Getting into Brushless RC Boating

[SoFloRC]

So I am looking at getting into rc boating and I have no experience. I have experience with rc cars, planes, and heli's and I run brushless-lipo set ups in each of them. I am looking at doing sport running and I doubt I will ever actually race it. From everything I have read up on and from video's on youtube I have narrowed it down to either the Supervee, BlackJack, or UL-1.

The Supervee seems to be a very popular boat along with being the cheapest and having the most aftermarket stuff. My only concern with it is that if I am not on a mirror lake I wont be able to really do much without worrying about flipping. The Blackjack seems like it would be the best for not perfectly smooth surfaces but the price is a little higher and I heard it is substantialy slower than the Supervee and UL-1. The UL-1 seems like an awesome boat but I am worried that it is more for racing on nice smooth lakes and not really sport running. It is so low to the water and I worry about chop making it impossible to run it.

I currently have a new MaxAmps 3S1P 5250mah 30c output lipo. I was thinking if I got any of these three boats I would just match it and run 10500mah as I am pretty sure they are all set up to run two batteries parallel. Is this going to work on the boats?

Just looking for some tips and advice on what would be best for me and what setup would be the best. What are the pro's and con's of each boat and what kind of things will I need to keep in mind and what will I be needing if I get any of the boats? I appreciate the help and look forward to your responses.

[Doby]

The BlackJack and SV both do not like rough conditions, I have both so I'm talking from experience here.

The UL1 is the fastest but is really only set up for turning right, not left.

3S will move the boats, but you will be dissapointed as the are designed to run on 4S.


They come set up to run the batteries in SERIES, not parallel.

Welcome to the confusing world of FE

[SoFloRC]

I don't have much experience with running lipo's in a series. So if I was to use two 2S1P 4000's it would be like running a 4S 8000? And if I used the setup I talked about I would actually be running a 6S?

[Meniscus]

That's right. If you have the "two 2S1P 4000's", just plug them in a go. On second thought, what is the C rating for these batteries you have?

[Doby]

You would be running 6S 5250mAh with your batteries

Parallel= same voltage as 1 pack but twice the capacity
Series= twice the voltage but only the rated capacity of the pack.

In your example above of Qty 2, 2S1P 4000 in series would be 4S and 4000mAh.

[SoFloRC]

The batteries I have are 30C output....The esc and motor in these don't do 6S correct?

If I understand correctly it would be impossible to run 3S in a series because the batteries would have to be 1.5S? Sorry if I am being confusing I just want to make sure I understand.

[Bill-SOCAL]

Here is a good place to see what the different pack set ups look like:

http://scriptasylum.com/rc_speed/_lipo.html

You can play around and see what the they mean.

BTW - the SV is a great place to start. People who flip them all the time are either running them too loose or trying to go faster than the hull really is designed to do. I would recommend it over either the Blackjack or the UL-1. The UL-1 would be a great second boat.

This page is also linked off a new tips page here:

http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ead.php?t=6371

[SoFloRC]

I will most likely go with the Supervee. I think 4S is the most I can go on the stock ESC so I am thinking I will get two 2S with about 5000mah. Does that ammo motor upgrade make a big difference? Should I run the Octura 440 that seems to be the favorite? If I am running this kind of set up what kind of speed would I be looking at?

[Spot Me 2]

You can also try the Proboat Formula FASTech. Its just as fast(if not fast than) the SV and handles a TON better. I have only flipped mine once, running in a 4-6 inch chop at full speed. I have owned both and still have the Proboat.

[SoFloRC]

I have read that the fastech was both slower and less stable than the Supervee. I guess it is all just a matter of opinion...