New drivers stand & storage facility.

[785boats]

Some of you guys may remember when we applied for & received a grant to build a covered pit area.
http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ant&highlight=

Well here's the next developement for the Pine Rivers Model Powerboat Club. A new drivers stand & storage facility.
The old stand (photo #2) is getting a bit rusty & needs to be replaced. So the committee has been working hard to come up with a plan to replace it.

A club member (Richard) has managed to get a sea container for free from the place he used to work.
That will be the storage container & the base for the stand.
The stand itself will be another container on top with shutters along the front & a door with stairs at the back. And a window cut into the end.

This one cost a bit over $1000. To pay for it the race day fees have gone up from $5.00 per person to $10.00. I think that's the first rise in over 5 years & it's still a cheap day of fun & frivolity.
The first container arrived some weeks ago & the second container with all the cut outs done arrived last week.
Some members welded up & installed some frames for the doors & windows last week.

I haven't been able to help yet due to work commitments but there will be a bit of a working bee on Easter monday, so I'll be able to lend a hand then.

Once the stand is ready, we will remove the old stand & place the two containers into position.
Here's a few pics.

[Doby]

Swwwweeeeet!

[IRON-PAWW]

That's it! I'm friggin moving.......

[ray schrauwen]

Careful, using a 2.4g radio inside the steel can cause signal loss, erratic operation. I found this out a long time ago driving on a steel stand. Since I'm always sitting down I could not get proper control of my boat until I hung my arms and radio off the front away from the stand.

There was no steel overr head like yours though so maybe do some tests with a mild boat.

[785boats]

Thanks Doby.
It should look good when it's finished.

IRON-PAWW.
See you when you get here.

Ray.
That's a good point.
I'll do some tests where she is sitting now, which is lower than it will be when it's sitting on top of the other container.
We will be leaning against the front window ledge like we do with our current stand. That stand has an iron roof which hasn't caused any problems that we know of.
But a metal box might cause problems with reflected signals. Although there are big windows at the back & side. Also, the shutters along the front will be hinged at the top & when they are opened they will like an awning sticking out about 4'. That might be an issue. But the line of sight from radios to the boats on the course will always be at a downward angle.
But thanks for raising the issue. We'll look into it.

[Doby]

Ray will blame his crappy driving on just about anything!

[785boats]

Ray will blame his crappy driving on just about anything!

Man that's harsh.

[Heath M]

Something else for me to fly the quadcopter around :)

[785boats]

A bit of a working bee today at the club.
The door frame was welded up & fitted and the rear window was welded into opening.
All the welds were ground & the frames were given a coat of Cold Gal. I was the lucky sod on the grinder.
Here's a few guys on the job.
It's coming together.
The shutters are next.

EDIT:
Ray.
I forgot to mention that I stood in the new drivers stand/container & did a few laps with a couple of boats. Even drove them over to the far side of the lake. I'm glad to say that even with my original old $20.00 Hobbyking GT2 that I still race with, there were no issues. I even stood against the back wall for some of the driving.
So that's encouraging eh.

[grsboats]

in a nutshell...I'm moving to down under.......great country with beautifull beaches where I can surf big waves.Cheers

[785boats]

Here's what to expect when you move to Brisbane here in sunny Queensland.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Brisbane&espv=2&biw=1324&bih=714&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjWhOa9-ufLAhWlxqYKHR56D4gQ_AUIBygC

[ray schrauwen]

EDIT:
Ray.
I forgot to mention that I stood in the new drivers stand/container & did a few laps with a couple of boats. Even drove them over to the far side of the lake. I'm glad to say that even with my original old $20.00 Hobbyking GT2 that I still race with, there were no issues. I even stood against the back wall for some of the driving.
So that's encouraging eh.

Interesting. Good to know.

[grsboats]

Lovely place!

[785boats]

There's been a good bit of progress on the new stand over the last few weeks. Thanks to a diligent band of workers.
The panels & door have been made & fitted. And the outside has been painted.
Unfortunately work commitments kept me away from most of it.
However, last weekend I was able to help out.
We dismantled, with grinders & a gas axe, the existing stand to a point where a forklift can remove it ready for the storage container to be lifted into place.
That was happening during this week.
The stairs had to be removed & some brackets welded on, ready to be welded to the new stand.

So here's a few snaps.

[ray schrauwen]

Very nice shallow stair case to get us Crips up a drivers stand. I better book a trip to Aussieland!