First run went pretty well!! (more pics too)

[Checkmateguy01]

I ran my new project boat for the first time this weekend, actaully got a few runs in with it. It ran fairly well, i would say about as fast as my stock SV27, maybe a few ticks faster. Using a laser temp guage, i kept a close eye on all the temperatures. The Etti ESC was the only thing that got hot, i was seeing around 132*f on the round metal caps, but the rest of the ESC was 100* or below. The motor never got much hot than the mid 80*'s, and the NiMh's were about the same, high 80*'s to low 90*'s. I brought a few props with me to try but only ended up using and X440, i wasn't sure with the ESC temps if i should have proped up or not, i have an X442 as well, should i try it? Like i said the boat is somewhat on the heavy side, but it planed pretty good, about the same as the SV27. It ran somwhat neutral as far as wet or dry, i run in choppy water so loose is not good, but it handled good. The only real concern i have is that it sounds like a vibration in the driveline somwehere, but i can't figure it out. Motor to flex cable is aligned right on, and the stuffing tube is held securely and also lined up good. Cable well greased too. Any ideas? Anyway, it ran so i'd say it was a succesfull maiden voyage. Here's a few pics of the completed boat.

[sailr]

How well balanced is the prop? How about the shaft bushing, any play there?

[RPC1]

I would say the prop is not balanced.

[Checkmateguy01]

How well balanced is the prop? How about the shaft bushing, any play there?

I didn't check the prop but it was balanced/sharpend years ago when i raced nitro, i also had a carbon prop on the boat and rev'ed the motor on the stand and got the same sound. It's the worst when coming on plane, then the buzz/vibration sound is not as bad while running at speed. There is just a very very slight movement in the shaft bushing, actually less movement then my factory SV27 has. Turning the prop/shaft by hand is very smooth and does not feel like any thing is binding up at all. It almost seems like the motor to shaft coupler is not well balanced, it's an Octura 5mm to 3/16 shaft coupler, I don't have any more couplers to try. The stuffing tube does touch the wood platform that the radio/ESC is mounted to which could also be the source of the vibration sound. Someone with more FE expirience would have to hear it to know what i'm talking about. Anyways, do the temp reading sound ok, or should i try prop-ing up? Like i said i saw 132* on the metal caps on the ESC, and that was after a pretty long hard run.