Mean Machine Catamaran (Sport)

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  • ReddyWatts
    Fast Electric Addict!
    • Apr 2007
    • 1711

    #1

    Mean Machine Catamaran (Sport)

    This is a converted Mean Machine Catamaran "Sport" build that is fast, reliable and economical for anyone new to brushless fast electric boats.

    Fluid has provided a Mean Machine "Racing" build later in this thread. It can run in the 60's with a Neu motor, MGM controller, 6 inch rudder and lipos.

    He also gives us a sport setup for the Mean Machine. 14.8 volts, 9XL Fiegao, M545 prop, MGM16024 controller.
    (44 mph on lipo / 38.1 on NiMH)

    This is my setup using a high voltage controller to lower the amps, using 24 IB 3600 NiMH batteries for reliability and cool running.

    Video of Mean Machine running on 14XL and 24 NiMH cells using only 55 amps - 1400 watts at over 40mph

    Video



    Motor Feigao 540 / 14XL $69.00
    http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=fei-540XL

    Controller HV 100 amp using 12 to 36 cells $99.99
    http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...(USA_Warehouse)

    Pistix $17.99
    http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...rod=msw-pistix

    OEMRC BESC Programming Card $8.30


    Batteries 24 -(IB3600 cells are more reliable than the higher capacity cells.)
    24- IB3600 6 cell packs for $120.00



    Motor mount $7.49
    http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...od=ose-drmount

    Prop Y537/3 or X640 $14.50
    [http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...d=oct-y537%2F3

    Cable/drive shaft .150 3/16 drive cable $24.99
    [http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...svcable&cat=70

    Coupler 5mm - .150 flex coupler $9.95
    http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...oct-ocfhe5mm15

    Strut $28.95
    http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...d=ros-21-strut

    Speedmaster 21 Rudder 5.25" Long $39.95
    http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...=ros-21-rudder

    hull - mean machine $155.00
    http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...p?prod=Aero-MM

    Antenna Bruline antenna and mount $5.50
    http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...=dh-bruline110
    http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=aero-6030

    radio/receiver/servo FM/radio $76.99
    http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=dh-126751

    $675.00 Total

    The yellow hull is a converted nitro Mean Machine using the original hardware.. I was lucky and found a stripped down nitro hull for a great price. The blue one is still a nitro Mean Machine.

    If you do a nitro conversion, you will need to add some carbon fiber, fiber glass or thin hobby plywood to the tunnel part of the hull for the motor mount. It is a little flimsy to handle the torque of the brushless motor.

    Raise the bottom of the strut from 1/4 to 3/16 of an inch above the bottom of the boat.

    .
    Attached Files
    Last edited by ReddyWatts; 01-04-2010, 09:30 PM.
    ReddyWatts fleet photo
    M1 Supercat - Neu 1527 1Y, 8s / Mean Machine- Feigao 580, 8s, 120 HV esc
    Mean Machine - Feigao 540 14XL, 8s, 100 amp HV esc, X537/3
  • FE_Chris
    Senior Member
    • Jun 2007
    • 764

    #2
    Thanks Man! So you can run a 14XL on 24 cells? WOW. I did not know this.
    Fast Electric and Fast Ford's / V8 Mustang Enthusiast

    Comment

    • Fluid
      Fast and Furious
      • Apr 2007
      • 8012

      #3
      A great thread, thanks RW. That total $ does exclude the second most expensive part - the cells. And 24 cells through a single direct drive XL is a lot, but it works for the OP.

      An alternate plan with the same hull is to use a more conservative approach. IMO the MM is too small for 24 cells and works better with 12 to 18. Mine ran in the mid/high-30s on 12 IB3600 cells and a 10XL for 4+ minutes, or 45 mph with a hotter XL motor. I've hit mid 50s with 4S LiPos and a Neu motor running one mile oval heats, so the MM hull can handle power without the weight.

      I guess all this proves is that there is more than one way to have fun with this hull without breaking the bank. :)


      .
      Last edited by Fluid; 06-26-2007, 10:14 AM.
      ERROR 403 - This is not the page you are looking for

      Comment

      • SJFE
        Fast Electric Addict!
        • Apr 2007
        • 4735

        #4
        Wow. How have they held up?

        Comment

        • ReddyWatts
          Fast Electric Addict!
          • Apr 2007
          • 1711

          #5
          Are you getting a lot of water in your boat from the drive line? Add a drive Line seal. Use a rubber grommet or a piece of water line.
          Attached Files
          Last edited by ReddyWatts; 12-04-2007, 01:18 PM.
          ReddyWatts fleet photo
          M1 Supercat - Neu 1527 1Y, 8s / Mean Machine- Feigao 580, 8s, 120 HV esc
          Mean Machine - Feigao 540 14XL, 8s, 100 amp HV esc, X537/3

          Comment

          • Fluid
            Fast and Furious
            • Apr 2007
            • 8012

            #6
            Ready is right, I tend to think in terms of higher end cells; less potent cells deliver less power and the motors last longer.

            OTOH, I ran my MM tonight with the 4S/Neu setup on fairly smooth water and here is the GPS. Five laps on a 1/10th mile course (it was a handful in the turns) and the motor was 115F, the ESC was 130F and the packs were 100F :)


            .
            Attached Files
            ERROR 403 - This is not the page you are looking for

            Comment

            • ReddyWatts
              Fast Electric Addict!
              • Apr 2007
              • 1711

              #7
              WOW!, did you hear a sonic boom when it broke 60? This is a better hull than I first thought. What is its limit???
              ReddyWatts fleet photo
              M1 Supercat - Neu 1527 1Y, 8s / Mean Machine- Feigao 580, 8s, 120 HV esc
              Mean Machine - Feigao 540 14XL, 8s, 100 amp HV esc, X537/3

              Comment

              • Fluid
                Fast and Furious
                • Apr 2007
                • 8012

                #8
                This is probably faster than you could ever race it with other boats, race water would be too rough. I had to throttle it in the tight turns I had, but on the legal 1/6th mile course this would be a fun boat!

                There is more speed there if all we wanted was SAW running, I used a small prop and no spoilers to keep the bow down. But on smooth water it behaved well and I could do some more tuning to settle it down a bit. But I'm like you, the hull is better than I expected. The main thing I have to concentrate on now is tuning for turning.


                .
                ERROR 403 - This is not the page you are looking for

                Comment

                • FE_Chris
                  Senior Member
                  • Jun 2007
                  • 764

                  #9
                  Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.......60MPH is fast man.
                  Fast Electric and Fast Ford's / V8 Mustang Enthusiast

                  Comment

                  • hkusp45
                    Senior Member
                    • Jun 2007
                    • 299

                    #10
                    WOW!!!

                    Im impressed! I would have never guessed 60 mph!!
                    NAMBA #581
                    Q mono NAMBA record holder
                    'REMEMBER SOME PEOPLE ARE ALIVE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL TO SHOOT THEM'

                    Comment

                    • ReddyWatts
                      Fast Electric Addict!
                      • Apr 2007
                      • 1711

                      #11
                      Maybe Fluid could post some pictures of his 60 mph setup for us?
                      Last edited by ReddyWatts; 12-04-2007, 01:20 PM.
                      ReddyWatts fleet photo
                      M1 Supercat - Neu 1527 1Y, 8s / Mean Machine- Feigao 580, 8s, 120 HV esc
                      Mean Machine - Feigao 540 14XL, 8s, 100 amp HV esc, X537/3

                      Comment

                      • Fluid
                        Fast and Furious
                        • Apr 2007
                        • 8012

                        #12
                        Sure, here ya go. But really, going fast is just a matter of setup and power. Power is money. The power level of this 60 mph setup is really too much for the hull except on flat water. I could never oval race it with other boats and keep it upright....the boat is just too small. But a prop with less pitch would bring the speed down and not rob much acceleration, that will be the next thing to try. I need to reduce the length of the power wires too, they are way too long.




                        Neu 1521/1D
                        MGM16024
                        TPX 4S2P/3300/25C
                        m440 prop
                        SpeedMaster hardware


                        .
                        ERROR 403 - This is not the page you are looking for

                        Comment

                        • ReddyWatts
                          Fast Electric Addict!
                          • Apr 2007
                          • 1711

                          #13
                          Well there you have it. Choose a Mean Machine "Sport" or "Race" setup, all from one thread. Get to it, start building!
                          Last edited by ReddyWatts; 07-06-2007, 03:04 PM.
                          ReddyWatts fleet photo
                          M1 Supercat - Neu 1527 1Y, 8s / Mean Machine- Feigao 580, 8s, 120 HV esc
                          Mean Machine - Feigao 540 14XL, 8s, 100 amp HV esc, X537/3

                          Comment

                          • yz120
                            Senior Member
                            • Apr 2007
                            • 233

                            #14
                            thanks guys.
                            your setups both look good.
                            mike

                            Comment

                            • FE_Chris
                              Senior Member
                              • Jun 2007
                              • 764

                              #15
                              Nice man I dig it.
                              Fast Electric and Fast Ford's / V8 Mustang Enthusiast

                              Comment

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