80+ mph 32" rivercat

[Spartanator]

You cheated!

PowerDemon. ...shhhhh! Lol

Haha, your Youtube Page is a bookmark of mine, in fact it's right next to the build thread mark. lol
So you stickin' with the Neu or?

[kfxguy]

Yes. Keeping it, I was offered to buy it so I'm selling my 1518 (it may be sold already lol). No point in me going backwards!

[kfxguy]

I didn't want to start a new thread for this. I was invited by a friend to avery island today. That's where the Tabasco hot sauce factory is. His family owns it so we got to check it out. I brought my rivercat and my mini rivercat. There was one lake that was probably big enough to run it but it was surrounded by marsh except the dock we were on....I tried the rivercat in it but the chop was too bad, I actually rolled it over turning....going super slow. So then he took me to another pond which was too small to run the rivercat. ...but the mini...I found out doesn't turn too bad! It was cutting out a little but the batts had been run a good bit before I decided to start shooting video. Man the motor and esc don't really get much over warm in this thing lol. Here's a quick video of it. Pretty neat little boat....

[srislash]

That little guy goes really well, what was powering it again?

[kfxguy]

...

Why did you delete your post?

[kfxguy]

Ok, here me just talking out loud. My thoughts I guess you could say....

I feel like I'm at the end of what the t180 esc can do for me. Yes I believe I can go a little faster if I prop up a little and I think the revolectrix batteries may add another mph or so...but so will an esc more capable of handling what I'm doing. I saw this first hand when I tried the etti esc. Not taking away from the t180...because it's been great to me. I could not tell you how many passes I've made on it. It's been a solid unit, drives well and just doesn't get hot. My next unit I'll be getting will be a swordfish 240. It's waterproof and it should be better and more up to the task. I may even try 8s for a pass or two. I really want to see where I can get on 7s then see what I can do with 6s. This has been a pretty fun ordeal for me and I've learned a good bit with this boat. The rudder change that I did today with the speed it picked up...was not expected. Next I'm going to sharpen it about a 1/4". Think that's all I can because of the pickup. I want to try a thinner rudder too...just gotta work out the pickup situation.

Next I have to make something that's super flat and portable to go with me for strut height changes. With that I'll be able to dial in my props better. I really like how the X646 drives but it loses a couple mph over the m645. ..have a hard time believing that 1/2 a mm would make a difference but I guess it does. If you guys have any ideas for me, let me know.

[rude5150]

Good job KFXGUY!

[78MaicoRider]

Since strut height is so critical, it might be time to think about a better way of adjusting. Something like the click drives have. A screw adjuster and calibration marks on the strut and its mounting bracket. Since you have a mill, it shouldn't be too hard to make and or modify something. This would allow for quick precise strut changes and charting of results.

For water pickup, have you thought of using a prop spray pickup tube? I use this method on a couple of my boats with great results.

[olwarbirds]

Travis, a strut that adjusts similar to the MBP click drives would be an awesome product, something Id really like to have myself. As suggested the prop spray pickup tube would add some more speed to your current setup. Something else I seen recently was a CF rudder, havnt heard anything on them yet but I am thinking about getting one for my Genesis.... DJ

[kfxguy]

Travis, a strut that adjusts similar to the MBP click drives would be an awesome product, something Id really like to have myself. As suggested the prop spray pickup tube would add some more speed to your current setup. Something else I seen recently was a CF rudder, havnt heard anything on them yet but I am thinking about getting one for my Genesis.... DJ

I've been racking my brain all night about an easily adjustable strut. Problem is some of the thrust is applies to the strut for forward movement. ...that's where my problem lies....I'm all ears for ideas..

The carbon blade...I almost bought one the other day but then talked myself out of it. It looks cool but have you ever tried to sharpen carbon fiber like a knife edge?

I'll look into a different type of pickup. ...I'm sure there's a little bit to be picked up there.i gotta break 90 soon....my son just passed me up with his rc car in speed....with my help of course!

[kfxguy]

That little guy goes really well, what was powering it again?

That's a 1512 castle...1800kv...rare little motor. Sweet tho. I may put a 1515 in it on 4s

[flraptor07]

Travis, The CF will sharpen just like the aluminum, rough it in with your belt grinder then finish it with 220 sandpaper. That's the way I do it
That 1521 sounds wild, screamin'

[78MaicoRider]

I don't see thrust being applied to the strut an issue. Once adjustment is made, lock it in place with the same screw used now. What I do see as a problem is thrust angle. I believe Click drives do not allow for thrust angle adjustment. I am working out an idea that will allow for both. This will also provide a mount for prop spray pickup tube.

[kfxguy]

I don't see thrust being applied to the strut an issue. Once adjustment is made, lock it in place with the same screw used now. What I do see as a problem is thrust angle. I believe Click drives do not allow for thrust angle adjustment. I am working out an idea that will allow for both. This will also provide a mount for prop spray pickup tube.

If you come up with something....and you don't mind sharing...I'm interested!

[kfxguy]

I found a rudder I had laying around. The thing was so buggered up I'm Suprisingly it turned out this decent. I shortened it. Shaped it like a triangle (stretched of course lol), made it sharp as I could and fixed the inlet holes as good as I could (they were messed up pretty bad). I also pushed our the little plastic plug at the bottom and threaded the hole a little and loctite a small set screw (some rudders come like this and I didn't trust the plastic plug). The one on the left picked up 1mph over a stock rudder that was slightly sharpened. Back to back with no changes other than that. So im hopi g this shorter rudder helps a tad more altho those big honking pickup holes will prolly kill whatever gain I might have had hahaha! If you have a spare rudder like these and can part with it, let me know. I'd rather start with a good rudder.



Next I wanted to show how far the rudder hangs below the prop centerline.....this is the short rudder....im thinking it's still a tad too long....thoughts?