lets talk about fiberglass or abs and why?

[dmitry100]

I sure hope you're not using Traxxas Lipos in that thing ... :)

If you are -- be prepared to throw them away very very soon.

[properchopper]

That's it. This winter's build is starting with "ompressed/laminated chicken feathers". I hope paint sticks to it.

You gotta pet them first............

[sundog]

I guess it all depends on whether you need to plan on impact (with rocks, other boats, etc.). I run jet boats in rocky rivers and impacts are just part of it. Fiberglas and carbon boats get dinged up easily, ABS is resilient. It humors me to hear those that say "if it isn't FG or Carbon, it isn't hobby grade". They aren't having as much fun as I am. ABS can be fixed with CA glue and more ABS. Line it with ShoeGoo and it's damn near indestructible. I got tired of fixing FG dings and cracks long ago and crushed carbon makes me cry. I still have some of those boats, but they are shelf queens or used for puttering around in lakes and ponds. And no, jet boats are not as fast as prop boats but where's the fun in zipping back and forth? You prove it can go a certain speed and the fun is over and you sell the boat. I see that time and time again. ABS brings the fun factor back.

[fweasel]

And no, jet boats are not as fast as prop boats but where's the fun in zipping back and forth? You prove it can go a certain speed and the fun is over and you sell the boat. I see that time and time again. ABS brings the fun factor back.

Different strokes, different folks. Whatever puts a smile on your face. For some, building, tuning, selling, and starting over is the fun part.

[sundog]

Different strokes, different folks. Whatever puts a smile on your face. For some, building, tuning, selling, and starting over is the fun part.

Of course you're right. And I do enjoy the building just as much (if not more) as the running part (where the problems start popping up). Just showing another point of view - that plastic is not just for kids anymore!

[boatsrnew2me]

well guys i went with a spartan . i would have bought a voracity but i just cant get on board with the first run f/g issues . still new to boats so not ready to work on a f/b one should it need reinforcement or what have you .
i am sure the spartan be a good boat for me . i will make a retrieval rig and use my recoil 26 to go get it if the need arises . if i even get it in the water this year .

come spring who knows might jump in and get a voracity still if theres a new revision . thanks to all who responded .

[iop65]

That boat is running way too dry:-)

I guess you don't feel the need to keep some hull in the water

[T.S.Davis]

I can't believe this is even a topic.

I've manufactured and sold boats made from polystyrene, ABS, PETG, and Polycarbonit. The PETG made a crystal clear boat. Very cool to look at. There was one plastic more that had a kind of satin finish. Can't remember the name of it. Looked cool too but weak. Polystyrene is the weakest of that bunch but the easiest to form. Very forgiving. The ABS is the toughest to work with. It has to be dried before you form. Any moisture trapped inside the material will blister when you form. Pain in the behind.

When we all went brushless I quit manufacturing plastic boats. The plastic absolutely can not take the abuse dished out at the speeds we run. I've destroyed a bunch of them. This is not speculation. It's real.

Some times there are manufacturing issues with glass boats. Some times. The nice thing about a glass boat is that if one presents itself you can fix it. Most manufacturers will warranty a boat that breaks due to a defect. If a glass boat develops a crack down the road...........you can fix it. When the plastic boat cracks/fails......you throw it in the garbage. You can't fix them.

Fiberglass is still plastic. So is carbon fiber. They're all fiber reinforced plastic. Also known as FRP. The tougher the reinforcement the tougher the material. Ever hear of Kevlar? That's just FRP with an aramid fiber in the plastic.

Suggesting that ABS plastic which has zero reinforcement is some how better than plastic that has reinforcement is just crazy talk.

I club mate bought a Voracity bare hull. Nothing in it. No hardware. He just liked the lines of the boat. He built it his way with a man sized setup. Sure enough he broke it. However, he broke it racing in open offshore against 45"+ gas mono. Had he tried that with an ABS hull he wouldn't even have got the parts back. With the Voracity being glass he just fixed it.