The importance of floatation

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  • RIPFENCE
    Fast Electric Addict!
    • Sep 2009
    • 1332

    #1

    The importance of floatation

    HI ALL,
    HAD A DISASTEROUS DAY AT THE LAKE..I WAS TRYING OUT A NEW PROP AND FLIPPED MY DF29 AT LOW SPEED OVER BIG WAVES. MY HATCH TAPE WAS WET FROM A PREVIOUS RUN AND IT CAME OFF THE DF SANK TO THE BOTTOM IN 6.5 FEET OF 45 DEGREE WATER. I LOOKED REAL STUPID WITH MY RUBBER RAFT TRYING TO RECOVER MY BOAT OFF THE BOTTOM. TOOK 30 MINUTES..MY GPS STILL WORKS AND I AM DRYING OUT THE REST..FUNNY THING WAS I COULD STILL HEAR MY SERVO ADJUSTING AS I POURED THE WATER OUT OF THE HULL..I WILL NEVER HAVE A BOAT WITHOUT FLOTATION AGAIN..@#$%!^^^%#$%#
    "FE" STANDS FOR FRUSTRATING EXPLOSIONS
  • Fluid
    Fast and Furious
    • Apr 2007
    • 8012

    #2
    Don't feel too bad - lots of folks have made the same mistake. Not only do you need some floatation, you need enough floatation. A good rule of thimb is to have 29 cubic inches of floatation for every pound of boat, minimum.





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    • RIPFENCE
      Fast Electric Addict!
      • Sep 2009
      • 1332

      #3
      thanks for the good info..just another example of learning the hard way..i hope my neu 1515 is going to make it..as well as my lipo
      "FE" STANDS FOR FRUSTRATING EXPLOSIONS

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      • ozzie-crawl
        Fast Electric Addict!
        • Sep 2008
        • 2865

        #4
        and always add some to the hatch as well

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        • jcald2000
          Senior Member
          • May 2008
          • 774

          #5
          Spray the Nue inside with WD-40 ASAP[the magnet will rust!] and reoil the bearings. Works for me!

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          • RIPFENCE
            Fast Electric Addict!
            • Sep 2009
            • 1332

            #6
            Awesome info..wd40 here i go...thanks a lot
            "FE" STANDS FOR FRUSTRATING EXPLOSIONS

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            • JimClark
              Fast Electric Addict!
              • Apr 2007
              • 5907

              #7
              better off using corrsion X I would think.
              Jim
              "Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone except God.
              Billy Graham

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              • RIPFENCE
                Fast Electric Addict!
                • Sep 2009
                • 1332

                #8
                funny you said that..i ordered some corrosion x yesterday and it will be a week before i get it though thank you
                "FE" STANDS FOR FRUSTRATING EXPLOSIONS

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                • BILL OXIDEAN
                  Banned
                  • Sep 2008
                  • 1494

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Fluid
                  Don't feel too bad - lots of folks have made the same mistake. Not only do you need some floatation, you need enough floatation. A good rule of thimb is to have 29 cubic inches of floatation for every pound of boat, minimum.





                  .
                  Wow! I was only coming on this thread to stress that very point, flotation can be your worst enemy if not done right. If you use too little flotation a number of dizasterous things can happen.

                  The worst scenario I've experienced is a boat that neither sinks or floats, but suspends itself mid depth and slowly drifts out to never never land as it could be ANYWHERE in the pond.

                  You have to make certain that you use more than enough to make her float, or you're better off running hollow as I do.

                  I like boats that sink fast if they're gonna do it, but that's only because my test pond is only 5ft at its deepest, and i've been trained in marking/sighting exactly where it went down. I also have a brand new wetsuit, so wading in cold water isn't a HUGE issue

                  Moral of the story, make certain you use enough

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                  • RIPFENCE
                    Fast Electric Addict!
                    • Sep 2009
                    • 1332

                    #10
                    point well taken bill..i suppose there is. nothing worse tha a boat in limbo. i do enjoy letting my boats rip out in the middle of my test pond sometimes so i guess i should fill it with foam or pay the price..
                    "FE" STANDS FOR FRUSTRATING EXPLOSIONS

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                    • Efis
                      Member
                      • Oct 2009
                      • 81

                      #11
                      but suspends itself mid depth
                      Wow.

                      Blake
                      Have some fun every day!!!

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                      • bwells
                        Senior Member
                        • Jan 2009
                        • 842

                        #12
                        Ripfence: I have noticed , as well, that the hockey tape looses it's stickiness after a short time of getting splashed. I was thinking of packing tape but have not tried it yet, not sure what it would do to decals. Any thoughts on expanding foam that will not distort the hull? I think I remember someone saying Great stuff but not sure.

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                        • crabstick
                          Senior Member
                          • Jul 2008
                          • 954

                          #13
                          I lost a boat that split open and dumped its flotation for two years, a guy found it when looking for his hatch..

                          Since then I test the flotation of every boat I build, normally by trying to sink the boat in the bath (with dummy cells and motor etc) For reviving wet electronics try this, it sounds crazy, but I have revived quite a bit of wet gear using this method.

                          firstly disconnect any power sources at the earliest possible opportunity, remove any plastic casing from wet object, boil jug, pour boiling water into bowl, drop item in bowl for 5-10 sec. Remove from bowl, dry with hair drier, spray with either wd40 or corrosion X, leave in hot water cupboard or another warm place for about 24 hours, Test device.

                          Twas only a couple of months ago I kicked some saltwater into my futaba t6ex 2.4ghz, it started going nuts and the lcd was showing crazy stuff and I thought I was in for a new radio until i remembered the above method, 24 hours later it was running smooth again.. my wife was happy too
                          Last edited by crabstick; 12-01-2009, 12:57 AM.
                          Matt.
                          FE, Nitro and Gas racing in Auckland
                          www.rcboats.co.nz

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                          • RIPFENCE
                            Fast Electric Addict!
                            • Sep 2009
                            • 1332

                            #14
                            now that is thourough testing! as far as hockey goes i feel it works well as long as you do not try to use it for more than one run..they tape i am using is the stuff sold by ose..not like the fabric style..expanding foam may work as long as its marine grade..it does not look to good though..maybe i can make a chamber for the front to contain the foam..then there is always the water noodle cut into smaller noodles
                            "FE" STANDS FOR FRUSTRATING EXPLOSIONS

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                            • exotica
                              Senior Member
                              • Oct 2009
                              • 159

                              #15
                              ...good advice, ive used new noodle in mine. Now that Fluid has shared the magic numbers I might just recalculate how much ive used. I know my cat aint going to sink, even if it does fill up with water.

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