***Skunkworks Cat Owners thread TIPS / TRICKS / PICS / SET UPS and SIMILAR HULLS***

[exotica]

...yes Dom, thats were the batts will sit to also help with the CG as the GPS unit sits towards the back of the boat. I ran them first were the purple foam is now and found that the boat was to heavy towards the back. Both batts were sitting inside the hull if i understand correctly were purple foam is now.

[domwilson]

...yes Dom, thats were the batts will sit to also help with the CG as the GPS unit sits towards the back of the boat. I ran them first were the purple foam is now and found that the boat was to heavy towards the back. Both batts were sitting inside the sponsons if i understand correctly.

I run mine in the sponsons towards the back. About an inch or so from the transom.

[exotica]

I run mine in the sponsons towards the back. About an inch or so from the transom.

...I was running mine also in the sponsons approx 4 inch from the transom. It appears to be better balanced with the batts were they are now and the GPS unit closer to the transom.

[eboat]

I have one of the 2nd generation skunk cats that I have been playing with

I am running a SV 27 motor and esc in mine

[exotica]

...heres a picture I found that helped me understand what a Transom was, its the ass end of the boat which I wont be forgetting in a hurry now....lol.

[eboat]

I am trying to race it in the LSO class and we run for 4 min

I have been gradually working up to the 4 min time mark and this is what I am getting

running X442 prop
2 2S 5000 zippy lipos 4S1P setup

With a stopwatch timed run for 4min 10sec

Recharged the lipos I used 3374 of the 5000 (anything less than 4000 I was happy)

With the amount of time I ran and how much I used my average amp draw was 50 amps

My motor was hot at the end of 4 min as I only have the short cooler on it so I added the fan on the end as in the picture now to see if it helps

I am running my lipos in the sponson on either side of the motor

With the lipos in this spot my COG is 9" ahead of the sponson transom
The sponsons are 29" from tip to transom

I am having trouble with the boat in the straights the nose wants to porpus up and down but as soon as I turn the ruder any it will level out

My strut is level and flat with the bottom of the boat
I have tried it a little higher than the bottom and I have tried it tipped down at the back (to try and lift the back some)

I guess my next try will be to move the lipos farther ahead and see what happens

[eboat]

I counted my laps and went 1.8 miles in the 4 min

I do not know how this other set up is going to draw 108 amps when I only averaged 50 ??

[exotica]

...thanks for sharing eboat. The figures from the FEcalc are high for the amp draw but it could be right. My cat did the same porpusing up and down and flipped it once. I have now adjusted the strut a little more and changed the CG around by moving the batteries and the GPS unit. I have not yet tested this configuration but hoping to this weekend.

[eboat]

How far is your COG from the back end of the sponsons ?

[Heath M]

The COG on my Skunk Cat (1st Gen) is about an inch behind the fron step.

[Heath M]

ooh and nice transom shot

[exotica]

...finally I had a chance to take her out on her real maiden test today with the Mystery 200a pentium ESC fitted and the GPS unit. I also got some video so please help me in trying to get
this boat more stable on the water as it did appear a few times to wanna lift the front end. To answer your questions the COGis 265mm from the transom. I was running the X445 prop, 4S1P and water very calm, perfect conditions.

I have also made some adjustments to the strut as previously talked about. The GPSreadings are as pictured and to get 75kph I was happy with the result. After I bought her in the third time there was a little smoke, dont know from, is this common??

Below is the first vide and two more pics, the two other videos will be posted shortly...

First video here...

[domwilson]

Good run! Does the transom of the boat sink when you give it throttle?

[Heath M]

Hey Kosta the boat looks good in the vid, bit hard to really tell though.
Hows your strut set?
the nose of my strut is 3mm above the bottom of the spnsons while the back is sitting level with them, that should give you an indication of the angle it is set at. Your COG is roughly the same as mine.
And smoke is never a good thing to come from the inside of the boat, how's the speedy look and smell? You sure it wasn't steam?
Heath

[exotica]

Good run! Does the transom of the boat sink when you give it throttle?

...no Dom it doesnt appear to sink, it elevates on plane from what I can tell so its right.