Proboat Mini-C + Nqd 19mm Jet drive

[damfurst]

I am attempting to meld a Mini-C (had an extra hull) with a Nqd 19mm Jet Drive (also extra since doing my Nqd Jet Sprint + 22mm jet drive). Now I know this may not work, but somebody had to try it and it actually looks pretty cool. So on with the build.

Took new Mini-C hull and stripped all electronics and drive/strudder parts from the hull. Also cut out the inner hull to gain as much room as possible for the jet drive. It looked like a tight fit especially at the rear where the back of the drive will meet up with the rear wall of the hull. Looks like a Xacto/dremel operation for sure. I left the part of the inner hull that had the servo mount. This would be handier than having to make a new one.

First is to fill the bow with floation foam so 2 part foam mixed and poured. This one won't be sinking anytime soon. Next made pattern from cardstock for the intake on the bottom of the hull. After cutting the intake hole out then cut the rear exhaust for the drive. Had to hack and cut some of the top of the rear hull behind the magnetic tab for the hatch in order to fit the drive in. Once everything was trimmed and fitted where I thought it would work then used gererous amount of Shoe goo to glue bottom and back of drive to hull. Also used shoe goo to fill in gaps and holes both on the top of the hull and bottom as well. Nozzle/stator assembly coated with vaseline so that is wouldn't be stuck to the shoe goo and all screws side and bottom installed to get good fit to the hull. Let this sit to dry overnite. More to come.

[damfurst]

Since it snowed again did a little more work on the build.

I moved on to the steering on the nozzle. Things don't line up quite since the steering for the Nqd drive is on top of the nozzle, but the servo is at about halfway of the nozzle. No way am I sticking the servo out the top. So the next best thing was Shoe gooing part of a servo horn at the halfway point on the nozzle, right side. Plugged the original hole with shoe goo and drilled a new hole a little lower. I used the stock Nqd boot, rod connector, and servo rod. Had to bend the servo rod a bit, but when I tested it the servo and movement of the nozzle were just right. A couple of pics.

[FloatDaBoat]

I know very little 'bout jet boats, but how is the jet intake able to pick up any water mounted between the sponsons on a cat ?!?!?! Seems as soon as it began to plane, all it could suck would be air . . . .

[damfurst]

I know very little 'bout jet boats, but how is the jet intake able to pick up any water mounted between the sponsons on a cat ?!?!?! Seems as soon as it began to plane, all it could suck would be air . . . .

You're right, and we'll find out if the drive will work or not. Thanks for your thoughts.

[video200]

could you possebly exstend the water intake so it is in the water at all times ?

[FloatDaBoat]

You're right, and we'll find out if the drive will work or not. Thanks for your thoughts.

OK, it'd probably make an interesting video - - lots of RPM & ... what else ???

[damfurst]

OK, it'd probably make an interesting video - - lots of RPM & ... what else ???

Maybe bragging rights? I know this may not even work and is impractical, but we who mess with jet drives are a little off in the head anyway. I mean to have any real fun with them a shallow fast moving creek is the funnest place to play with these jet drive boats. This boat (if it works) won't be able to do that, but I want to try it anyway and I needed a project that wouldn't cost me anything to try it.

[wparsons]

A mini v would work much better, as soon as it starts to plane it will lose prime and slow right down.

[damfurst]

Finished the build. Decided to power it with the Mini-C/V/RD brushed motor, esc/rx,servo set up. Since I don't know exactly how this is going to work didn't want to overpower it, lol. Tub tested it and had a first-no leaks. Discovered I had to push down on the rear of the boat in order for the pump to even prime. So I added about 2.5 ounces of total weight in the rear of the sponsoons. This sunk down enough so that it easily primed. Next will come the actual test on the water. And the pond looks like the ice is gone so should be able to test it there if doesn't freeze over again. They're are calling for snow again tonight.

[damfurst]

Here is the maiden voyage of this unholy hybrid. Ran it both on 2s and 3s batteries with the later of course being faster and causing some spinouts. Not a speed demon, but it does work. A few times it ran over some ripples on the pond and cavitated losing prime. But for the most part it did better than expected. Wondering if I should try brushless setup next

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQoa1QMgoDk

[old guy]

looks good went better than I thought it would
Rick

[LarrysDrifter]

Have you thought about running 2 jet drives?One in each sponson-giving the hull will fit them of course. Probably wouldnt have to add weight to it to keep it primed.

[damfurst]

looks good went better than I thought it would
Rick

Thanks Rick, It exceeded what I thought it would do too.

Larry I think about using 2 drives, but the problem with the Mini-C is the sponsoons don't have enough flat area plus every time you make a turn the one drive on the outside of the turn would cavitate. I found that out last year when I tried a dual drive in a bigger hull that the sponsoons were flat on. Gave up on that one. Also the weight of 2 drives and motors, batteries is more than what I added to make this work. Will probably adjust the weight some and see what happens.

[FloatDaBoat]

Appears to me that it never achieved a full plane, but it went better than I surmised it would.