Build your own or buy a rtr, a few things to think about.

[millzee]

When I was making my decision on my first fe boat I was struggling to decide on what boat to get and after a few post's in the questions and answers section, I soon found myself looking at the option to build my own. I had never seen a real fe boat in person so it made my building an excellent learning experience but it also made it extremely hard for me (hence all the stupid question lol). I ended up with a boat that ran ok, I managed to get 100kph out of it but it was an accident waiting to happen everytime it was driven, the handling was pretty ordinary and never having or even seen how to set them up correctly frustrated me to the point I wished I'd just bougtht one of the self first so I had a little more experience driving and trimming before jumping in and building my own. I've now pulled it down 12 months and a few boat builds later and have almost finished rebuilding it. I'm waiting for the last coat of color to dry and been thinking a little about the cost's of building as apposed to a rtr so I thought I'd add up everything thats going into and onto the boat in order to give me better idea, I've also included the building supplies I used so if your new to this hobby you'll know what you'll need and how much more expence it's going to set you back, I think a lot of people may overlook the price of the products you need to turn a hull into a boat.

I'll try to break it into categories as best I can and I'll try not to miss anything. I'll put a link to as many items as I can also. All prices are in the US dollar unsless stated au.

Hull

Delta Force 35" Pirate $140
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...d=df-pirate-35
Carbon/Kevlar $30

http://kintecracing.com/Building_Supplies.html

Hardware

Dasboata X646/3?? $50

http://dasboata.com/

Motor Mount WRP to suit neu 1527 $55

http://southriverrcboats.com/shop/category_4%2522%2520rails/4%22-Rail-Mounts.html?shop_param=cid%3D%26

Carbon motor mount sides $10
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=9783
Battery Tray $26
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...=ose-80525-200
Battery velcro straps $10
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...d=dh-AGNH60054
Brass stuffing tube, I used 9/32, 7/32 and 1/4 $5
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...dh-ks-brass-tb
Stuffing tube support- Carbon $2
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=9783
Speedmaster 4" set back, dual pick up rudder $55
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...s-rud-dual-tap
Rubber boot $3
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=ose-80454
4-40 linkage rod $2
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...-40-rod&cat=78
Du-bro connectors $2
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...=dh-490&cat=78
Swivel ball link $2
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...=dh-497&cat=78
Servo arms $11
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...hp?prod=dh-670
Servo Mount $13
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=ose-80092
Speedmaster stinger strut $40
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...os-stinger-str
Hughey .187 flex shaft $25
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=hug-b6666
Octura coupler $10
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...ct-ocfhe5mm187
Avid thrust bearing 5x12x4 $3
http://www.avidrc.com/product/13/thr...-bearings.html
Motor cooling can $30
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...od=ham-neu1527
Turn fins $15
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=ose-80066
Trim tabs $15
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=ose-80070
Water outlets $6
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=ose-80905
!/4" silicon tube $3
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...ng-1%2F4-clear
Aluminium tube $10 au
---------
$573

[millzee]

Electronics

Neu 1527 1.5d 1500kv brushless motor $280
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...u-1527&cat=117
Swordfish 240HV esc $260
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...ef-sword-240hv
Hitec HS-5645mg servo $47
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...tal-Gear-Servo
Spektrum MR200 rx $50
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...Sport-Receiver
On/Off switch $14
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...Switch-Harness
Rx battery $28

http://overdriverc.com/proddetail.php?prod=OFN10202-Ofna-6.0V-1700mAh-NiMH-hump-receiver-pack&cat=193

Etti large cap bank $32
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...i-e041&cat=136
8mm gold connectors $15
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...=ose-8mmbullet
Heat shrink $5
8gauge wire $5

----------------
$736

Misc Hardware

Z-poxy finishing resin $13
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...p?prod=dh-pt40
Z-poxy 30 minute resin $13
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...p?prod=dh-pt39
Nuts/bolts/o'rings ect. $25
M3 sticky velcro $5
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...rod=hd-velcro2
Brushes and mixing containers $5
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...od=dh-gpmr8056
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...od=dh-gpmr8055
JB Weild $7
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...p?prod=hd-8276

--------
$68


Paint note, all prices here are in ozzie dollar

Primer $30
Paint color and clear $110
Sandpaper $12
Decals $55
Masking tape $20
Acetone $5
Mineral turps $5

-----------
$237

[millzee]

That all comes in around $1614 and that'll have the boat on the water but for it to operate you'll have to get yourself
Transmiter $240
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...rod=dh-SPM3140
Lipo's x at least 2 $190
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...Lipo_Pack.html
electrical tape $5
Hatch tape $3
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...rod=hatch-tape
waterproof electronics $17
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=ose-dp270
a temp gun of some sort $25
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...od=dh-DTXP3100
a timer $12
-----------
$492 minimum (you'll want more than one set of batteries, lot's of people will say get an eagletree system to help you understand amp draw, a paddle ski or kayak is handy for retreivals also)

That all now comes in at around $2106 for 4-5 minutes runtime on the water, and thats for you guys in the states, over here in australia most the leading cheapest hobby suppliers would then blow all the prices out of the water and it'd make it probably closer to a 3.0k boat, for example, over here they charge $580 for a supervee27 bl, thats what we have to deal with and why we love shopping online, they make it far too hard to support local.

I chose to go through this exercise to try help some of the new guy's understand what's really involved, I got into this by all the talk up of the traxxas spartan, I ended up with a tough, fast but expensive boat, but I love her. I'm not saying not to build your own, it's great and for me the building is the best part but I am sayong that if I was in the same situation again, I'd be looking at a good quality rtr as my first boat so I could get the knowledge of how to build an FE boat, that way I wouldn't have a "rebuild thread". I'm sure it could be built a little cheaper but these were the products I chose to use.

[millzee]

Here's the build thread
http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ild&highlight=

[drwayne]

Hiya Danny
IMHO,RTR is for ppl who want to play ( not learn about) boats.

Here are my build costs
Aeromarine SprintCat40 twin ( 2 x 6S1P)

AUD- description- supplier
340 Aeromarine Sptintcat40 - Hobbysupplies.com.au
300 2 x 1518/1800 - new
55 2 x HRC coolers HRC
100 2 x 1/4stingers modified to 3/16 roller Promise hobby mod by DrW
60 rudder assy Promise Hobby (LZRC eBay.com )
20 spare rudder blade Promise Hobby
550 2 x SF240HV with caps OSE
55 steer servo MG HC
80 2 x LR 3/16 flex hughey via OSE
50 2 x 5mm-3/16 collet aeromarine via Fastelectrics.com
30 2 x 5mm roller thrust bearing OSE
110 2 x x447 LR by dasboata
65 2 x x447 s+b by self
35 rods, bots, horns etc OSE
50 T head pull-pull rudder arm KRE
30 plugs leads etc from bitsbox
10 batt trsys OSE
15 velcro straps Wattsuprc.com.au
10 2 x 8mm water outlet Promise Hobby
25 3S to 6V10A BEC- self made
10 Rhino 1550 3S LiPo HC
700 3Pk FAAST and Entropy 2x6S55/110c6600
250 charger 1210i 250
50 CF and misc epoxies
not forgetting patient Gf ( she's priceless ) during the build process

just for comparison, hey.

3000 total for 4 minutes jaw dropping fun

cheers
W

[millzee]

Hey Doc, how are ya? They sure are worth ever cent but isn't it amazing when you sit down and work it out, Some of those Euro builds blow my mind with the coin they drop into them. I hope people didn't get the wrong impression, I was quite shock after doing some math and thought it'd be good info for someone who maybe in the same situation I was in a year or so ago.

[Rumdog]

UGH! Don't remind me!

[drwayne]

Hey Doc, how are ya? They sure are worth ever cent but isn't it amazing when you sit down and work it out, Some of those Euro builds blow my mind with the coin they drop into them. I hope people didn't get the wrong impression, I was quite shock after doing some math and thought it'd be good info for someone who maybe in the same situation I was in a year or so ago.

An RTR is on the water in under 24hrs for eg ~600..
However, that same bare hull at ~180 is not a cheap alternative once you accumulate the extras needed to finish... .. ..
Those who know me, know I enjoy building more than racing.
The 'hand built' using premium parts will always out perform a RTR

[Flying Scotsman]

Yes for a first time build it is very expensive if you do not have all the goodies requiered...charger...radio etc. My first boat was a crappy RTR but I learnt a lot. This hobby is not for the faint of heart. I agree with the Doc I get a lot of pleasure in building boats, when you have all the required tools to complete a build and your ambitions realised it is very satisfying experience but expensive...I have 9 boats now since I sold off a few decent modern RTR boats. The first build I did was an H&M Drifter Micro Cat and I still love it and I will not sell it.

Douggie

[millzee]

I couldn't agree more, I love building as much if not more than driving but I still feel the experience gained from a rtr as your first is the way to go. I remember reading a thread about steve's (OSE) rtr that they are building with good spec's and results, can anyone add a link to the ose rtr's to this thread for me?