***Skunkworks Cat Owners thread TIPS / TRICKS / PICS / SET UPS and SIMILAR HULLS***

[exotica]

Hey Kosta the boat looks good in the vid, bit hard to really tell though.
Hows your strut set?
the nose of my strut is 3mm above the bottom of the spnsons while the back is sitting level with them, that should give you an indication of the angle it is set at. Your COG is roughly the same as mine.
And smoke is never a good thing to come from the inside of the boat, how's the speedy look and smell? You sure it wasn't steam?
Heath

...the strut is now angled down about 1 degree from the bottom of the sponsons. On closer investigation smoke might have some from the puffed lipo maybe?

As I had no temp gun the speedie was hot to touch so to were the caps. It wasnt steam as it did have a distinct smell. Ive checked over the speedie and all is well.
here is another vid....


Second run can be found here...

[exotica]

...and the third video can be found here...

[Heath M]

how long did you run on the lipos for? and what brand were they?
Give ur strut anther 1 degree angle making sure the back is level with the sponsons.

[exotica]

how long did you run on the lipos for? and what brand were they?
Give ur strut another 1 degree angle making sure the back is level with the sponsons.

...ide have to say I ran the lipos for approx 6 minutes, 3X 2 minute runs. Is this to much? Ill take another pic of the strut and post it up. I had to move it lower to try and stop the hull from bouncing up and down. You can actually hear the rpm bouncing in the videos instead of being consistent and smooth as the hull moved through the water. Any thoughts or suggestions???

[exotica]

...sorry Heath, the brand of lipos are Intellect.

[Heath M]

Yeah 6mins on that setup sounds too long, i'd be running 4mins max.
A good tool to have to check your lipo voltage and %age of whats left and cell balance, can be found at hobby king
It's called the cellmeter 8 and is under the lipo battery charger section on the first page.

[domwilson]

how long did you run on the lipos for? and what brand were they?
Give ur strut anther 1 degree angle making sure the back is level with the sponsons.

I agree with Heath. A strut that is too low will cause it to porpoise. It did on mine anyways...

[exotica]

...have any of you guys tried the X640 prop sharpened and balanced on this set up or similar?

Based on the Fecalc and I know its only a guide, it appears to be a more efficient prop to use giving me more speed, less amp draw on the ESC, and still approx 4mins worth of run time.

[domwilson]

It does look good on FECalc. Works great on a 9XL. In addition, the X637 looks good too. A lot less amp draw and only slightly slower.

[exotica]

...thanks Dom, ive got a new b/s x640 coming so I cant wait to try it.

I have also updated the videos I posted so the resolution is better now that I understand my Sony HDD HD video recorder better, LOL.

[domwilson]

Do you have pics of how your strut is now? A side and a rear shot would be nice. You still having that porpoising issue?

[exotica]

...have just added some more images of the new internal set up of the hull. Black lines either side of the hatch channel indicate the CG. I have also included some images of the strut as im still finding the hull wanting to bounce up and down at WOT. If I can get this sorted then im well on the way to the 50mph mark. Hull is sitting on a piece of flat solid granite. Strut is level with the rear sponsons but the front of the hull is slightly elevated. This look normal or should the strut be level with the front of the sponsons????

[Alfa Spirit]

Very nice boat but there is no washer the strut and drive dog? Try to find PEEK VICTREX washer (graphite + carbon + teflon + bronze) those are very good and more stronger than PTFE

[tiqueman]

Very nice boat but there is no washer the strut and drive dog? Try to find PEEK VICTREX washer (graphite + carbon + teflon + bronze) those are very good and more stronger than PTFE

If its not a floating system (square drive) , which unless I missed it, its not, theres no need for washers. And I believe its running wire, so the gap isnt as much a concern as w/ flex.

But very good advice on the washer preferences.

[tiqueman]

I agree with Heath. A strut that is too low will cause it to porpoise. It did on mine anyways...

Ive got a 32" cat that porposied w/ it too high as well, with no signs of blow out either. Its just a fine tuning guessing game. And you know nothing til you try it.

Its really getting there Exotica. Very nicley done my friend!