Almost sunk my Delta Force 33" Today

[Raydee]

Was a bit to choppy to run today but I did it anyway and ended up stuffing my DF33" hard. The impact ripped the hatch off the hull, tape and all. Everything was under water for about ten minutes. It looks like the CC BEC is the only part that actually burnt. I removed everything out of the hull and sprayed them down with high grade electronics cleaner, blowed everything out with my air compressor and put everything in a zip lock bag full of rice. I know the motor will be fine but I hope the CC Hydra 240 survives. First time in 3 years I have had a mishap like this, I am def going to rethink just using tape to hold hatches on from now on.

[BakedMopar]

Iv'e had that happen with my BBY OM29. Stuffed hard and craked the hatch. Boat had about 4" of the nose sticking out of the water. The tape was still holding the edges though. Thats how CC ICE 100 #1 died.

[Efis]

Crap, hate hear that Ray. No cracks in the hull or hatch? I take it the receiver survived? 10 minutes seems like forever with a little bobbing triangle. How'd you get it out?

Blake

[m4a1usr]

I am def going to rethink just using tape to hold hatches on from now on.

It is a lesson learned the hard way. I see way too many guys who cut off the hold down tabs on certain hull hatches. The SV27 is probably the best example. They cut off the front rod and remove the rear twist lock. Both some of the best mechanical attaching devices, yet they discard them with ease. Why? Cause they never crashed hard before.

Sorry to hear you got wacked Ray. On the front of my DF33 hatch I am using a metal tab and a single 6-32 screw towards the back. Its probably not the best way but it offers more then just the tape.

John

[Raydee]

Baked did you try to blow out the ESC and dry it out or did it just burn on you?

Blake the hatch is cracked, must of been some serious force to rip the hatch off like it did. The hull itself doen't have a scratch, didn't even bend the hardware. I won't know if the receiver is still good for a couple days. I know the BAG O RICE trick worked fantastic on my GPS and my friends cell phone so hopefully it works on my boat electronics too. I will take everything out in a couple days and hook it all back up and see what still works and what doesn't. I was def panicking because at a couple times I couldn't see the hull at all and I thought for sure it was going to sink. luckily I had a lot of flotation in it and it managed to stay above the water.

[Raydee]

Yeah John I am def going to be looking at another method to hold my hatch's in place just in case. I am just grateful that I didn't lose the whole boat and that it wasn't one of my larger 6s hulls.

[tomstoys2]

Sorry to hear about this Ray, what a bummer.
Tom

[Raydee]

Yeah it happens, def part of the hobby. Might not be the good part but if you want to play you have to pay

[Rumdog]

What tape do you use? The hatch tape from OSE "hockeytape is the most adhesive I have found yet. I blew the hatch off a DF 33 also using reg. Clear electrical tape. Stuffed and off came the hatch.

[Jeepers]

some type of mechanical hold down is a must for hatches with the speeds the boats are seeing these days!

[Raydee]

DON"T trust just the tape, that is exactly the tape I was using.....just got it from OSE the other day. Just have to find a better way to lock the hatch in place. I have used orings in the past but they are not really pleasing to the eye. I wouldn't mind the cowl locks but I think they leak water.

[marko500]

Yeah Ray I had the cowl locks on my cat, when it was upside down that time they did leak some. I've got 2 sets in my tool box if you can figure a way to waterproof them.

Mark

[Raydee]

Thanks Mark, I have some sitting on my shelf. I never really liked them BUT if I find a way to make them water tight I may still use them.

[BakedMopar]

Baked did you try to blow out the ESC and dry it out or did it just burn on you?

I soaked it denatured alcohol and let dry in a container with limestone for a few days. Hooked it up to the Castle link to retrieve data and the link started smoking! I did try to connect it to power but it didn't even come on.

[properchopper]

Ray, on my DF 33 I use a garage door opener belt clip epoxied to the underside of the hatch which slides under the deck when in place. Survived a full tilt flip-o-rama which tore the gelcoat off the hatch but the hatch didn't budge. The H&M shovel did a back-flip at full bore and sucked the hatch off. Check out the retainers I'm now using employing some spare servo arms. The front of the hatch stays in place using a rivet epoxied to the hatch lid which goes into a hole in the deck. I've discovered the hard way that tape does a decent job keeping the water out, but won't hold hatches on at higher speeds !