What does everyone think of the Genesis cat

[izcain]

I have been looking at stepping to a better boat and I have been looking strongly at the Genesis. My Grandad just bought a mystic 29 and from what I see it looks like the genesis would run well with it if put together with good parts.

I was just wondering if anyone has seen any problems with them?

[jamespl]

Great boat IMO. Can handle plenty of power but not a RTR. Be prepared to do a bit of work. But it looks nice and goes well. Here is mine on 4s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tktvFB_IZoc

[izcain]

The work was just the electronics though right? no hull work?

[LarrysDrifter]

Do search. There is lots of info to be read on this boat.

[jamespl]

The work was just the electronics though right? no hull work?

You will most likely need to re epoxy the battery trays, servo tray and where the flex cable tube goes through the hull. Nothing too difficult.

[JIM MARCUM]

I would go with the single motor version for $192 + shipping http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...l_1045mm_.html. Twin motors require twice as much money to upgrade motors & ESCs and are twice the hassel to work on.

You can run it as it comes at stock speeds. If you want the Genisis to last or plan on hopping it up, remove the motor, ESC, RX, batts and everything else you can and do this:
1. Epoxy in a 1-2" fiberglass tape on the seam joints inside both sponsons. A 1" cheapie paint brush works well.
2. Epoxy a layer of thin flexable fiberglass cloth along the inside deck (where the motor is). Will likely take 2-3 overlapping pieces of cloth to wrap around the motor mount area.

You might consider asking your Grandad to buy it for you & help with the hop ups & glass work. JIM

[JonD]

1. Epoxy in a 1-2" fiberglass tape on the seam joints inside both sponsons. A 1" cheapie paint brush works well.

Where exactly is the seam on the Genesis? Is there a top half and bottom half to the hull which meets at about the middle i.e half way up the height of the sponsons on either side? I assume there has been a history of hulls coming apart at the seams?

Where is the join between top and bottom hull sections, at the "pointy end" of the sponsons?

Must be difficult to install fibre glass tape up towards the front of the sponsons.

Jon

[JIM MARCUM]

All RC boats I know of are layed up in two molds - one for the upper half of the hull & one for the lower half. With most Chineese built catamarans (Black Jack, Miss GEICO, Apparition/Fighter Cat, etc.), the top & bottom are then joined together with a butt joint (not an overlapping joint like Aeromarine & other well built cats). That creates a latteral seam running from bow to stern about half way up the sponsons that is easy to crack.

I do have all of the above cats, but have not seen the inside of a Genesis. If the Genesis has styrofoam in the mid/forward section of the hull like the BJ, MG, & APP, carefully remove it with a 4" paint scraper/putty knife. That way, you will be able to reach the bow of both sponsons, or close enough.

The steps below must be done with SAFETY in mind. Epoxy and other chemicals like acetone can be dangerous. Wear saftey glasses, gloves & a respirator and have someone with experience using epoxy help you. DO NOT DO THIS ALONE.

Here is what I do:
1. Thouroghly wipe down the sponson seams with rubbing alcohol an let it dry completely.
2. Using a 1' paint brush, coat a thin layer of epoxy - slightly wider than the fiberglass tape you are using - along the sponson interior seams from the transom to as far forward as you can reach in the bows.
3. Coat 1-1 1/2" fiberglass tape (the same length as the sponsons) on both sides with epoxy, lay the wet tape on a clean flat surfac/board and wipe off excess epoxy with the putty knife. Then lay the tape along the seams using the same 1" paint brush.
4. Pat the fiberglass tape down & over the seem and small seem ridge with the paint brush to remove excess epoxy & air & let it set up.

The tape should be cut to the length of the seams and ready to apply before you even mix the epoxy. Mix the epoxy (I use Dixie 3 oz. waxed paper cups) for at least 1 minute with a popsickle stick - or whatever you have to stir with. Always wear disposable vinyl gloves before you mix the epoxy. Keep a roll of paper towles handy to mop up excess/runny epoxy. You will also need a can of acetone to clean any tools.

It's best to do one sponson at a time with the hull on it's side, and keep it on it's side until the epoxy sets up. That will keep the tape from sliding down & helps reduce epoxy runs.

After all this is done, I would also apply a thin/flexable strip of fiberglass cloth over the length of the deck where the motor mounts are. The cloth should overlap about an inch down the sponsons.

At the end of the day(s) you will have a much stronger hull that wont split it's seams or crack the interior deck if you hit a turtle or whatever. If you ever want to race your Genesis, epoxy reinforcement is a must do. Good luck & happy boating. JIM

[JonD]

Thanks Jim, that explains a lot.

Jon

[izcain]

Could you list off what brand of epoxy and other products and also where to get ahold of them. I have used other types but I am wondering what you have had good luck with?

[JIM MARCUM]

Jon, I use West System 105 resin & 206 slow hardener. I get mine at a Navy exchange, but maybe Harbor Freight handles it. I buy gloves & cheapie brushes at Harbor Freight. JIM

[izcain]

That stuff works good thats the same product we use at the shop here when repairing hulls. (on the big boats lol)

[HYDROJERRY]

I brushed the same stuff inside my Twin carbon Daytona to seal it and give it that wet look..

[JIM MARCUM]

I started using this stuff for big boat work in my home office business: Boat Trader LTD. Great epoxy and easy to work with. JIM

[munros]

Cant say I liked this boat much and I done lots of work on it, good for strait line blasting but nothing special.
I would not recommend.