dag-nabit
03-26-2011, 05:03 PM
Spartan Hatch Modification
I have been concerned about the hatch design on the Spartan after seeing a few videos (including JPriami's) where the hatch gets torn off when the boat flips.
The two tabs that protrude past the back of the boat are believed to increase the chances of the hatch being dislodged, and possibly damaged in the event of a high speed flip.
I thought about how to modify the hatch, and still have it function and look reasonably good. Here is what I came up with.
First I filled in the back of the tab with pieces of fiberglass cloth and resin to beef it up. Then I sanded the tabs flat so the won't stick out past the rear of the boat.
Tabs filled in with fiberglass and sanded flat.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/daidavies/RC%20Boats/11d8856d.jpg
Then I painted the back of the tab where the plastic an fiberglass were showing.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/daidavies/RC%20Boats/f8ff0b93.jpg
Here is a view from the top showing the tabs no longer stick out past the transom
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/daidavies/RC%20Boats/71495a73.jpg
I think it still looks OK, in fact i suspect most people will never even notice it, and it will make putting hatch tape on a whole lot easier.
Kevin
I have been concerned about the hatch design on the Spartan after seeing a few videos (including JPriami's) where the hatch gets torn off when the boat flips.
The two tabs that protrude past the back of the boat are believed to increase the chances of the hatch being dislodged, and possibly damaged in the event of a high speed flip.
I thought about how to modify the hatch, and still have it function and look reasonably good. Here is what I came up with.
First I filled in the back of the tab with pieces of fiberglass cloth and resin to beef it up. Then I sanded the tabs flat so the won't stick out past the rear of the boat.
Tabs filled in with fiberglass and sanded flat.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/daidavies/RC%20Boats/11d8856d.jpg
Then I painted the back of the tab where the plastic an fiberglass were showing.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/daidavies/RC%20Boats/f8ff0b93.jpg
Here is a view from the top showing the tabs no longer stick out past the transom
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w71/daidavies/RC%20Boats/71495a73.jpg
I think it still looks OK, in fact i suspect most people will never even notice it, and it will make putting hatch tape on a whole lot easier.
Kevin