pros/con's & opinions on Pro-Boat Volere (Chris-craft barrel back)

[gsbuickman]

Hi everybody,

A friend and local rc nut recently acquired this in a trade. I am pondering making him a deal on it, but I wanted to inquire about it here first. This is a beautiful boat and i've always had a fondness for scale details & chris-craft boats since they're from right here in McCall, ID.

I am wondering how well built it is as well as how it performs and holds up. So far I have been pleased with pro-boats r&d, but I haven't got a hands on look at this one yet. If I pick it up, I wouldn't expect it to be a race / drag boat, just a fun sport boat like the villain iv. Probably no more than 40-45mph ....

http://www.google.com/#q=pro+boat+volere+pic

Any input would be appreciated, enjoy & thanks

[properchopper]

I fully support the enjoyable aspect of beautiful scale boats. It's a different, but equally rewarding way of having a nice day at the lake and giving a rest to the gofaster demon. One thing I discovered with my scale Coast Guard boat was that, after stepping up the power, that it looked un-scale at higher speeds and the hull design wasn't optimum for these speeds - just sayin'....

Here's a friends runabout - IIRC it had a PB 1500 or maybe 1800 KV motor on 4S1P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op_CX4zohAw

[gsbuickman]

Kool, thanks P.C

Thanks for the video, that's a good looking boat. Does anyboad have any suggestions on the Volere ? ..

[tlandauer]

I fully support the enjoyable aspect of beautiful scale boats. It's a different, but equally rewarding way of having a nice day at the lake and giving a rest to the gofaster demon. One thing I discovered with my scale Coast Guard boat was that, after stepping up the power, that it looked un-scale at higher speeds and the hull design wasn't optimum for these speeds - just sayin'....

Here's a friends runabout - IIRC it had a PB 1500 or maybe 1800 KV motor on 4S1P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op_CX4zohAw

Tony, is that the Proboat's Classic Runabout? --- the one they released before the Volere?
@ gsbuickman,
If I am correct, the boat which Tony showed in the video has more "real wood content''.
The Volere has more simulated wood , which may be a good thing especially below water line, in my opinion the Volere is more beautiful in areas such as the dash board and the cockpit. I have the one in the video but I never ran it, I can tell the quality is not consistent and if I were to run mine the laminated planking would peel the moment it runs in water, so now it is a nice conversation piece. http://www.proboatmodels.com/Product...ProdID=PRB2600

[gsbuickman]

Tony, is that the Proboat's Classic Runabout? --- the one they released before the Volere?
@ gsbuickman,
If I am correct, the boat which Tony showed in the video has more "real wood content''.
The Volere has more simulated wood , which may be a good thing especially below water line, in my opinion the Volere is more beautiful in areas such as the dash board and the cockpit. I have the one in the video but I never ran it, I can tell the quality is not consistent and if I were to run mine the laminated planking would peel the moment it runs in water, so now it is a nice conversation piece. http://www.proboatmodels.com/Product...ProdID=PRB2600

Thanks Landauer, I didn't know that. When I get a hands on look at this thing, i'll pay close attention to the consistency of the woodwork. Is there any way you can sand and prep your hull, than seal it up watertight with shellac / urethane ?.

[tlandauer]

I don't know, boat is at my Mom's house, havent looked at it for years, lol...
What I do remember is that the "metal" work at the tip of the bow is no more than a foil, very thin, Real Chris-Craft would be a different story. ( I assume, don't have that). As for the planking, it looks ok but I did not trust the clear coat to hold up againt immersion in water. I suppose if you know what you are doing, you can re coat it. The hull is FG but with wood cladding the hull, hence I said there is more real wood than the Volere which I think alot of the wood colored hull is merely paint. I acquired a larger version of this a few months back and almost the entire side of the hull is painted brown with the below water line left white. Only the deck is "wood" but I did not check if it is simulate or not---I stored that too at my Mom.
Just to be clear: I am talking about the discontinued Proboat Runabout.
Moral to my story: Too many boats, not enough space.