Gutted my Impulse....Here's what I'm doing!

[ejimbo4]

I am new to FE Boats and have run 7 sets of packs through my Impulse and got the itch! Time to scratch! I have a second hull and my plan is to strip the hardware and gut the inside,lay Carbon Fiber, new motor/esc/prop, upgrade flex shaft,trim tabs and turn fins. So far I have removed the hardware and managed to get most of the wood out but have a couple questions. Here are some pics of where I am at so far...
My plan for the CF is to lay it from transom to the wood stringer in bow.......is that far enough forward? The bow seems stiff enough ...it is from the stringer back that has all the flex. I am leaving the stuffing tube box,esc mount and motor mount in but I am considering taking motor mount out and putting something different in there......any advice on that? The carbon fiber came in yesterday and the Seaking 180A Esc showed up today so now I am hunting a motor. I am wanting to run 5s2p or 6s2p in parallel for weight and run time and I just need to know if I am heading the right direction of thinking? My end goal is I want in the 50-60 ish range but want to keep cool temps.. I really do appreciate anyone that chimes in with some advice!

[dana]

i would just replace everything including motor mount. leaving the stock stuffing tube would be ok and take out teflon and run 3/16, thats if it has 1/4 brass. i dont own this hull so i dunno. as far as motor? somthing in the 1700kv range i would think, which brand depends on your budget. make sure you sand the hell outta the inside awith 80 grit, then use finishing resin to put in the carbon =)

[ejimbo4]

Cool, I will remove the motor mount and servo mount and get it all sanded down real good. I ordered a CF kit and it came with the resin and hardener. I have never worked with CF but I have done so much reading on here about how to do it that I feel like I have!

[ejimbo4]

So I got rid of the motor mount (got one ordered from OSE) but left the servo mount,sanded it down real good and layed my CF.This is my first time working with CF or FG and it was intimidating. I think one place I screwed up was that I tried to lay it all in one piece and maybe it should have been in a little bit smaller sections.Also when I taped where I was going to cut I pushed the tape down pretty good and then couldn't get it off the weave and messed the weave up.I also should have taken my time a little bit more but I didn't really know how long I had to work with it and could have spent more time on corners and one bubble I got but it is small and on a edge so I should be all right! All in all I am hooked on the CF and can't wait to do some more! Can't tell the wife that or my credit card will come up missing So I have a couple questions....
Should I lay down a second layer or is one good? I read in someones thread that they said to lay down a few layers where the motor mount is going.....needed or overkill?
I was really amazed at how strong this stuff is.....I thought I had messed it up last night when I did it because it didn't seem to be hardening or anything by the time I went to bed but I went down to check this morning and WOW!


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[Make-a-Wake]

Looks nice so far!

I'd run something like this 4 poler on 6s.....the 3y version. I must be the only one that has tried one of these from OSE..................its a great motor for the $$.........and i always like a bargain which is why i throw these out here...................its easy to just start recommending Neu's and lehners...............

http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=keda-4074

Other options:

3674 four pole for 5s - http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._Inrunner.html

3674 four pole for 6s - http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._Inrunner.html

[ejimbo4]

I just ordered the Leopard 4074 2150kv 2y to put in this and run it in 4s2p. Hopefully that should do it......

[tlandauer]

Hi Ejimbo4,
Wow,Looks good! I admire your courage! I have a few questions: do you have to dremel out the wood braces? Once you cut the CF I see you tape the edges. At which point do you remove the tape? Lastly? you kept mentioning ordering a CF kit, where do you order it?I have been searching...
Thanks,Tim

[ejimbo4]

Thanx Tim! As far as dremeling I started with one and a dremel flex cable adapter but found that if you just makes cut where pieces tie in and down the long sections make a couple cuts and I used a pair of pliers and twisted and broke most of it out and then when back with a sanding wheel and smoothed everything over. Just be careful not to go through the bottom of the hull. I did just barely....but I still did!
CF... I tape where I am going to cut then cut. Just don't push the tape down hard or you might screw up the weave and I pull the tape off after its cured. Don't think thats right because I have to pick at it and its a whole project just trying to get the tape up.

This is the CF kit I got off e-bay and it is plenty! I have layed the hull with a double layer and I could lay another two if I wanted but I will reinforce my hatches for both my impulses and still have a bunch left over!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190450272975?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_1054

Don't know if you have layed CF before but I got all my info of this forum!

[tlandauer]

Thanks ejimbo4! Thank you for your link and all the info. I should have done my home work a while back when I was reinforcing an old Delta Force 45 Sniper. In my case since the boat was built by someone else and the 5' wooden rails are so well epoxied on to the hull, I wasn't able to and should not rip them out. Therefore I wasn't able to lay the whole area with CF. I did piece by piece of FG cloth with 30 min. zpoxy. Just wanted to learn and really like what you have done! My next project I will follow your method !

[ejimbo4]

Thanx man but I really am just getting all my info right here on OSE!!! A lot of reading and rereading and trial and error......

[ejimbo4]

So I got my dams made up and the motor mount mounted.....

[Make-a-Wake]

Nice work!

[ejimbo4]

Thanx, I'm learning!!! I saw properchopper had built some dams like that and figured i would give it a try...

[veejo]

The hull on my mystic, which I think is made the same way as my impulse (yet to get into water), is that they glue the top and bottoms together, when it hits something, it splits along this glue line. It's good to reinforce the join between the deck and the hull with glass and resin. Carbon fibre ..... to get the real benefit it is usually moulded and set under heat .... you don't get the "carbon" benefits with just resin at room temperature, for just strength (tear resistance) kevlar would have been a better option. Also inject some expanding foam in the bow when finished, add almost no weight, makes it VERY rigid, and will stop it sinking. They put a bit in now from the factory, but not enough to fill the gaps (seems more for bouyancy than to add structural regigidity and strength.

I also have the bug, mystic (needs cracks fixed after touching the jetty), Impulse 31 (out of the box .... has broken dog pin for the prop), and stilleto is on it's way courtesy of USPS, god bless USPS for those of us who don't live the USA.

Looking at bailer options for my boats now.

[ejimbo4]

So I am trying to order the hardware for the rudder assembly and unfortunately no one has any pics to go with the parts listing for this boat so maybe someone could help me out? I have a couple pics of what I have all ready and if I new what those two were then I could order the rest. Also here is the link to the parts listing....and thanx in advance for any info!

http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/impulse-31-deep-v-bl-rtr-PRB4250

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