Poor handling cat

[BakedMopar]

I run two feigao 540 8xls with aquastar 120's. Batts are two 4s 4000 40-50c. RTR weight is just under 9.5lbs.

[keithbradley]

I am no expert on twin cats, BUT this tendency is normal if you don't stay on plane while cornering. My twin skunk does the same thing, its just too much weight for the hull. Especially with the weight on the outsides (sponsons) of a narrow hull. For saw type runs it's okay but trying to run it like a mono, it's just not going to happen.

What do you run in your skunk? I'm wondering just how light Im going to have to go to get decent handling out of it. I had originally planned on running 2 leopard 4074's but went up to the castle motors. At this point Im pretty sure it wouldnt handle well with 4074's either. I think a regular 540 sized motor may be about the most weight she can take with a pair of 3s lipos...I have been thinking of getting one of the new leopard brushless 1/10 car systems for my sons sc truck. I think I might get 2, then try them in the cat with no cooling or anything. Shouldnt take long to tell me if it works or not.

[BakedMopar]

I am no expert on twin cats, BUT this tendency is normal if you don't stay on plane while cornering. My twin skunk does the same thing, its just too much weight for the hull. Especially with the weight on the outsides (sponsons) of a narrow hull. For saw type runs it's okay but trying to run it like a mono, it's just not going to happen.

[keithbradley]

Ha.. Nice! Hmmmm... Id try smaller props for sure, just to see what happens. I run my twin turning inwards (LH on the right and RH on the left) x442 S/B/DT and Cupped. Im running just over 70, however, my lake isnt wide enough to attempt a turn at that speed. It will take it not problem though from 55/60 all the way down to non plane. When at a stand still, the water half way up the deck to the hatch. It sites really low. From what I can tell by the pictures, the bottom look very simialr to the HOTR/ Skunk/ EKOS.

Whats your drive positioning?
Wheres your cog?
Do have have more pics?
How much wood could a wood chuck chuck....?

Drives are set like they are pictured here:
http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ad.php?t=18753

COG ~30%

Ill get more pics later...maybe tonight

All the wood he would chuck

[keithbradley]

Why don't you try a good set of battery packs like the nano-tech or similar discharge and run 2 3s packs in series? That way you will lose weight. You are running 2 5s batts now right?

I tried 2 3s packs. It was a little better, but still terrible.

[tiqueman]

Why don't you try a good set of battery packs like the nano-tech or similar discharge and run 2 3s packs in series? That way you will lose weight. You are running 2 5s batts now right?

Thats how I run mine. Run times are short (about 2 min) but it keeps it lighter. You definitley need a high C rating and at least 5000mah.

[tiqueman]

Ha.. Nice! Hmmmm... Id try smaller props for sure, just to see what happens. I run my twin turning inwards (LH on the right and RH on the left) x442 S/B/DT and Cupped. Im running just over 70, however, my lake isnt wide enough to attempt a turn at that speed. It will take it not problem though from 55/60 all the way down to non plane. When at a stand still, the water half way up the deck to the hatch. It sites really low. From what I can tell by the pictures, the bottom look very simialr to the HOTR/ Skunk/ EKOS.

Whats your drive positioning?
Wheres your cog?
Do have have more pics?
How much wood could a wood chuck chuck....?

[blackcat26]

Why don't you try a good set of battery packs like the nano-tech or similar discharge and run 2 3s packs in series? That way you will lose weight. You are running 2 5s batts now right?

[keithbradley]

Props turning in or out?

Nevermind, just re-read it and you tried both...????

Do you have any vids of it?

No, I was there by myself.
I do have this amature footage taken by a bystander though:

[tiqueman]

Props turning in or out?

Nevermind, just re-read it and you tried both...????

Do you have any vids of it?

[keithbradley]

Keith, do you have any pictures of this baby?

http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ad.php?t=18753
Theres a build thread here but I havent posted any recent pictures. Its still in rough stages (no paint, ect.) but I wanted to make sure I got it setup right before I spent a lot of time/energy on making it pretty. I definitely DONT have it setup right right now, but I will at least get it to go fast in a straight line before I am finished.
I always thought twins were cool (I know you are fond of them as well) and Ive been excited about this build. Yesterday's test took the wind out of my sails, and I lost motivation to do anything with it... but that happens with everything I do. By experience I can say it usually lasts a day or two then Im back at it.

[keithbradley]

I raced against a smiths cat in last years nationals, it was on a twin 3s setup and while it didnt seem to be displaying the extreme handling defects you are getting I wouldn't say it was a good handling boat, its a stunningly beautiful boat, but too narrow to turn really well in my opinion, I was substantially faster in the turns with my 36"x14.25" Crestrunner cat. that was the only one I have seen and I only saw it once so that could just have been a poor setuo but if it was me I wouldn't invest in lighter gear for it I would fit the 1518s and go to the SAWS on 6s.

While I don't think it will ever be a serious oval racer I'm sure you can get it to turn much better than it sounds like it is doing at the moment without spending any money or sacrificing any straight line speed. Have you played about with rudder caster to try and get it handling better? Angling the rudder so the bottom of the rudder is a little further back than the top will make the boat run wetter in the turns which sounds like it would help you out a lot having a longer waterline instead of a deeper displacement.

This is what I am starting to think myself...just see how fast I can get her to go and be happy with that.
I intended on pushing it to extreme speeds from the start, just a little dissapointed that I cant drive it at all really at the local pond.

Based on the handling after I took out 2 lipos and ran it on 3s instead of 5s, I think this boat has some handling issues and they are multiplied the heavier the boat gets. It was a little bit better but still a big problem. And yeah, it was slower on 3s, but fast enough to get an idea of what is going on. As I said, it actually handles better the faster it goes. I was surprisecd how fast it actually was on 3s.
If I put little motors in it and she still cant stay right side up I would be very disapointed.

Fluid said try a really long rudder and see what happens, so Im going to give that a shot.

[LarrysDrifter]

Im not dogging Feigao motors,but why not try a pair of Arc motors 540 XL's?They are 4 pole and more efficient.Although they do cost a bit more than Feigaos,they run excellent.

[blackcat26]

Keith, do you have any pictures of this baby?

[NativePaul]

I raced against a smiths cat in last years nationals, it was on a twin 3s setup and while it didnt seem to be displaying the extreme handling defects you are getting I wouldn't say it was a good handling boat, its a stunningly beautiful boat, but too narrow to turn really well in my opinion, I was substantially faster in the turns with my 36"x14.25" Crestrunner cat. that was the only one I have seen and I only saw it once so that could just have been a poor setuo but if it was me I wouldn't invest in lighter gear for it I would fit the 1518s and go to the SAWS on 6s.

While I don't think it will ever be a serious oval racer I'm sure you can get it to turn much better than it sounds like it is doing at the moment without spending any money or sacrificing any straight line speed. Have you played about with rudder caster to try and get it handling better? Angling the rudder so the bottom of the rudder is a little further back than the top will make the boat run wetter in the turns which sounds like it would help you out a lot having a longer waterline instead of a deeper displacement.