aeromarine cat good ? bad?

[meangenesracing]

I have 2 of these for sale here on the forum, seems no one has interest not even being viewed. seems at least people would look at them. so whats up here are they just not popular here on the forum or are they just no good? I myself like them, thankshttp://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/.../confused2.gif

[NativePaul]

I think they are great designs, but bad moldings and layups, more positive than negative so I would give them a good overall.

While there is a lot of experience here, there are also a lot of members that are relatively new to FE, and many may not recognise the names, some will probably have heard of Sprintcats, maybe even want one, but not know that Avengers and Conquests are basically 34" and 42" Sprintcats but with wider more scale hatches better suited to FE, just as the fairly well known Mean Machine is to the 29" sprintcat.

[gsbuickman]

I agree with Paul. I don't know everything about Aeromarine, but I know a lot of the early Aeromarines had trouble with their hull joining process. The top and bottom halves had separation issues. However I have a newer mean machine with a ul-1 setup in it on 4s, and I haven't had any issues with it. They're also great rough water hulls .....

[rickwess]

Not too many people on this site are looking for "projects" like the boats you are selling. The boats that sell quickly are in very good condition.

[lenny]

This is my first one that just needs some tlc,
It happened just from a blow over and than it stuffed the nose.

big cat mouth. 1.jpgbig cat twin 2.jpgbig cat mouth. 4.jpgbig cat mouth. 2.jpgbig cat mouth.jpg

[meangenesracing]

Lenny, did you have spray can foam inside the nose of your cat? because I'm thinking that will create stress i had one just pop apart a day later just sitting there after i sprayed it inside.

[lenny]

No the hull just had some pieces of foam in it like you see in the pictures,
And also some long pool noodles were used in it.
If it had that two part foam in the hull,
I think it would really be a PITA to try and remove it to fix anything if something happened like this.

From what I have been seeing lately about there hulls,
It does not look good.
The QC is not what it was from years back.
Some of the newer Aeromarine hulls lay ups and seams are lacking in QC and strength now,
They are just not building them with good QC and tlc like they use to be.

[rickwess]

Lenny, did you have spray can foam inside the nose of your cat? because I'm thinking that will create stress i had one just pop apart a day later just sitting there after i sprayed it inside.

Never use spray foam in a boat. It expands as it reacts to moisture from it's surroundings. If you spray a large enough area it will take a very long time for the centre to expand/cure.

If you are foaming, use 2 part foam. It expands and cures as a result of a chemical reaction between the two components and is stable once cured.

[Fluid]

If you are foaming, use 2 part foam. It expands and cures as a result of a chemical reaction between the two components and is stable once cured.

The stable part is not always true. Several of us have seen two-part foams shrink after a year or so, pulling the decks down. I had to use a hacksaw blade to cut the foam away from the deck of one boat since the foam was pulling it down over 1/4". That was with the foam OSE used to sell.


.

[tlandauer]

I have a Mean Machine hull brought in 2012, aside from some cosmetic blemishes, the hull is very strong. The underside of the joining seams looks just like the red hull you have for sale.
I don't want to start a debate but just relating to you my personal findings here. I beached the cat TWICE during maiden and not a scratch!
I wasn't aware OSE sold two-part foam, the one sold by Kintec is ok, I rarely use the stuff, but did do it in my MG, and temp doesn't seem to affect it. My DF26 has the other kind---sprayed by previous owner, and it does pull down the deck quite a bit under the hot sun.

[Fluid]

Aeromarine has been making FG boats since the early 1980s and have a very good reputation for racing design and build quality. They are built to a price point so don't expect AC Boats or H&M quality. I have owned many of their hulls and seen many more run. The only chronic problem occured a few years ago when they changed to a different glue to attach the hull and deck - it became famous for separating when the boat took a dive. I personally saw this happen twice.

Since then AM has changed to another glue whch seems to have solved the problem. I can attest that current hulls are pretty strong, this one hit the bank at 89 mph and considering that the damage is minor. The hull was purchased in January 2013.

IMG_0853.jpg

[NativePaul]

My aeromarine hulls are plenty strong enough and there is nothing wrong with the seams besides there aesthetics,
I criticised the layup because it is uneven in thickness, (but not in the good way of being thick where it needs to be and thin where it can be), they are thick where they need to be and overly thick in seemingly random locations which is unnecessary weight and I see as a poor layup.
Mine needed a lot of work doing to the ride pads, as they had a lot of rocker, some hollows and the most rounded edges I have come across this side of an ABS hull, I assume the plug started off straight flat and sharp but has been hand polished hundreds of times over many years without the a sanding block touching it, which is why I said the moulding was bad.
With the remedial work done they go well and handle very well, so doing the work is well worth it in my opinion.