Pro Boat Formula Fastech Jet Drive Project

[Diegoboy]

*** UPDATE ***
Video on Post# 150
*** /UPDATE ***

Disclaimer! I am not responsible for damage done to you, your friends/family, your boat, or your property as a result of following anything described herein.


I already started this one before I realized, I need to take pics.

On 10/02/2008 @ 7:16AM I made my choice

Thanks for those bottom pictures.
I have now found my next "jet" boat hull!
I'm excited about this one!

On 10/23/2008 the jet drive arrived, so the project begins.

Start with either a bare Fastech hull (like I did)



...or strip down a Fastech to it's bare hull.



Pull out the stuffing tube:
Remove the hatch, place the hull upside down and score a line around the stuffing tube base where it exit's the bottom of the hull. Score a line in the same manner to the stuffing tube where it enters the hull as well. Apply heat with a torch (keeping the flame directed away from the hull) and heat the stuffing tube from the outside. Once it's nice and hot, grab a set of pliers, channel locks, vice grips, etc. and twist the tube. you will hear pops, that will be ok. Do not twist degrees yet!
Keep this technique going until the tube lets go. Start twisting the tube 180 degrees now and get it out carefully.



Image from the bottom.



Assemble the jet drive you have chosen. I choose the Graupner 40mm

[calcagno45]

awesome!! cant wait to see the finished project!!!

[Darin Jordan]

This is going to be TOO COOL!

How is the hull quality??? I'm seriously considering getting one of these and seeing how it races!

[rockwerks]

This is going to be TOO COOL!

How is the hull quality??? I'm seriously considering getting one of these and seeing how it races!

I Was thinking of buying the parts and building a hull skinned in thin alum. for bashing up all these small creeks and rivers we have here. maybe even set up gates to get through........a whole new venue for scale racing

[Diegoboy]

This is going to be TOO COOL!

How is the hull quality??? I'm seriously considering getting one of these and seeing how it races!

This hull is surprisingly well built. The transom looks to be about 1/2 thick! *Correction 3/8"
Here's an inside view of the transom...

[Spot Me 2]

Very cool. Where did you get the jet drive from?

[Diegoboy]

Very cool. Where did you get the jet drive from?

From funrcboats.com

[Doby]

Ummmm,,,what happened to your snake boat?????

[Diegoboy]

I am considering scraping the Mamba project. It's too nice a boat and I'm to poor a driver. If she sits on the shelf long enough for my driving skills to improve, then...
I'd hate to wreck this boat, I honestly feel that the Mamba is too good a boat for me to run right now. I know, it sounds like an excuse, or even a cop-out, but it is the truth. I can't drive a boat. Why does the FEMBOT club only have 1 boat in the water at a time? Because I have been known to hit other boats.

[Diegoboy]

Locate the position of the jet drive suction tube and trace the opening on the bottom of the hull. Hand draw an opening inside what you just traced by 1/8".
At the front end of the inner drawing, drill 2 9/16" holes (1 at each corner) and using a 1-1/4" hole saw, drill the back end of the inner drawing.
*note: start the drill into the gel coat, then reverse the drill and drill backward to prevent splitting the Fiberglass & Gel coat.



Next, Connect the dots...

[ace028]

I Was thinking of buying the parts and building a hull skinned in thin alum. for bashing up all these small creeks and rivers we have here. maybe even set up gates to get through........a whole new venue for scale racing

Do you mean water rock crawling? lol

[Diegoboy]

With a small hacksaw blade, cut out the opening for the suction tube.

[Meniscus]

That's it? That's as far as you've made it?

Speaking of driving, how come you depth perception is just fine to "eyeball" locations for various components for a boat, but as soon as there's a liquid surface, you claim you can't tell distance?

(thinking that I don't want to ride with Diegoboy in a vehicle, let alone a boat)

Project looks good

[Steven Vaccaro]

So far so good. Looks like the perfect hull for this!

[Eodman]

Will those drives hold up to brushless motors?