Traxxas Spartan

[Diesel6401]

I guess you guys haven't noticed all the new members here wondering why their Spartans are going up in flames?
Doby, do YOU have an oinion, or are you just going to give everyone who does a hard time? Traxxas being the big company they are, is appealing to a very large market. A lot of guys trying a boat for the first time, will buy the Traxxas. Why not? It comes fully RTR, and claims 50 plus mph. Most guys will buy just because of the speed claim and that it looks cool and for no other reason. When esc's start smoking, and motors start frying... and their new lipos get ruined, there is a VERY good chance that FE boats will leave a bad tast in their mouth. KIs that good for the sport? No.
Traxxas' ability to throw cash around for marketing and winning so-called boat of the year is not a good thing for this hobby. Look at all of the GOOD rtr's coming out that work well right out of the box. The newbie aint gonna buy it because it don't say 50 plus on the box.

I agree with you on this one, and the boat of the year is just very bad for this hobby. If I was new guy looking to get into boating and bought this boat and read it was boat of the year and the thing went up in smoke. I would have a bad taste in my mouth thinking I went out and bought the "so called" boat of the year and the thing went up in flames. I would be one PISSED off customer and would leave me to believe that if the boat of the year is this bad then the others must be terrible.

[shctexas]

I am a new guy in the hobby, didn't know it was the "boat of the year" though I did buy into the hype. I had problems but resolved them with the help of experienced fe boaters here and on the "other" forum. Yes, I have a bad taste in my mouth but not so much about the problems but with the manufacturers attitude toward their customers. In a word "dismissive". "j" I agree with your "build your own" perspective. As a matter of fact I can envision my next project....twin drive cat, built my way. I have a long way to go so for now I'll enjoy what I have... the Spart and an MG. By the way, fiberglass all the way. Thanx guys.

[Make-a-Wake]

Quote GeoVW72 - "Make-a-Wake: You're viewing this from an odd angle. By all means build the boat, add a radio and cheap batts and put it on ebay as the spartan killer for $475 and offer tech support, I doubt you'll be happy."

OK...............never said i was going to build it.............which means i cant add a radio..............or sell it on ebay..............or give it a name............

Two other posters have added the same opinion of "building your own" for not much more.........and enjoying the build, and learning from it instead of swiping a credit card at the LHS and plopping the new boat in the local pond..................and hoping it lasts thru its first run.

It won "boat of the year" cuz its up against current year production ARTR's............not against the "phantom" DF35 I threw out there in my earlier post..............or any other fiberglass, quality boats that are seen on the racing circuits............or on this forum.

[GeoVW72]

Make-a-Wake: I agree with you , we as an educated community could build an arguably better boat for the same price, but we are not the true target market.

Nor am I truly trying to defend traxxas. I've waited as we all have for traxxas to hang themselves, I just didn't think it would be this quick or this bad

It's easy as a consumer to be harsh critic of a product because you won't truly value what's there.
Traxxas didn't build a $400 boat, they built a $150 boat+marketing,tech+distribution=$329 boat+shop= $400 boat, street price
The boat had to hit a price point because that is what traxxas saw the target market paying and with the setbacks that they've had they are trying to get every dollar back from what they have invested in the project before they dump more in.

I commend others for the work they've done to make the boat truly run well
But, my opinion is that we've abandoned the stock hardware too quickly without truly coming up with a "fix" for whats there. At least that's the tact I will be taking with the mods that I do.

As connected as the world is today and with this being one of the top forums, I think what has been done to make the boat perform has tuned many people off. I don't see bickering and "I told you so" helping the situation at this point. My opinion is the community should work toward the easy and cheap fix using most of the stock hardware to help the boat hit the target market.
Cuz it'll probably take traxxas another 6 months to come up with a fix

[JPriami]

If you set aside the issues with some of the esc's potentially catching fire.

The mods are simple for the boat.
1. Modify the cooling system: open up the rudder inlet (a must do!), drill out the nipple at the top of the rudder (extra measure), drill out the water exit (extra measure). New larger ID cooling lines (optional)
This (opening up the rudder inlet) will supply the boat with the necessary cooling.
I dont recommend "Y" ing off the single line for separate lines to the motor and esc. But whatever one does make sure after this mod that you keep a vigilant eye on the temps to see how things are cooling or cooking. I ran my boat several times after this mod and keep watch on the temps. running a couple mins then come in and check asap. if ok run then check etc. then learned that it was all ok after enough checking.

2. Replace the silicon cooling jacket with an aluminum one (optional): if the one you have leaks after opening up the cooling system flow/pressure. I experienced a cup of water in my boat because mine was leaking a few times I ran it this way.
Or your maybe able to take the stock jacket off and clean the surfaces of the jacket and motor well. Then apply a thin layer of RTV sealant so that the jacket sticks to the motor better. I havent tested this but its an after thought I had. Might even try small zip ties on the ends.

3. Prop (optional): The stock prop should get you up to 47MPH with 80% motor efficiency & 25% prop slip on 6S. But I feel there are lots of variables in a mass production of things. So one motor could be a little better than the other. Plus Ive seen balance issues with these motors that varies (GeoVW72 has a video too). My stock prop/motor only got me about 43/44mph. Ive heard others remark 45 to 48mph as well.
A Prather 220 should get you around +/- the 50mph mark.
I'm sure there are some other possibilities for prop choices Im just speaking from my own experience with the boat.

[Greek75]

Ok, I agree with all the posters here. I bought 1 to try for mt 7 and 9 year old daughters... I haven't been into rc for 20 years. FE wasn't a term back then. If it wasn't gas, it was a toy. The Spartan ,for my daughters, was a way to get them into rc. I paid $369 for original, now $319 from tower with $50 off. I've exponentially learned about FE. I've ordered 3 other FE and am going for a 60" gasser for the runtime. All of my kinks have been worked out. My girls have a reliable traxxas running 6S. My main concern was the traxxas warranty. Every time they pick up the phone, I get a box of new parts.... I just fix the bad parts, till I rec replacement. I definitely agree the stock setup is a toy, but if you fry the motor or esc, traxxas said don't worry about the 30 day warranty.... I've been trying just that, running around 7 min, almost all full throttle. No flames..... I'm just saying, for the money $319 with a warranty , rtr, for the kids, 45+mph isn't a bad deal...

[wilsta67]

the thing does not do 45+ il give you the tip not without a lot of modifications.

[wilsta67]

sorry about all the bagging about this boat,but it has left a very bitter taste in my mouth, and if i can stop at least 1 person from making the mistake of buying one of these then it will make me happy.

[oscarel]

the thing does not do 45+ il give you the tip not without a lot of modifications.

How do you have it set up? What batteries are you using?

[Boatcrazy]

sorry about all the bagging about this boat,but it has left a very bitter taste in my mouth, and if i can stop at least 1 person from making the mistake of buying one of these then it will make me happy.

I was looking at one for my first boat but quickly changed my mind
Thanks

[Greek75]

By now, I know more about this boat than traxxas does... Believe me, it's doing 45+ on gps, stock except for prop, and many, many, many, mods.... Unless you too have electrical and mechanical engineering teams working on my little girls toy.... Oh, and the necessary machinery.... I agree it did not do much(42) out of box with cooling mods.... It's brought me to fe and has been a fun project.... I can't get a good rudder for the price of this boat on a big gas cat.....
No disrespect, but it's a good learning tool, and it shouldn't be advertised 50+ out of the box....

[Rumdog]

You can't get a rudder for $400.00? Not so sure about that..

[wilsta67]

How do you have it set up? What batteries are you using?

35c 5000mah in this video 42mph

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLl0hlM4wdU

and put in a set of 45c nano techs for the first time and this happens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR6fgmHPSgw

[oscarel]

Where did you have the batteries in the tray? All the way forward, all the way back, in the middle? I understand you had issues, but how did you have it set up?

[wilsta67]

Where did you have the batteries in the tray? All the way forward, all the way back, in the middle? I understand you had issues, but how did you have it set up?

the middle of the tray is the best position for batteries.
done all the mods cooling jacket,bored out water pick up bigger hose, had esc set to race mode.