Thundercat 31 conversion build

[Jesse J]

Hey Lomdel, what rudder is that, it's gorgeous! thanks.

[lomdel]

The rudder was installed when the cat was still nitro and is the http://www.topsecretboats.com/inc/sdetail/196 . They have others as well. Yes it is beautiful and works great! Their service was on par with OSE's as well.

[DISAR]

I have the same but with one water pickup. It's the best rudder I've used including speedmaster

[Jesse J]

Then I must have me one! their hydro turn fin looks pretty bodacious too!

[brad65]

guys, I know I should be driving my tc31 in a local lake since there are low spots, but am I the only one that keeps braking the stock rudder. I did cut 3/4 of an inch off the last on, but how much can we cut off. Has anyone done a duel rudder settup which we could than have lower rudder hight? lomdel, sorry for the thread rape, just thought since there are allot of other tc31 owner I could get some help.

[Jesse J]

I have tried dual 3" rudders on my 27" balsa cat but didn't really help still slid around corners. I don't think there is much comparison to a long one .

[lomdel]

... am I the only one that keeps braking the stock rudder. ...

We are keen to help here The stock one is horrible anyway because the leading edge is in front of the pivot point. It should ideally be in the middle of the pivot point. That is why I replaced it. Some guys replace the bottom rudder bolt with a plastic one, I just removed mine and tightened the top one so that the rudder can be lifted up by hand with some restraint. This way when you hit something, the rudder will just lift up and you will still have a little bit of steering to get back to shore... Then you can repair the leading edge with a file and wet-sand till sharp as a knife. I protect the leading edge of my rudder with a piece of silicone tubing(waterline).

[brad65]

very cool information, I've scratch built two so far LOL. I like the idea of removing the lower bolt makes sense. I will give it a try thanks again.

[brad65]

I know people are purchasing nylon bolts for the lower rudder, how about a ziptie? It will hold for driving and shear when it hits something

[brad65]

Any of you TC31 owners having trouble with water in the hull. I've gone over everything just can't seem to find were I'm getting all this water from?

[lomdel]

Any of you TC31 owners having trouble with water in the hull. I've gone over everything just can't seem to find were I'm getting all this water from?

The only place water got into my TC was at the stuff tube. As the flex shaft spins, it sucks water up along it. I placed a piece of 4mm ID silicone tubing over were th flex shaft exits the stuff tube in the boat and trimmed it just so that the tube touches the shaft without incurring extra drag on it. Problem solved...

[brad65]

The only place water got into my TC was at the stuff tube. As the flex shaft spins, it sucks water up along it. I placed a piece of 4mm ID silicone tubing over were th flex shaft exits the stuff tube in the boat and trimmed it just so that the tube touches the shaft without incurring extra drag on it. Problem solved...

I cut a piece of fuel line just the right size for in between the strut tube end and the strut housing. I also pulled the teflin tube out and notice water was on the outside of the tube so I lubed that also. If this don't work I have something else I'm over looking. Thank you again for your help.

[brad65]

Well that was the problem wow what I difference I thought I could get away with running acouple tanks through her without greasing the shaft all the time LOL guess that's apart of the hobby. Moving on now in need to fix the hatch since the plastic flap things broke in the front to hold the front in and down. Thanks again for ur help.

[lomdel]

Had another couple of runs with the set-up as in post #99 above with a X440 prop. Temps were cool and runs were fast (no GPS sorry)! X442 will go on next time out.

[DISAR]

Very good Lomdel, don't worry about the GPS as soon as you are happy. Or use it only for information and nothing more. May I ask about the ESC is it the 3-7s or 4-8s version, and if it is the latter one did use its BEC or not. I would suggest not using its BEC but an external UBEC or AA batts. Finally what did you use to waterproof it? Thanks