I Guess I Blew It - Looking For Some Guidance Please

[Visual Perfection]

Yes, you could use the motors, but you need to get a brushed speed controller to run them. you can get some that are similar to the proboat impulse 26 on ebay for real cheap that would work. then you just need a servo and a rx/tx

now if you upgrade to brushless, then you have to scrap the motors and run brushless motors and brushless ESC's

[Visual Perfection]

If you can get the boat he posted the link to above plus a partial refund you would have a much easier platform to upgrade. I would really try to go that route if possible..then you will be able to get 1 motor and esc...and bonus it looks like a surface drive rather than submerged which is really what you need if you want to get more speed..

[searay skipper]

Yup...that 1689 is on the table in our negotiations right now. I actually asked them for 2 boats.

I bought the most expensive darn thing on their website....and they said they don't want it back. Now they tell me to select something else as a replacement. So in addition to that 1689....I also asked them for a second boat as well to make up the difference. Waiting to hear back from them if they'll go for that or not. Dunno yet.

As for this thing I have.....I'm not buying anything at all just yet until I know for sure where I stand with the supplier. If they do in fact send me something else...and still don't want this thing back.....THEN....I'll start tinkering with it.

Just researching things right now and trying to learn a bit get a bit of a handle on this rc boat building business.

[JIM MARCUM]

Welcome to OSE Skipper Chuck. While I've been in RC something for over 30 years, the entry into FE boats with Brushless motors, ESCs, LIPO batteries, and even the change from FM to 2.4 Giga Hertz radio systems was a chalenge for me.

Similar to you, I bought a RTR cheapie for my first electric boat. It too had a brushed motor controled by a single non-adjustable radio board, NiCad batts, and a set frequency FM radio system. It was dog slow.

Brushed Nicad and brushless LIPO RC systems are two entirely different worlds. If you want to change your boat to the brushless world, here's what you will need for a solid 40 MPH+, single motor system & about what it will cost.

1. A 2.4 gig pistol grip transmitter (TX) & reciever (RX) system. FlySky GT3B: <$50 Ebay (extra RXes are <$15)
2. A water cooled electronic speed controller. HobbyWing or Turnigy 180 amp: <$90 http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._Boat_ESC.html
3. One FlySky or similar servo. <$15
4. At least two LIPO battery packs. I'd start with two, 4 cell packs (14.8 volts) in parallel (4S2P) rated at least 35C. For your "fun" boat, you can find "cheap" LIPOs for <$40 each at Hobby King (HK) or Ebay. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._Inrunner.html
5. LIPO battery charger. $40-$90 http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._GENUINE_.html http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._Charger_.html
6. A Brushless motor in the 40 range. Again for your boat "cheep" is OK. $30 + shipping HK USA warehouse http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._Inrunner.html
BUT, if you want a quality motor try this here on OSE $109 http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...?prod=leo-4082
7. 40mm motor cooling jacket. <$40
8. A Brushless 40mm ID motor mount, length to suit motor choice. <$40
9. 3/16" Flex drive & stuffing tube with teflon liner combo. <$50
9. Stern mounted strut for prop shaft. <$50
10. Offset rudder & bracket. $12 = shipping http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...der_Large.html
11. Metal surface cutting prop. Octura X445. <$20
12. Rubber thru hull shaft sleves. $4 + shipping http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...der_Large.html
13. Water discharge thru hull fittings. $6 http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...prod=aero-2011

There are many other ways to do this, but this should work for you. Read what other people recommend and make you own decisions.

You'll also need boxes or other ways to hold the LIPOs down firmly, prop drive dog & prop nut, 1/8" ID silicone tubing for cooling, and a few more odds & ends.

And you MUST reinforce the transom by epoxing 1/4" ash plywood on the inside before you can add struts & rudder .

TIP: When you buy from HK, you will save shipping costs if you buy as many items that you can on one order. You can't combine HK USA & HK China orders.

Lots more boat building info, and parts available at reasonable prices here on OSE.

While it's easier to just buy a new RTR brushless boat, by turning what you already have into a Brushless boat, you will gain a lot of info & hone the skills you need to enjoy this great hobby. And, all the cool things you buy can be transfered to another hull if you wish.

Either way you go, GOOD LUCK! JIM

[silvermansteve]

op, do all that, and you're gonna have the best plastic hulled, $400+ toy grade boat out there. you might consider cutting your losses instead of going the good money after bad route. also, refitting a boat like yours is not a trivial task, especially if you're new to rc. good luck.

[searay skipper]

Ahhh Mr Marcum......thanks for the great response. After reading some of your other comments here in various threads I was kinda hoping you might chime in. Exactly the kinds of things I was hoping to hear. Sounds like you started where I'm at right now so you know where I'm coming from.

I've had many hobbies and interests throughout my life...and I'm not adverse to embarking upon a new one. But at these early stages I want to start out slowly and cheaply as I learn more. As my knowledge increases I can move on to bigger and better things (my wife will be thrilled I'm sure).

When I'm finished with my negotiations with the supplier of this thing and I'm 100% sure they don't want it back and it's staying here....then I'll start tearing into it and seeing what I can do with it.....hopefully with the help of you guys here.

But until that time I'm hoping I can continue to pump you guys for all the info I can get....learn more and more about this hobby....and decide what kind of components I want to buy to try to get this thing useable. In time it will probably end up in the hands of my grandson when I move up to bigger and better things.

Love these types of forums. As with other interests I've had....and have now....these forums are an invaluable source of knowledge and help. Great stuff. Thanks all.

[madmorgan]

problem is its bannanna hobbies you are wasting your time if you think you will get any refunds or replacements. check rcu theres thousands off ppl on there that were lucky to get ahold of them and still no luck. my dad got yanked by them with the "giant racer". it was about the same caliber as what yours is. with that 10 lb 12v motorcycle batt. the bbb already has them black listed its to bad to many get screwed by bananna hobby but it will continue to happen because people believe what they read online and dont really know about the forums that could have save a few hundred i believe 300 for my father on a big peice of plastic that floats like a turd in the water. also the pete signature series helis are rebadged walkeras. very shifty company that gets people coming and going all the time good luck.

[JIM MARCUM]

You're welcome Skipper Chuck. Glad to hear you liked some of my comments on other OSE threads - I enjoy helping people if I can.

The things I recommended are good quality and will turn your plastic boat into something you can have fun with. As you have discovered, this is not a cheap or simple sport. There is a learning curve that seems to never quit. Key brushless system parts: motor; ESC; and LIPOs are constantly evolving & getting better. This whole brushless boat thing has been around < 20 years. Originally the costs were prohibitive for most folks. But over the last 10 years, as quality has vastly improved, the prices have dropped like a rock. Still not cheap, but reasonable.

That is the primary reason I recommended equipment that I did is you can use it in the plastic hull you have now and have a little fun. Along the way, you will gain useful knowlege about what it takes to put a FE boat together & what makes brushless boat systems work. I see the cost of parts involved as an investment that you could transfer to a better hull if you choose in the future - should the FE bug bite you as it has done to me.

In the two years since I started playing with FE boats I've learned many interesting & useful things. But more important, I've met a lot for genuinely nice people. Boaters & non-boaters. Check out where local FE guys run thier boats and join them in the fun. FE people will usually bend over to help you lear the ropes & point you in the right direction. A very supportive bunch these FE people.

Gotta go. JIM

[searay skipper]

Thanks Jim....you're right about these forums and the folks in them. And they all seem to be the same. I belong to a SeaRay forum and talk with guys all the time about our real boats and everyone helps each other all the time. Great source of info and advice.

I've also got a few guys in the build forum trying to help me get on track. Getting some real good info there.


"problem is its bannanna hobbies you are wasting your time if you think you will get any refunds or replacements."

I hear ya. I've read some discussions in various places. Lots of negative stories....but also some positive. I'm hoping mine will fall into the latter category. I'm still discussing options with them. They've made me an offer...waiting to see if they come through on it. "fingers crossed"

Ya live and learn right? Had I known about these forums before I made a purchase...you can rest assured I would have been asking questions here before buying anything. However....what's done is done and I'm just trying to salvage whatever I can from this experience and move on.

[JIM MARCUM]

Skipper Chuck, if you hadn't bought that boat you wouldn't have met us!!! JIM

[searay skipper]

There ya go. And that's worth 2 of these.

[searay skipper]

"Brushed Nicad and brushless LIPO RC systems are two entirely different worlds."

So...it seems that the brushless LIPO systems have become most popular in this game.

However.....everyone seems to be of the mind that the 3 motors I have in this thing are brushed. So in order to try to use these motors....I would have to go Nicad. True???

Is the difference in performance between the 2....if there is one...dramatic?

To be honest....I don't really know for sure if these motors are brushed or brushless.

[Alexgar]

welcome aboard i would probably just start over with a nice rtr proboat or aquacraft before i SUNK another dime into that toy boat , no offense intended

[srislash]

Skipp,you can run a nice 3s lipo in that boat.The old school ESC and brushed motors don't care what kind of battery it is just so long as it is equivilent (12 volts'ish).

[Visual Perfection]

As slash said you can run Lipo no problem. Im guessing as long as the esc can handle it you probably will be able to run 4s in it. Should wake it up nicely. And those motors are definitely brushed motors.