TFL Hobbies "Popeye" Hydro: P-Sport Hydro

[ron1950]

every square inch of my boat has pool noodle floatation....I akso tape the hatch witch stops all the water.....don't relay on hatch locks and foam etc to stop water...bummer about the boat///with any luck it may be still floating tomorrow....where are you anyway? I hate gators and if I had my way we would all be wearing gator skin shoes and all the women gator skin hand bags.... its gotton to the point that its unsafe to swim in any freash water lake in fla ala la amd ms for sure

[Jlov]

Yea agreed Ray. But this was first boat I built and I really can't afford to replace it right now. I'm assuming if air is in pockets in Sponsons that it hopefully won't sink to bottom and will float to one side of lake. I'll be out there at first light trying to find it that's for sure. No idea what this alligators interest was in boat. In looking at video on camcorder just now the boat and him look very similar in water. So maybe he thought it was another alligator. Not sure but he swam circles around it for over 30 mins. Almost like he was stalking it before the kill. Just hoping he left it alone once it got dark. I just couldn't see it anymore. I'm just in disbelief this happened. Hope I can simply walk out there in morning and find it!

[Jlov]

Yea Ron I'm in south Florida. I have mine stuffed with noodle to think that's why it was still floating. Gators are in every retention pond and lake we have down here. During mating season they get very territorial and aggressive. I didn't think before jumping in just wanted my boat back. Stupid now that I think about it. We'll see in morning.........

[Jlov]

Was thinking what I should do if I find it in morning? I'm assuming the motor,Esc and receiver will have been submerged under water all night even if I do find it. I'm in a hotel so do not have garage and much of my tools. Should I just remove cowl and let everything air dry? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thx Jeff

[flraptor07]

Was thinking what I should do if I find it in morning? I'm assuming the motor,Esc and receiver will have been submerged under water all night even if I do find it. I'm in a hotel so do not have garage and much of my tools. Should I just remove cowl and let everything air dry? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thx Jeff

That's about the only thing you can do, unplug everything and pull out what you can and let it dry completely. Don't plug anything back in till it's dry I'm talking a week or so, you might get lucky and some of it may work. But deffinetly don't try to reuse the battery no matter what!! Get a new one!

[tlandauer]

Jeff, real sorry to hear that. I am glad you are OK, I understand your feelings but in the end you are lucky that your girl friend was looking out for you!
I was on vacation in Idaho and the pond was so small that you can call it a fishing hole, had a mini hydro got stuck in the middle, tried to swim and I got real nervous and was then I remembered all the horror stories I read, turned around and waited until a good hearted fisherman came and helped me.
I really hope and pray for you to find your boat, don't get too discouraged, we have all been there.

[Jlov]

Went out there at first light and thank god it was still floating like I left it last night. Problem is it's not floating across lake. It's just sitting out in middle of lake about 400 yards from shore. I'm going to have to go buy a kayak or inflatable boat and paddle out to it..... I just hope that alligator leaves me alone. I'm just glad it didn't sink tho.

[flraptor07]

Went out there at first light and thank god it was still floating like I left it last night. Problem is it's not floating across lake. It's just sitting out in middle of lake about 400 yards from shore. I'm going to have to go buy a kayak or inflatable boat and paddle out to it..... I just hope that alligator leaves me alone. I'm just glad it didn't sink tho.

WOW! 400 yards, that must be a pretty big lake that's 4 football fields. I was gonna say get a fishing pole but you're not gonna cast 4oo yards. Well at least it's still floating and you'll get it back, you should get your gun too and at least get some Gator steaks out of the deal!!

[ron1950]

call the fla game and wildlife and tell em there is a nuncence gator in the lake u might get on gator boys lol

[lenny]

Is it in salt water ?
If so when you get it back flash it all out with freshwater,
Than spray the motor down real good with WD40 inside and outside.
Than blow it with air or just let air dry.
After you flash out the rx, servo, esc ,batter with freshwater,
You can also put the them in a bag with rice to help dry them out good to.

[Jlov]

No Lenny it was fresh water. I finally got it back this afternoon when it floated to opposite shore. In video I'll post this weekend you can see gator around boat and boat is then sitting right side up. He had flipped at it first with his snout and flipped back over upright. Then he preceded to take a bite out of it. In last pic you can see where his upper left tooth bit thru cowl and where his upper right tooth slid down side of cowl and scratched it. In second pic you can see bottom of boat where his lower jaw tore up the bottom of boat and put cracks in side when he bit. First pic shows inside of sponson cracked from when he chomped down on it........
image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg
I am just glad to get it back. I can repair the damage to the hull from him chewing on it. I'm more worried about my electronics. Here's a few pics if anyone can tell by looking at them if their shot.......
image.jpgimage.jpg

[Jlov]

One more looks like corrosion on ESC board already
image.jpg
Here's a pic of how it floated all night after he chomped on it.
image.jpg

[flraptor07]

Jeff, Pull the end bell off the motor and soak it down with WD40 or something like that cause unfortunatly that's probably the only thing that you're gonna save. With the effort it's gonna take to fix that hull you might as well buy a new one. Not only that you'll probably never get it strait enough to run right and it's gonna be a lot heavier when you're done. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that's my assesment. Man that sucks, that thing came out so nice too...

[ray schrauwen]

Looks like there is a touch of salt in that fresh water by the looks of the esc. That needs a good clean out also.

[Jlov]

I live on saltwater and have run boat there this past weekend. But it sank in a fresh water lake. The damage to hull is not as bad as it looks in photo. Pretty sure I can get it fixed without adding much weight. Took motor apart and will coat it all in Corrosion X when I get home tommo. So even tho ESC was submerged over night you think I can save that part Ray?