ML Boatworks- 30" P-spec Tunnel Build another new one!

[cybercrxt]

Wow, I appriciate the kind words, but this boat is no where even near the nicest out there. There are some freakin AWESOME builds I have seen on this site alone! We will see how she runs in about 45 minutes! Off to the house to pic it up, and then to the pond! Mike

[Rumdog]

Sweet. I've never even had a tunnel, but love the looks and the way they run. The fact that it's wood to me is appealing and make it more a work of art than glass hulls. I've done a couple of wood riggers but a tunnel will be next!

[Brushless55]

Wow, very nice!
this sweet looking tunnel makes me want one now

[Make-a-Wake]

Your boat is absolutely stunning! Its like a piece of art. I'd be afraid to even run it for fear of one little scratch.

What motor is that..........specs?

[cybercrxt]

Well, I got it in the water tonight. It performed really good. I knew stumble blocks would be needed, but wanted to see how it would do without them first. It rides just like the 49" gas tunnel I build. The attack angle is low, and once I got a prop on there it liked it rode smooth, no porposing, no blowing off. I would say its low 50's right now which is what I expected since it weighs more than my 54mph Woodstuff 28" tunnel. Both that and this boat have UL-1 power systems. It rode, once adjusted, right on the rear inch to two inches of the ride pad. All and all its looking very good, and the aerodynamics incorporated in this hull should make it stable well into the 60's with probably a 1512 neu. I plan to use this hull as my rough water P-spec hull, but I will try to overload it with power to see what the upper limits are. When I got home, I made stumble blocks, cupped the prop that the hull liked today, and cut the skeg down and thinned and polished it. I suspect I will be able to get the handling squared away in a couple days and then I want to get some props to get it heat racing around 53-55mph. All in due time. I have to make a couple more for my buddy to test stock and mod 3.5 nitro as I want to make an FE and Nitro version.. Lots of testing to do before its released! Anyways, more updates later, Mike

[Brushless55]

what kind of price do you think Mike?
thanks

[cybercrxt]

Well, I have reviewed what other comparable quality tunnels of this size sell for, and I am going actually a little lower than the price of those. I will offer this tunnel without the mahogany trim for $280, and with the trim for $320. Any Old Dominion Model Boat Association member gets $40 off either style. I will not start selling these until I can get a setup sheet established for FE, and then for Nitro. It is more of a competition style hull, so it will require good tuning to really perform the way it should. Once the boat is setup in that window, it will be extremely stable. I already know a LOT about how this boat reacts to changes since because the 49" gas tunnel version acted almost identical to how this one has so far. That is good because I can use what we have learned already with the gas tunnel as a starting point for setup.

One example, the gas tunnel HATED lifting props...well, I had a lifter on the 30" the first run and it pushed the bow down, and did really funny odd things while running. I switched to an X series Octura, and bam, bow up, rode smooth, rode at a really great looking bow angle...just like its big brother! Tonight I will be back after the changes that were made yesterday, and it should be really close as far as handling is concerned.

I will say this, I still fully support all of the Woodstuff tunnels, and if you need something right now, give Mike Crawford a call and order a 28 or 30" from him. I already know how that boat needs to be setup, they are fast, and they can be had now. I don't want to pull anything away from him or his boats because I love all 4 of mine! I built my 30" as merely a test to see how far the design we did (Dick Loeb and I) could be taken it. He had a lot of little design things that I think down the road will really prove top notch. The gas tunnel is already proving that!

Anyways, more updates soon. I will have video hopefully as soon as my wife gets off the sick bed! Mike

[Brushless55]

Looking forward to the video!

[RandyatBBY]

Looks great Mike, Clean build. What speeds are you getting?

[cybercrxt]

Thanks Randy and Bigwave.

So far, I have run it with only an x642 and x646 on the P-spec UL-1 motor and speed control. My ABC H5 and other lifer props will not allow it to jump on plane very well, so I am not going to continue trying to use them, tho they work very well on my Woodstuff's. I threw a GPS in with the x642 before I got the hull flying well, and pulled a 48.1 mph, which for the size hull on P-spec is not bad. I am closer to 50mph with that prop now, but I really need to get Mark Scholand to make me a custom prop. With the x646, it was doing well into the 50's, but that controller cannot handle that much load for very long, just to much spinning mass. I need an X646 cut down to about 44mm, that would probably do very well, and I suspect get it to around 53-54mph, which for P-spec will beat anything out there. Heck, 48.1 in heat trim would beat most other boats!

I am, right now, working on getting the hooking out of the steering. I am working on different stumble pads right now till I get all the bad habits gone. The way the boat is designed, I am going to get it right, but like any new tunnel design, it will take time, and I will not release any of these till I have it right, so that will probably answer your question bigwaveohs. I have noticed tho, the faster this boat goes, the flatter it lays down, so I have a feeling, this is going to be one heck of a fast hull if its used as a P or Q hull. It seems to like the bigger prop and higher speeds. Makes me wonder if a 29" version would not do better as a P-spec hull. hmmm, wheels turning. In due time, in due time.

Well, I will update as things develop, but I have some other things to handle this week, and will get back on testing this over the weekend. Everyone that likes the hull, just be patient. If someone is needing a hull now, call up Mike Crawford and get a Woodstuff 28, 30, 32, or 36, you will not be disappointed! Mike L.

[Brushless55]

thanks for the update!

[norbique]

Very nice boats Mike! Congrats! Mahogany is one of my favorite woods...

[egneg]

Mike I would be more than happy to cut down a prop for you (or anything else you want) and just put it towards the future price you charge me for one of these hulls.

[cybercrxt]

Chuck, I will definately let you know about what I need done for a prop. Once this rain clears out, I will hit the lake again. I have to cut out different stumble pads too. I am working on painting an 1/8th scale FE Miss Circus Circus I built for a guy this week, so that is my #1 priority unfortunately! Mike

[cybercrxt]

Yeah, i mentioned that a couple posts up. I am running the 60a controller to keep things IMPBA legal. MIke