My Geico is too light - HELP!!!

[jfrank71]

I have a MG with Leopard 4074 - 1774 with SK 180A. Running 5050mah 35c 4s2p with X642. Strut is level with bottom of sponsons. This thing is lightning quick but I can't get it to stay planted. It starts getting loose and blows over around 45-48. Looks like it has so much more, but its so light and catches so much wind it just goes over. Only time I can open it up is running with the wind. I have tried batteries back and forward. I have lowered the strut and raised it. I even through a water bottle in the front for extra weight. Nothing helps.
Can anyone help me out with this? Not sure where to go next.

[Steven Vaccaro]

Sometimes its a simple as to much wind. Some days i just cant run because the place we run isn't really protected from the wind.

[JackBlack26]

I found my CG of the boat to be 9" from the transom, forward. I run 4S, 2P and I set the center of my batteries at 9.5 to 10" from the transom forward. If it's still too light them move them even further forward. The boat will eventually "flatten" out. Worst case, I have a friend who put self adhesive tire weights under the front air dam. Worked great for him running a Neu 2700kv, 1400 series motor on 5S.

[wilsta67]

i find this is what its all about with this boat. see how faast you can go before she flips.

[ray schrauwen]

What is your total Mah & what is the total weight of your packs?

[dana]

Sometimes its a simple as to much wind. Some days i just cant run because the place we run isn't really protected from the wind.

i hear ya... its does get windy here in MA. i am fortunate enough to have a small pond down the street that never gets wind. plus its hidden so nobody swimming,boating,fishing etc...

[Boomer]

Dana,
There is an art to driving a cat. This is true for boats that are 50'+ or 30"+.
The big boys kite their boats too, but it tends to be a bit more costly when they do it.

When you are heading into the wind, or across it, this has to be factored into your driving and speed. The fun is finding the bleeding edge of the boats capability and staying just a hair below that. Being a Champion racer means you have to finish races, so if you are blowing your boat over, again and again, the boat is not to light, you throttle finger may just be too heavy.

I run two 3 cells in my MG and find their weight improves the boats stability at high speeds. I have not flipped my boat (yet) not say I won't at some point, but I work at it, and would prefer not to. My MG runs 55-56 mph, so it can be flipped if I were to push the envelop.

Call me conservative, but I am still on the original hatch cover, so I figure I am ahead of the game.

Have fun, work with the wind, don't fight it.

Boomer

[jfrank71]

Not sure of the total weight of packs, but I usually run (1) 3s 5800mah and (1) 2s 5800 mah. 3s on left side to offset prop torque.

[ray schrauwen]

Aaahh, so you are only running 1P. If you doubled up and ran 2P you would have less weight issues.

I know, I know.... Let me have it...

[ray schrauwen]

Dana,
There is an art to driving a cat. This is true for boats that are 50'+ or 30"+.
The big boys kite their boats too, but it tends to be a bit more costly when they do it.

When you are heading into the wind, or across it, this has to be factored into your driving and speed. The fun is finding the bleeding edge of the boats capability and staying just a hair below that. Being a Champion racer means you have to finish races, so if you are blowing your boat over, again and again, the boat is not to light, you throttle finger may just be too heavy.

I run two 3 cells in my MG and find their weight improves the boats stability at high speeds. I have not flipped my boat (yet) not say I won't at some point, but I work at it, and would prefer not to. My MG runs 55-56 mph, so it can be flipped if I were to push the envelop.

Call me conservative, but I am still on the original hatch cover, so I figure I am ahead of the game.

Have fun, work with the wind, don't fight it.

Boomer

100% True.

[jfrank71]

No on the 1p. I am running 5s2p. 3s1p on left side and 2s1p on right side. But this is crazy quick. It wants to stand up and fly! Maybe I am running in too high of wind. But even on the calm side of the pond, up wind with protection, it still gets pretty loose. But all of your input is welcome. I'm just having a hard time seeing how everyone is getting 50s & 60s and I can't keep mine on the water over about 48-49. I guess that is just part of the fun, getting it all dialed in to run the top speeds.

[ray schrauwen]

No on the 1p. I am running 5s2p. 3s1p on left side and 2s1p on right side. But this is crazy quick. It wants to stand up and fly! Maybe I am running in too high of wind. But even on the calm side of the pond, up wind with protection, it still gets pretty loose. But all of your input is welcome. I'm just having a hard time seeing how everyone is getting 50s & 60s and I can't keep mine on the water over about 48-49. I guess that is just part of the fun, getting it all dialed in to run the top speeds.

3s1P in series with 2S1P = 5S1P sir. I'm sorry if this does not jive with you but, I am correct by what you just posted.

To have 5S2P you would need a 5S pack on eiter side hooked up in parellel.

I must add, that I am not saying you can't get 50-60 on 1P but, what you have stated is oly 5S1P.

[TheShaughnessy]

If you are going to run 5s you need to get a gram scale and weigh the 3s cell then weigh the 2s cell and find out how much ballast you need to add to the 2s side to make them exactly the same within at least a gram.

My thought is that as you catch air in the tunnel the boat is lifting unevenly, the 3s side is hooking the water differently and causing an instability great enough to flip it.

I also agree with what was said about running in the wind, you have to know how windy it is. I once had a gust of wind blow my mg over going sub plane speeds. I thought the gust passed but right as i gave it throttle it just flipped back. I now run with some ballast weight up front. I have quite a bit of negative on my strut as well. Here is a vid in some wind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R_KKeU0fLs

My boat runs in the 47 mph range you are saying you have problems with. How tucked is your rudder?

[ericwpg]

That is a Excellent setup. The boat bunny hops right out of the water then steers like it's on rails and runs super flat. When you say ballast weights how much and where?
Oh and you drive good too.

[TheShaughnessy]

That is a Excellent setup. The boat bunny hops right out of the water then steers like it's on rails and runs super flat. When you say ballast weights how much and where?
Oh and you drive good too.

It was an old cell phone i had in my truck, can't seem to find it right now, but going off a similar phones weight it was between 120- 140 grams. And i just velcro it in the bow right behind the motor.

I didn't have it in that video.

thanks on the driving, I've been practicing.