LARGE hydro! going electric

[JJJEFFCOAT]

hey guys, good to see this site! i have a question for the electric peeps. heres my boat:
6'-6" long X 34" wide @ the sponsons
18.25" wide tunnel
i think it weighs 30 lbs with the engine
25 Quickdraw engine

i bought the boat asa worm hole filled fiberglass hull. ( yes lots of bondoing those little things)

so the QuickDraw engine does great when its running. but there is my problem, "when its running".
its unpredictable. sometimes go, sometimes pull pull nothing.

sSO, what do you guys suggest for an electric setup?
dual moters? how many batteries? and a wiring diagram would be great.
any thoughts would be really appreciated.
Jason

[SJFE]

I would contact Ray Fuller from fullers fast electrics. He has RTR 1/8 scale hydros for 600 bucks just add radio. It will cost you twice that to convert your boat and power it.

[Doby]

Twin LMT 3080's 9T, ($1400.00); Twin Schultze 40/160 Speed Controllers ($1300.00) , and some 10-12S Lipos, ($1400.00)

Add running hardware etc figure around $4300.00 by the time you are back on the water.

[Diegoboy]

I have a DC electric motor from a "Mart Cart" Cheap! It was a geared motor that I removed the gearing from, making it much faster. It runs on 12v (car battery) Maybe you can fabricate a mechanical speed controller from a huge potentiometer or something. But I know that motor will push that boat! It also weighs approximately 15lbs give or take
Nice boat BTW!

[Fluid]

Listen carefully. That boat is well beyond the experience of about anyone on this or any other FE site. The vast majority of FE boats are under 60", the legal maximum for most organized racing. Most are under 44". You may get some recommendations, but they will not be based on any real experience. That doesn't make them wrong - but it does increase the chances that you will have an expensive project that does not run any better than it did with gasoline power. If you cannot get a gasoline engine to run reliably, then you may not have any better luck with electrics.

The worst thing you can possibly do is to make this boat your first FE project. Put it aside for a year and start with a much smaller and less expensive boat. Learn how to build and rig the smaller boat ,and how not to destroy the ESC and cells by not making a simple beginner's mistake. Then you can decide if you really want a 6.5-foot FE monster.



.

[Diegoboy]

Listen to Fluid. He is the master when it comes to this hobby!

[Mich. Maniac]

I am interested in how you transport that thing. I have no advise. sorry. I am a beginner that they mention above. I can say if it were me Id run a nice reliable chain saw motor in that one.

[JJJEFFCOAT]

transporting the beast

i have a pvc base that i slide into the back of my full size extended cab chevy. i can just close the tailgate. with about 1" to spare and the wing about the same from the back window. really is a perfect fit. sounding like i should just buy a more sound 2-stroke. i appreciate all the comments. it did turn out to be a nice boat. been working on it for over a year. it has a 3" stainless steel prop ("clever sharp prather").. ive still got alot of small thangs i need to do to it, i just wanted to get a taste of the water this year and see what she was made of. it does run like a scalded dog when its fired up.
keep the thoughts coming!
thanks again.

[Rc1racing]

Do you want to sell the motor? Which QD is it?
Let me know.
Sorry, I don't have any advice on the electric setup, except it will take a BIG motor to push that big boat. It would be a neat project.

[Steven Vaccaro]

I would buy a new gas motor or get that one reworked. The gas motors should run great. I know guys with smaller gas motors that will run for very long periods of time without the motor stalling.

[Darin Jordan]

I have no experience with this to speak of, asside from my car racing days.... but I recall seeing in RCBM (Radio Control Boat Modeler) that there are twin Zenoah G26's, etc. available that might provide the power you need...

Here is one that comes to mind: http://www.bonzisports.com/inline.html

Definately click the "click to listen" link!




You can find more here: http://www.bonzisports.com/zenoah/zenoah_inline.html

[Stealth Assassin]

125cc dirtbike motor! Haha Just kidding but, That would be Killer!!!

[Stealth Assassin]

Good call Darin! That would be perfect...

[Darin Jordan]

Another option could be to just go with a real turbine!



Roger Newton helped a guy out in Florida this summer who built a 1/8th scale Bud that had a real turbine motor in it... Was VERY cool...

Looks like you can find some more info here: http://www.rcturbine.com/


Not sure where you'd find a gearbox...

I'm sure this may be WAY out of line from the original question... but when I see something as trick as your boat there, I can't help but thing "why not just go all the way!!"....

Would NOT be cheap, I imagine...

OK, I'll go crawl back under my rock now...

[JJJEFFCOAT]

ok, i think the dual G260PUM is the way to go. i would consider the real turbine, but the thought of fuel creeps me out. that seems like a real disaster waiting to happen. but neat thought. i really like the Bonzi setup. plus it says dependable and lots of power. two things i need. thanks guys. ill keep you posted for those interested. ill probably keep the QuickDraw for now. paid @ 400 for it and i know its supposed to be a kicka$$ engine. i will post a picture of my setup later this afternoon. thaqnks guys. good to hear some input on something ive been working on so long and very few people have seen.