Refurbishing my 27 year old RC Boat and I need help!

[huseyinozsut]

Hi everyone,

I own a 17" 27 year-old Nikko Scale RC Boat. Three years ago it's remote, and receiver died out. Now I plan to re-make it with GPS, compass, wireless cam and stuff.

The thing I need help is propoller and motor choice. Here are some pics:







The original propeller is 30mm. Within the place max diameter of propeller would be 32mm. If I get the propeller closer to the rudder, max diameter of propeller would be 35mm. would Getting my prop. closer to rudder would change many things?

Also I don't know my propeller's pitch. How should I choose my pitch?

I don't know the difference between metal props and plastic ones. Which one I should choose?

The original prop. has three wings. I plan to keep 3 wing prop. deseign. Am I doing right?


Oh, my aim of speed is 10 miles/h speed, if possible.

This boat uses 4 "C" grade and 4 "A" grade batteries. Which makes around 580g only the batteries. I need long range, so I plan to use a big set of lifepo4 batt. (like 9.2ah 6.6V batt.) and keep the weight of the boat same. And I guess the boat's speed was like 3 miles/h max, with the motor seen in the picture. With a brushless, can I reach 10 miles/h? I know this seems too amateur project for most of you; but there is two aims for me:

1) Learn the use of autopilot.
2) Learn the faundementals of making a RC boat
3) Rebuild my oldest toy, which I grew up with and let my children play with it also, offcourse when they are born and grew up a little!

If you can help me, I would appriciate much!

[sundog]

I think it might be better to keep the original prop/shaft and go to a brushless motor and lipo battery, electronic speed control, and a new receiver and transmitter. You will probably need a steering servo too, if it has some kind of proprietary steering arrangement. This boat hull is not designed for racing speeds, but more for scale (slower that 'sport') speeds as it is. You can do the other upgrades without the need to change the prop/shaft/stuffing tube. A brushless motor will improve performance even with the original prop.

[iamandrew]

I had one of these! mine was the firefighting type and had a water cannon on the front deck!

[larryrose11]

For a low power / long range application such as this, I would think that energy density (W-hr/Kg) of you battery system would be key. LiFE battery are not as energy dense as some LiPO batteries.
An easy way to find batteries like this is the Battery Heven feature of HobbyKing.com site.
Just set the voltage / cell count you want, 2S for this application, and set the capacity to a narrow range, and sort by weight.
YOu would want somthing over 120 w-hr / kg. the more, the better.
A quick search revealed this: Zippy Compact.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=21369
These come in at 151.9 wh/Kg. They are 2s, 7.4 V, 5 Ah, 237g, $18.52. Pretty good. You could get 2 of them and run them in paralell, be under your weight, and have 10 Ah!!

[huseyinozsut]

For a low power / long range application such as this, I would think that energy density (W-hr/Kg) of you battery system would be key. LiFE battery are not as energy dense as some LiPO batteries.
An easy way to find batteries like this is the Battery Heven feature of HobbyKing.com site.
Just set the voltage / cell count you want, 2S for this application, and set the capacity to a narrow range, and sort by weight.
YOu would want somthing over 120 w-hr / kg. the more, the better.
A quick search revealed this: Zippy Compact.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=21369
These come in at 151.9 wh/Kg. They are 2s, 7.4 V, 5 Ah, 237g, $18.52. Pretty good. You could get 2 of them and run them in paralell, be under your weight, and have 10 Ah!!

This is perfect for me! Also really cheap! Thank you very much!
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About motor and propeller, here is the thing: my shaft diameter is 2.3mm. I can use wider diameter propellers with a rubber adapter. My propeller is damaged and I don't trust it. I need to change it. Since I'm changing it, I can get a bigger one. Instead of 30mm, I can use 32 or 35mm...

Also my motor shaft diameter is 2mm... There is a plastic connector between motor shaft and propeller shaft. My aim is to maintain that plastic connector, use a brushless motor with 2mm shaft diameter, use the original propeller shaft and use a rubber adaptor to fit 1/8" propeller.

My final aim is to get this toy 3 or 4 times faster; but yet slow. What do you say? Is it possible?

For example this motor: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._Inrunner.html
It has a 20mm diameter and 2mm shaft diameter. Length is not important for me. So this motor can be a direct replacement. Or this:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._Inrunner.html
With heatsink apllied probably...

With these small motors, can I reach my speed goal? Or should I find more powerful motor?

[Southwest]

I read it was 27 years old. Now be careful as plastic turns yellow and softens and when working on plastic, it doesn't hold shape. I had a 28" hydro and it was getting soft and when i tried beefing it up, boat just wouldn't hold its ahape and wasn't worth my time. Now it had a grauper 700-8.4 motor and ran on 12 round cells. Trash can it went.

[dana]

Personally I think you're wasting your time with this boat. Not only is it a cheapo boat from toysrus, but it's also almost 30 years old. After all the tinkering and some money you'll see it's a complete turd. No offense man,but if you do try, good luck with it

[huseyinozsut]

Personally I think you're wasting your time with this boat. Not only is it a cheapo boat from toysrus, but it's also almost 30 years old. After all the tinkering and some money you'll see it's a complete turd. No offense man,but if you do try, good luck with it

I also think like that; but here is the thing: the only thing I'll be paying for this boat will be motor, speed control and propeller. The rest will be used in my other projects also. This guy needs to be repaired and repairing it with obeying the original parts will cost me around the same. So think as this as just a beginning and refurbishing. After completing this project I'll begin another and probably a real one, not a toy one.

[BILL OXIDEAN]

Wait a minute!

Please don't discourage this man from refurbishing that neat little classic boat. I'm sure he realizes most would consider it a POS
I have a FEW recommendations for that little gem, and none incorperate a brushless system.

Gut the electronics, install a waterproof brushed esc, motor is probably still good, throw a 7.4 lipo in there, a budget radio, a mini servo, and be done with it.
I don't see where he couldn't get 10mph out of that with stock prop.

What you DON'T wanna do is pot too much power to that hull, its not a performance hull.

Here are a few references:

http://www.atomik-rc.com/60A-240A-Bu...category=76759
http://www.airtronics.net/index.php/...dio-tx-rx.html
http://www.airtronics.net/index.php/...ast-servo.html

If you believe in your project, sky is the limit!
Sounds like you want to bring your imagination to life..

[dana]

sometimes you just need to accept that something is a pos. but if he gets it going and get some enjoyment from it, so be it. personally i think encouraging rebuilding this thing is silly. oh well, as they say… eye of the beholder…..

[huseyinozsut]

Wait a minute!

Please don't discourage this man from refurbishing that neat little classic boat. I'm sure he realizes most would consider it a POS
I have a FEW recommendations for that little gem, and none incorperate a brushless system.

Gut the electronics, install a waterproof brushed esc, motor is probably still good, throw a 7.4 lipo in there, a budget radio, a mini servo, and be done with it.
I don't see where he couldn't get 10mph out of that with stock prop.

What you DON'T wanna do is pot too much power to that hull, its not a performance hull.

Here are a few references:

http://www.atomik-rc.com/60A-240A-Bu...category=76759
http://www.airtronics.net/index.php/...dio-tx-rx.html
http://www.airtronics.net/index.php/...ast-servo.html

If you believe in your project, sky is the limit!
Sounds like you want to bring your imagination to life..

Thank you very much! Then I'll just renew the prop. (not upgrade it, it is damaged) and think about the motor. The original motor has a diameter of 2.3cm. My new motor also should be in 2-2.5cm range (due to the place of motor). Length of the motor is not important. I will look for stronger and higher rpm brushed motor with this diameter. Not changing the motor is kind of risky. Just because the original one is rusted and works with dangerous noises. :D I need to find a brushed motor that has a diameter of 2-2.5cm and shaft diameter of 2mm. Should not be that hard to find. :)

I don't even need RC controller and receiver. I'll use laptop+joystick+3dr telemetry kit with ardupilot system including a gps. When I solve the problems with that setup, it will be ready for implementing on a real project! I'll make the real investment for a good hull and etc. I live in Turkey. For motor, batteries and etc. I have my brother and many friends in United States. But they can't bring a big hull for me! And those are really expensive here! :D So I need to first see the potential of ardupilot, then make the big investment. :D

[brett657]

I think you're wasting your time with this boat. It's also almost 30 years old but if you do try I think it might be better to keep the original prop/shaft and go to a brushless motor and lipo battery, electronic speed control, and a new receiver and transmitter. You will probably need a steering servo too, if it has some kind of proprietary steering arrangement. This boat hull is not designed for racing speeds, but more for scale speeds as it is...Read more

[sundog]

Hey BRETT657 - funny, that looks like a cut and paste of what I said in the first post. And when someone clicks on the link to see the 'rest' of the post, it shamelessly takes you to a business site. Not good, bud. Moderators?

[huseyinozsut]

Wow... Bot just got clever.

[SweetAccord]

Wait a minute!Please don't discourage this man from refurbishing that neat little classic boat. I'm sure he realizes most would consider it a POSI have a FEW recommendations for that little gem, and none incorperate a brushless system.Gut the electronics, install a waterproof brushed esc, motor is probably still good, throw a 7.4 lipo in there, a budget radio, a mini servo, and be done with it.I don't see where he couldn't get 10mph out of that with stock prop. What you DON'T wanna do is pot too much power to that hull, its not a performance hull. Here are a few references:http://www.atomik-rc.com/60A-240A-Bu...category=76759http://www.airtronics.net/index.php/...dio-tx-rx.htmlhttp://www.airtronics.net/index.php/...ast-servo.html If you believe in your project, sky is the limit!Sounds like you want to bring your imagination to life..

Bill you are so nice to help this guy out and not be like others who call it a pos, how rude. Thank you for actually contributing to this thead instead of criticizing. Kudos to you!

[dana]

Bill you are so nice to help this guy out and not be like others who call it a pos, how rude. Thank you for actually contributing to this thead instead of criticizing. Kudos to you!

Haha why don't you build one too....

[dana]

If you want to relive your childhood with this boat, you can clean it up and put it up as a decoration in your shop. Make some new memories with something else. This boat will perform about as good as a proboat duck with a brushless system in it. Hey, it's a free thread to comment and this is my opinion, like it or not. I mean not to offend man, just being realistic.

[huseyinozsut]

Why arguing on a stupid toy? Thanks everybody for their comments. And Dana, I got your point. But here is the thing: cost of getting this toy ready for water will be max. 40$. Rest of the products (ardupilot, gps, lipo cells, 3dr telemetry kit, wireless cam) will be used in my other projects also. For me, spending 40$ for refurbishing this boat is acceptable. After minimising the lag of command given by the joystick and implementing more precise aupilot features, I will definitely go for a much better hull with high power motors and etc. And this boat here we talk about, will allways be ready, if I connect ardupilot and etc. back to it. This toy does not look good and also not fancy. Definetaly not good for decoration.

[dana]

Sorry man, felt the need to defend myself a bit. I'll shut up about it now. Post some vid when it's running )