Is this how its supposed to look when its running VIDEO

[pavmentsurfer]

Finally got a chance to run my boat today. I used a couple 5400mah 2S SPC hard case lipos (50C) and at first the boat wanted to drive straight under water. I raised the strut to about 2mm above the sponsons when the boat was flat on a table and I raised the turn fin all the way up. I have done nothing else.

I like the boat. It goes good. Handles the chop exactly how I had hoped it would. But I want to know if it should be lifting its nose more than it is now.

After a 5 minute run the motor and ESC were cool to the touch. Water is COLD right now so thats helping but I've got a 42X55 Grim prop on its way. Maybe that will give me a bit more speed? I think the electronics can take it.

What do you think based on this video? Is the setup right? If not, what should I look at adjusting next?

[pavmentsurfer]

Man, not alot of action in here is there? I installed my grim 42X55 prop which gained me more speed but didnt lift the nose any more so i tried a different setup the other day and met with marginal success. I lowered the strut so its flush with the bottom of the sponsons and perfectly level... this actually helped bring the nose of the boat up. But it still rides really wet compared to the other videos im seeing.

Anyone have any suggestions for how I can get the nose up. I may try raising the strut 1/8 just to see what happens. My batteries are already as far back as they can go... it must be a strut angle thing. I feel like I want to "trim" it up as I would in a full size boat. As in, adjust the strut angle so the rear of the strut is higher than the front. But I cant seem to accomplish this due to the brass tube being so tight to the strut. Anyway, any advice would be great.

[pavmentsurfer]

So I tried dropping the strut another 1/16 or so and ran the boat again today. Made a huge difference. After about 50 feet on a straight away at WOT it would start to lift its nose and run just on the rear of the sponsons. Noticeably faster also. Lake was nearly glass and everything was perfect until a rogue gust of wind sent the boat for 2 completely flips in the air leaving it upside down. Luckily we have an old paddle boat on shore and I was able to rescue it.

Overall... best day of running yet. Im wondering if maybe I should try dropping the strut another 1/16. Ill probably try that tomorrow. Im getting about 7-8 minute runs out of my 5400mah 2S 50C hard case packs until they hit my LVA level of 3.6vpc. I have it purposely set higher than I normally would to protect the packs as these are also my main packs for running all my trucks and cars. I use the LVA because the LVC built into the Aquacraft ESC is only set at 3VPC or 6 volts per pack... which is just way too low IMO.

I have a Turnigy 120amp Marine ESC on its way which has an adjustable LVC. Once I get that installed I won't need to run the LVA anymore. Which will be nice.

[ksaucerman]

You can also put a little positive in the strut and move the batteries back a little. Usually the bottom of the strut is even with the back of the sponsons.

[pavmentsurfer]

Positive being the nose of the strut is higher than the rear? That was what I was thinking, I called it "trim" because thats what we call it on our full size boats.

I dropped the strut another 1/16 and it made an ever bigger difference the other day. Still not totally happy with how far out of the water the boat is getting. It also appears to run more wet on one side that the other. I wonder if thats maybe due to the rudder being on one side. Still, faster and riding farther out of the water than ever so I'm going to keep fiddling with it.

Im also going to scuff the bottom of the boat as I've heard suggested before. Seems like it can't hurt. Im sure its not going to make a huge difference but it'll give me something to do while i wait for the weather to improve.

[ksaucerman]

Yes positive is trimmed up. It is probably neutral now meaning it is level. A little positive will make a big difference just like it does on your full size boat when you trim up for speed.

[siberianhusky]

Where is the cg set? I've never had to run any angle in the strut of mine at all.
My strut bottom is 1/16" above the sponson bottoms, and dead level.
This boat is fairly sensitive about the CG. Doesn't take much of a change to really effect the running attitude.
Get the CG right for starters then work on strut adjustment.
Depending on the water conditions mine varies between 28 and 30%.
An m445 is a good prop on this boat but it about the max size for it, temps will be about as high as I feel comfortable with.

[pavmentsurfer]

Siberianhusky, your sig makes me laugh every time I read it.

I don't know where my CG is at... but the packs are as far back as they can go. I can't imagine moving them forward could help with what I need... ill see how the CG is set when I get a chance.

Here are a few pics of my boat stand. I know most of you have boat stands like this but I've never build one before. $20 and about 30 minutes and its done. I have velcro straps on it so when I transport the boat its held down to the stand...

[siberianhusky]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4-PEVVs2Ug&list=UUfd0fnVWaTbIdv54Nqco-IA&index=6&feature=plcp

mine running in rough weather, some wind and waves that day. It even flies and lands nice off the waves.
It all goes hand in hand, you have to get the cg right for any of the other changes to work right. I do know I've never had the batteries in mine all the way back, I couldn't make a half lap that way without it blowing over backwards.
Was turning a smaller prop that day, because of the wind and waves I slowed the boat down a bit so I could get some good runs.
It's better to prop down and still run the esc wide open, less heat buildup than running part throttle.

[pavmentsurfer]

So is that a stock motor and ESC cause that is WAY faster than mine. Im only running 2X 2S 5400mah hard case packs. They aren't very heavy... which is why they are all the way back. But I'm so confused as to why it seems to easy for everyone else to get the nose WAY up and mine just won't.

I have even noticed one SIDE of the boat runs more wet than the other. When the boat is crossing left in front of me (so that would be the drivers left side of the boat) the sponson runs nearly half in the water. When the boat is traveling right (drivers right side of the boat) the sponson is almost fully out of the water. Im not a boat guy, I know RC trucks. This is confusing to me. But I'm determined to sort it out, hopefully with your help... hehe.

[siberianhusky]

Probably prop torque, yep thats all stock, either 2 2s 5300 mah gens ace or 2 2s 5000mah enerland batteries.
One thing that helps is keeping notes on your changes, makes it much easier to see what a change actually did. Also only make one change at a time, first off would be setting the cg @ 30%, keep the strut level and play with the height. Mine is usually just above the sponson bottom.
The only real change to mine is a drop in SV27 rudder with a water pickup, it mounts right up to the MC bracket, same size and shape.
I tried a 2030kv UL-1 motor and went back to the 1800kv, seems to run better with a bigger prop @ lower rpm.
Raising the strut will bring the nose up, lowering will drop the nose, think of it pivoting around the cg. Prop higher will let the stern settle and raise the bow.

[D for Dummy]

Your boat is running good.

I have two Aquacraft Motley Crew Catamarans. GrimRacer 42x55 prop seems to be the best. I'm running two GrimRacer 2s 5000mAh 40c Li-Po, very happy with these over other non-name brand batteries.

My strut is about 4mm below the sponsons while flat with prop and water pick-up hannging off the edge of the table. Seems the best location. I move the batteries forward or back based on water conditions.

I have about 5 videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/dfordummy

I spoke with GrimRacer yesterday at the Toledo show. He said that is one of the most optimum setups. He said the only thing different that his setup is that he is running a single 4s 500mAh 40c on the right side.

[pavmentsurfer]

siberian, thats exactly what I expected from raising and lowering the strut. But I found the opposite at first. I think it was because I ended TOO high on the strut and the prop was caveatting and therefore loosing the lift I needed to get the nose up. So I lowered it to level with the sponson and the nose came up... then I dropped it 1/8 more and the nose went up again. I then attempted to raise the rear of the strut a tiny bit and I got a tiny improvement with that again. I was moving my packs back at the same time until they were as far back as they can go.

Im going to attempt raising the strut back to level again... now that I've ended with my packs all the way back, maybe raising the strut will have a better effect.

Hmmm... D for Dummy, you videos just made me think I need to do more work. Your boat really looks like it gets out of the water. Im going to do more fiddling.

I also just picked up a deal on a couple EZrun 4065 4 pole motors. They are 2700kv and I realize thats really high. But these are 40mm's and 65mm long. I bought a 40mm leopard water jacket from e-bay and I'm going to try this setup just for fun with my Turnigy 120amp ESC. Ill post a video when I get it all tested. Im not saying ill run this setup full time. I just got such a great deal on the 2 motors and I can always use them in one of my trucks... but I figured id see how they ran in the boat first.

Thanks for all the advice guys. Im going to see about testing my COG with the packs in and re-setting the strut again. Im also going to look into the SV27 turn fin with the built in water pickup. Thats a cool idea.

[D for Dummy]

I find my Motley Crew has slight porpoising when at full speed in a slight chop (wind ripples in the open bay as seen in the videos on my profile page). This is with the batteries all the way back, running into the wind brings the risk of blowing over. But the boat really runs great!
However, in a glass calm pond the boat runs very flat, but fast, almost too flat. In fact, it sounds like it is a few less RPM than in the chop, naturally. It might run a little better in a glass calm pond with the prop de-tongued and or cupped. I'm not a fan of running in glass calm water (unless running my Stiletto 29 Proboat). I'm choosing not to dial in my Motley Crew for those conditions, after all it is an offshore style boat and performs amazingly well in the chop, small waves and varible water conditions. Did I mention yet that I now have a second Motley Crew? (Great boat!)

[G-UNIT]

Positive strut angle would be that thr prop would be pointing to the surface, which pushes the aft down and the nose up, this is if you want to run alittle dryer,
prop pointing downward would cause the the aft to be pushed up and the nose down to run wetter.