Only Velcro for holding down your lipos??

[shartinspartin]

I bought a new boat. Its my first fiberglass boat. To my surprise it had nothing but a couple peices of velcro to hold it down.
Is that good enough? What happens if you blow over or something???

[tlandauer]

Velcro holding down batteries is a two edge sword: the heavy duty industrial strength ones are good but if you velcro the entire length of the batteries, beware that it is EXTREMELY HARD to PULL, I cracked my DF45 Sniper that way. The velcro was on wooden battery trays, still, it flexed the bottom and hairline crack was the result. I was able to fix the hull, but after that I use credit cards to separate the velcro little by little, and I place something between the area that it already separated as I make my progress .
To answer your question, the square pieces are not enough for a blow over, but as I said above, I won't Velcro the entire length, you need to experiment a little to see what is a good compromise.
Another trick I do is use good quality Duct Tape, I buy the best, black Gorilla Tape , the center is orange colar. These are not the cheap silver variety and is Made in USA. I tape one or two pieces on each battery strategically so the battery is inmobile. You have to be careful when peeling this tape : it is strong and can rip the battery coverings.
Best is a battery tray with velrco straps, and if the battery is sliding in the strap, I wrap the battery with Grip Liner---hardware store in the Kitchen section. They look like net and is very sticky and soft. Buy the thinnest ones you can find.

[lenny]

Hi,
Post some pictures of your boat and the setup in it with the cells in there place on the velcro tape.
We may have some other good ideas for you to try.

I bought a new boat. Its my first fiberglass boat. To my surprise it had nothing but a couple peices of velcro to hold it down.
Is that good enough? What happens if you blow over or something???

[shartinspartin]

I dont want to be too specific. My sub forum is DEAD and they will move this thread.

[lenny]

Pm me your info and post some pictures in,
Show Off Your Rc Boat - Pictures post.

[Southwest]

Gentleman from CA is correct on Velcro and amount of Velcro used on lipos. Now getting velcro pulled up can use a plastic paddle used in applying decals and fast food vendors who put up advertising sheets in windows. Now his posting was one best I have seen in many a moon . Now that subject has never come up in forum and should be copied. Also on the sliding lipo on tray, just put a couple of small pieces of Velcro on tray and lipo and then use a Velcro strap and don't worry any more.

[driftah]

I Only use cf trays with 3 Velcro straps,2 widthwise One lengthwise.....my lipos never move

[iridebikes247]

I would use the carbon fiber battery trays and strap the lipos in and also velcro the bottom of the cells into place with 2 1 inch square pieces of velcro. This will make removal easier. Velcro works really well, almost too well and if the hull is thin you'll definitely mess it up removing packs.

I should add its really really important to have batteries in place, a dislodged lipo can knock a hatch off, or become punctured if it hits into the wrong stuff. eiither of these scenarios will quickly ruin your day so definitely make sure everything is secure.

[properchopper]

I would use the carbon fiber battery trays and strap the lipos in and also velcro the bottom of the cells into place with 2 1 inch square pieces of velcro. This will make removal easier. Velcro works really well, almost too well and if the hull is thin you'll definitely mess it up removing packs.

I should add its really really important to have batteries in place, a dislodged lipo can knock a hatch off, or become punctured if it hits into the wrong stuff. eiither of these scenarios will quickly ruin your day so definitely make sure everything is secure.

The CF trays work nicely when bonded firmly to the hull ( G/Flex all the way!) and "one-wrapped" in place.
(I make my own trays out of 3/32" birch ply and bulk purchase Velcro one-wrap- saves money)

[Gary]

One strip of Velcro on the bottom per battery, 3 hold down Velcro straps each and wedged between thick foam. At over a 100+ they become a missile and will break right through the hull. Hell I even had a garmin GPS blow right through the transom one time !!

[properchopper]

A team member at a SAW event had two batteries break loose during a tumble. Knocked the hatch off and went to the bottom with the Castle Hydra ESC still attached to the batteries.

[properchopper]

Shartin

In answer to your PM (I can't attach pix in PM's) NO, I didn't CF the boat. Besides being vastly overrated and a MAJOR PIA to do ( I can more easily teach my dog to sing the National Anthem while accompanying himself on the accordian), and fiberglass cloth being much easier to handle (the strength comes mostly from the bonding epoxy anyway), I just stiffened my tub with aluminum angle and braced the stuffing tube to keep the shaft in alignment with the motor, and the #1 most important mod was to stiffen the "bendy" motor mount with a piece of CF sheet.

My battery hold down straps are from Pure-Tech but any Velcro one-wrap will work once correctly epoxied to the hull (G/Flex)

Keep in mind that this boat is a friendly-priced rtr sport boat that won't hold up when pushed past it's hull design and structural limits. I built mine to race the new NAMBA P-Ltd Cat class. With a UL-1 motor it'll do a little over 50 mph but in heat race trim, maybe 48--49mph. (FWIW it placed second overall behind another MC at the 2012 NAMBA Nat's and just won the NAMBA D19 2013 P-Ltd Cat High Points Award - sorry for bragging)

[iridebikes247]

properchopper-Those velcro straps look really strong. I used the align ones here on the site but after a few months of use I would sometimes break one when tightening everything down. Gflex looks good I'll have to give it a try. I use aquarium silicone in my 10-12s setup and also the smaller one. Its cool because the entire tray has give to it so the packs won't wrench on the hull floor in a crash.

[properchopper]

properchopper-Those velcro straps look really strong. I used the align ones here on the site but after a few months of use I would sometimes break one when tightening everything down. Gflex looks good I'll have to give it a try. I use aquarium silicone in my 10-12s setup and also the smaller one. Its cool because the entire tray has give to it so the packs won't wrench on the hull floor in a crash.

I build lots of boats so I bit the bullet and shelled out $20 for a thirty foot roll of 1-1/2" Velcro one-wrap (Home Depot). It's verythick/tough/strong and can be trimmed/narrowed to suit any application.

DSC04946.JPG

And yup, after using hobby shop epoxy which often failed me I switched to G/Flex - with proper surface prep it makes bonds that are quite permanent to say the least

[urbs00007]

The CF trays work nicely when bonded firmly to the hull ( G/Flex all the way!) and "one-wrapped" in place.
(I make my own trays out of 3/32" birch ply and bulk purchase Velcro one-wrap- saves money)

tony, do you put 3/32 risers under the plywood tray and do you coat with epoxy before or after install. also, do you sand both surfaces flat before bonding? thanks