Wet Batteries

[BHChieftain]

I had a set of proboat NIMHs that got completely soaked for over 4 hours (boat capsized in the middle of the lake, had to wait for it to drift to shore). The packs were full of water. I cut open the shrinkwrap, let them dry, and re-wrapped them using glad press-and-seal plastic wrap + some electrical/hatch tape. They now work perfectly fine...

-Chief

[mappo]

I have duratrax 4200mAh batteries that have a clear plastic casing around them. I assume I'm supposed to leave this casing on the batteries for support. My boat flipped and a lot of water came in. Now there is water vapor inside this clear battery casing. Do I need to dry out the batteries and get rid of this water? If so, how? I was hoping that charging them would warm them up enough and this water would go away, but it didn't.

--Scott

Hey I had the same problem with my Villian and fastech flipping with batteries getting wet so i cut away the plastic, spray with WD40 and reshrink the batteries, then i got my sons old bike tubes cut to fit my batteries, use some CA glue to glue the rubber
Then i use some more shrink wrap on the out side. did 6 and 7 cell. with some silicone around the wires. got 16 packs done that way. totally water proof.

[wizard122]

Really good hatch tape can be bought at any sporting goods store they call it Hockey tape 1" wide and very flexible also sticks when cold and wet. About $4

[mappo]

I taped my Fastech all around with hockey tape, but did not matter, got water down below and everything still got wet. so i put my batteries in inner tubes and glued it up. works excellent.

[tiqueman]

I taped my Fastech all around with hockey tape, but did not matter, got water down below and everything still got wet. so i put my batteries in inner tubes and glued it up. works excellent.

Is it coming in from somewhere else?

[BHChieftain]

I was having water intrusion problems with my fastech. I figured out it was coming from the stuffing tube. I put some silicone sealant on the tube where it enters the hull (from the outside)-- not a drop of water after that!

I figured that out by putting the boat in the bathtub and pressing down a little... water came up along the driveshaft despite having it greased really well.

Note, I also use wax earplugs plus some hatch tape to seal up the antenna hole which would help if it capsized.

-Chief

[tiqueman]

I was having water intrusion problems with my fastech. I figured out it was coming from the stuffing tube. I put some silicone sealant on the tube where it enters the hull (from the outside)-- not a drop of water after that!

I figured that out by putting the boat in the bathtub and pressing down a little... water came up along the driveshaft despite having it greased really well.

Note, I also use wax earplugs plus some hatch tape to seal up the antenna hole which would help if it capsized.

-Chief

Great tips Chief! Heres a couple more. I take a piece of silicone tubing and cut it about 3/8 long. Slip it over the stuffing tube inside the hull so that about half is on the tube and half off. (You will probably have to use needle nose pliers to do this. I use the bent nose type.) Then when you insert your shaft, the shaft will touch the silicone and makes a teriffic seal. I do this to all my boats and they stay virtually dry. Every once in a while I will have a drop or 2 of water in the hull, but thats very rare. Also, a similar piece tube cut just shorter than the gap at your drive dog to strut. When the flex winds up, it pulls the drive dog closer to the strut and the silicone creates a seal. I use both methods together on my SV and it has been dry ever since.

[scott216]

I take a piece of silicone tubing and cut it about 3/8 long. Slip it over the stuffing tube inside the hull so that about half is on the tube and half off. (You will probably have to use needle nose pliers to do this. I use the bent nose type.) Then when you insert your shaft, the shaft will touch the silicone and makes a teriffic seal. I do this to all my boats and they stay virtually dry. Every once in a while I will have a drop or 2 of water in the hull, but thats very rare. Also, a similar piece tube cut just shorter than the gap at your drive dog to strut. When the flex winds up, it pulls the drive dog closer to the strut and the silicone creates a seal. I use both methods together on my SV and it has been dry ever since.

Do you have any pictures?

[mappo]

Is it coming in from somewhere else?

I think the shaft tube might of been the culprit. before i could implement any of those ideas, my Fastech sank in the lake in 25ft of murky water.

[tiqueman]

Do you have any pictures?

Heres an example of the tubing on the inside of the hull on the stuffing tube. (see pic)

I think the shaft tube might of been the culprit. before i could implement any of those ideas, my Fastech sank in the lake in 25ft of murky water.

That hurts. Flotation?

[scott216]

Heres an example of the tubing on the inside of the hull on the stuffing tube.

It looks like the spinning shaft is contacting the I.D. of the tube you're using to seal up the end. Is that correct? If so, I would have expected the tube to heat up from the friction and even melt.

[tiqueman]

It looks like the spinning shaft is contacting the I.D. of the tube you're using to seal up the end. Is that correct? If so, I would have expected the tube to heat up from the friction and even melt.

Yes it does and yes thats what makes the seal. And nope, have never had any melting issues. Been running all my boats like that for a long time. Grease gets up in there when you install your shaft... but as I said, Ive never had any issues. Many people on here use that method.

[mappo]

Heres an example of the tubing on the inside of the hull on the stuffing tube. (see pic)



That hurts. Flotation?

In sufficient flotation, was just testing a new motor at the time

[tiqueman]

In sufficient flotation, was just testing a new motor at the time

Yeah Ive wondered on some of mine, especially my twin boat, if theres anough to keep it afloat. I really need to test that, just in case

[dana]

i get the water thing...i dont even bother drying them out, they still work fine. it used to bother me cause im so ocd lol but its only water. or you could cut the shrinkwrap off if you like. makes no difference really. also check out my post on batteries! i found the intellect 6 cell 7.2 nimh packs for 35 bucks! only difference is they dont have the stupid "proboat" sticker on them. plus they many more better packs for cheap! theres a link on there to the site!