Need advice on a rescue boat

[tlandauer]

Up until yesterday I used my Rio EP as a rescue boat, always worked great. But the thought of putting a BL motor in it had been in the back of my mind, so finally I put the FasTech motor and love the higher speed which gives a pleasing scale look on the water. Now Tower is out of stock, is the Traxxas Blast worth considering, I am attracted to its steerable out drive. Also the AQ ESC was not robust---would the Traxxax unit hold up better in low speed operation? Both are not water cooled, BTW.

[Kent55]

Sorry this doesn't really answer your question but - http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...23-Rescue-boat

[tlandauer]

It is very cute, I am afraid the radio range is limited as it is designed for pool use, also I need 2.4 ghz so it will not interfear with other boaters, thanks for the link, enjoyed watch the vid demo. if it is up-gradeable, then there is potential, but I need to see one in a store.

[lenny]

What do you want another Rio ?

[tlandauer]

I don't want another Rio but it has proven to be a good rescue boat, I just don't want to use this BL set up to do the job because i can't drive too slowly, then there isn't enough speed for water cooling. Anyway, since I am very near sighted, I did have problem lining up the rescue rig with the disabled boat, thinking the Traxxax minght be better since the steerable out drive could afford even more maneuverability.Why can i just leave these boats alone?

[lenny]

What s cells are you using in the BL Rio and esc ?
And also you could run a water pump in the setup for slow speeds to help with the cooling some.
Just thinking out loud.

[BHChieftain]

I use the traxxas blast as a rescue-- I put an eyehook at the transom and tow a gaff ( you could tow a tennis ball or tow out a fishing line). It is very agile at low speed with the steerable drive.

Chief

[dana]

I don't want another Rio but it has proven to be a good rescue boat, I just don't want to use this BL set up to do the job because i can't drive too slowly, then there isn't enough speed for water cooling. Anyway, since I am very near sighted, I did have problem lining up the rescue rig with the disabled boat, thinking the Traxxax minght be better since the steerable out drive could afford even more maneuverability.Why can i just leave these boats alone?

lining up the rescue rig with the disabled boat is always the hardest part. and really, unles you have binocular glasses its gonna continue to be difficult. Im speaking of course, of the boat being a good ways out. For this reason i got a kayak.

[tlandauer]

I had taken off the Fastech motor and ESC, I toyed with the idea for a long time, another member had a very neat mod with Cen Racing mount, but after receiving it from OSE I realized the mount has a wider foot print than the stock set up and will prevent me from using 2s 7.4 v batteries on either side of the motor, so in a most Mickey Mouse fashion I am using the stock clamp on the BL motor with the ESC sitting on the stock battery platform. It fits if you use electical tape to increase the friction on the motor can, alignment is perfect and just push the water jacket as far back as possible, the clamp will grip the motoe w/o slippage. However the stock flex cable is too short and you need to find a .130/4mmshaft to fit, i used an old venom P1 cable. The shaft is a bit smaller so there is some flop/free play---not too bad to cause any alarm.

[tlandauer]

Chief, thanks, I feel more confident should I ever want to get that Blast, I guess I will have a blast ( no pun intented) rescuring my upside down boat. Your idea of towing is good, I will try that.
Dana, thanks for the reassurance: I really have a hard time lining up and as good as the Rio is, it still needs some speed to be able to turn around in a small circle.

[dana]

sorry man, didnt mean to be negative there… i do hope it works well for you. certainly i hadnt tried everything...

[tlandauer]

I am very happy you give the opinion, didn't feel in anyway you were being negative, thanks!

[lenny]

So 4s in the Rio,
Mine I can run 2s and 3s and gps at 32mph.
But 4s it must be nuts.
I have some picture of mine setup that may help you with yours.

[tlandauer]

DSCN1907_1397.jpg DSCN1909_1398.jpg

[lenny]

Have any video of it running.