimately, some fishing line wound around the prop and pulled the back end of the boat down into the water. No rescue boat around - End of Story! I was told that people go bass fishing in that part of the pond and just toss the broken lines in the water. FYI: Ask around, know where you're running your boat and avoid fishing hot spots!
lol
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