Project Cat

[Jesse J]

I was gonna do a build thread on this guy, got him as a bare ABS hull no hatch. No steps nor strakes, you can tell on the turns that I gotta add some. boat is 20.5" by 6.5" pretty tall and deep tunnel.

here is vid, not ideal since I had to navigate the weed patches, ducks, dogs AND film (ever since I did it the first time, wife says - you are good at it, you don't need me).

Pretty happy with the paint, started as dull black ABS and now lookey! Quite happy with how she rides once she gets up on top.

[Doby]

Cute.

[Fluid]

That's an old H2O cat - still have one gathering dust on the shelf. Cats with narrow tunnels generally don't turn well, especially to the left. This one had pretty dull sponson edges, sharpening them helped the handling some. Steps or strakes won't help enough to be worth the effort - I tried as did another club member. This boat was designed around NiMH cells and a mild motor and is pretty much obsolete, but I like what you did with it.

That is the nicest one I've seen too, great paint job. Just be happy with the way it runs on step, and wider turns will work better...

.

[Jesse J]

Hey Jay, thanks for the input! I agree, not an Aeromarine or H&M, but still for $30, can't go wrong. I did add a chine and one line of strakes. She still turns like a cat on a leash but like you said, go wide. I am not on the racing wagon with this guy, just to have some fun. I got some vid of her on 2S2P and then 2S3P, 29 and 38mph respectively... well beyond my expectations.

She is pretty, - whatta ya think of the cowl? A wolfman one-of-a-kind!! Here are some pics of the homemade bits, since I ordered from OFE late and didn't get my shipment yet. Time and desire to see how she goes ... how did Peter Zicha put it, "Necessity is the mother of invention" took over. Check out this level of desperation.

Whatta ya think of the motor cooler? film canaster, two bits of K&S, some JB weld quick and some sillycone... I fabbed the motor mount out of 2" aluminum angle brace and ply. Notice the servo mount? I glued cf plate to ply then fiber glassed it in.. super strong - and those Traxxas servos ROCK!!!

Here is vid of the last run. raised up the strut some more, added the below pictured motor cooling (the first run she came back 145F w/o cooling after 40 sec on 2S, this time came back 105F after 2min 2S, and 130 after 1.5 min on 3S...). Keep in mind - I am filming, driving and avoiding that stupid log in the foreground!!!

Hope this one isn't as "cute" as the last one.

[Doby]

Really cute.....

[damfurst]

Looks good Jesse. Too bad it won't steer better. I bet it would jump well on the creek though. Did you get my package yet?

[Jesse J]

Hey Wes, sorry I didn't get back to you, yes I did thanks. Watch the vid - there are some great shots in there! Haven't installed the motor yet, but will before I head back to beat up on the fam with my "Jesse's always faster" fleet. Hope to see you soon.
J

[venom*one]

Looks like it likes to be on the lid too... great looking boat!!!

[Jesse J]

I usually get crazier and crazier to the point of having to send out the rescue barge...