Carbon rivercat revamp....

[kfxguy]

I decided to change up my 32" rivercat a little. I originally built it just to make a few fast passes but decided I like the boat enough that I'd like to drive it more often and not worry about it. The original setup wasn't a sporting setup by any means. I had a 1515 2200kv castle motor with a fightercat 101 esc running on 6s, x642 prop. Well the esc got wet and gave up on me. New setup is a 1520 1500kv castle. Not really the kv motor I wanted but I got a good deal on it....so be it. I'm sure it'll swing a 45-46mm prop without a problem. Esc is a t180 turnigy that's I'm doing some mods to....bigger battery wires, cap bank and castle 6.5mm female bullets soldered directly to it. Here the progress

Fitting the monster in there

[kfxguy]

Notice I removed the esc mount in front of the motor. I'm making a new one that will allow the esc to bolt down and allow esc changes to different types easily.

I had to turn the Cooling sleeve shorter and had to taper it in the front to get it to fit.

[PowerDemon]

Looks real nice! Can't wait to see it run!

[rickwess]

Lots of room in there. The caps on the T180 look like they will be tight with the hatch. A SF220 might fit better and tuck in under the opening.

[kfxguy]

Lots of room in there. The caps on the T180 look like they will be tight with the hatch. A SF220 might fit better and tuck in under the opening.

I test fit it. Everything clears. I'm not a fan of swordfish esc's to be honest. I also like to have my reverse.

[kfxguy]

Looks real nice! Can't wait to see it run!

Man I should have it together in a couple days. I found a lake (huuuuge) about 300 yards from my house in the woods. It's going to be my test run lake. It's bigger than any other lake I've been to so I can open it up

[kfxguy]

New esc mount. Simple but it works. I made it to where other esc's will fit





I'm about to order a couple props. What would be a good one for this setup? Think I'm gonna try some stainless ones this time. So probably Prather

[Fluid]

I used a Prather S235 on my SAW RC, with the 2200 Kv motor it ran about 90 mph and the prop did not 'control' the boat. To start an S225 or S230 might be safer, depends on what you want the boat to do. You could also try an S240 for higher speeds but watch the temps.


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[kfxguy]

I used a Prather S235 on my SAW RC, with the 2200 Kv motor it ran about 90 mph and the prop did not 'control' the boat. To start an S225 or S230 might be safer, depends on what you want the boat to do. You could also try an S240 for higher speeds but watch the temps.


.

Good info. Thx!

[PowerDemon]

I really like the ESC mount. It was a really nice touch!

[kfxguy]

I really like the ESC mount. It was a really nice touch!

thanks!

i wasted a bunch of time soldering 6.5mm bullets directly to it facing up. after all the trouble i went through, whem i plugged in the wire, they hit the hatch. so i bought a better soldering iron and resoldered them laying down. I did a bench test last night and everything works except neither my program card and digital program box wont communicate with it. The card wont even light up. works with my car esc tho. The digital program box lights up but wont connect.

I have a turnighy esc and the program boxes are hobbywing......i thought they were compatible?

[kfxguy]

Got it finished up tonight. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I decided to be a fool and test it....in my ditch lmao. It's been raining here for two days so the ditch is pretty full. Redneck I know but I wanted to see how this motor faired. It has alot more torque then the 1515. The boat would jump clean out of the water. Had lots of power. I don't think I'm going to be disappointed when I run it this weekend. I have one more thing to do. I have to use a different type of standoff for the hatch bolts. These are bottoming out and not holding the hatch on quite water tight enough. I'll fix that in the next day or so.

Finished pics

[Scott M]

Damn Travis... Good job, clean and simple. I'm diggin all the builds you do.

[kfxguy]

Thanks Scott. I should have some videos of it this weekend. This motor has no problem pushing this little hull.

[Fella1340]

Nice job refitting it Travis. I really like the hatch hold downs, really clean look. You should be able to trim them an even possibly get the elusive water tight boat without tape! I will be borrowing the idea. With that motor you should be able to swing a monster prop, might be a good boat to have one custom done. where did you get the hose clamps? Looking Forward to seeing this one rip up the lake!