Anyone notice this??

[Ub Hauled]

One thing to consider is that the Parks that allow "loud" boats are dwindling... and now with the Parks in danger of being closed (or at least understaffed) due to budget cuts, that will play a big role in what type of power source will be able to run... well, at least in CA.
Something that grinds my gears is that we have nice climate ALL YEAR ROUND and yet, this state is no very keen in rc boating, SPECIALLY electric... and yes, I am a little peeved and all this

[paulwilliams]

One thing to consider is that the Parks that allow "loud" boats are dwindling... and now with the Parks in danger of being closed (or at least understaffed) due to budget cuts, that will play a big role in what type of power source will be able to run... well, at least in CA.
Something that grinds my gears is that we have nice climate ALL YEAR ROUND and yet, this state is no very keen in rc boating, SPECIALLY electric... and yes, I am a little peeved and all this

Perhaps GM want to kill electric boats too?

[ozzie-crawl]

there is no FE racing in my area but there is gas racing and i have gone and watched a few times. there is one 40"+ cat that is fast and handles well the rest just make a lot of noise and are slow

[Paul Pachmayer]

Hi Guys,

That's my site. The decision to drop electrics wasn't an easy one for me. I've been in electrics since way before brushless motors came out. There are several reasons that justified the switch and costs are a big one. Like Darin pointed out FE guys are notoriously cheap. The Chinese stuff is cutting into the FE business hard and I simply don't do "Aquacraft" type work. When Jay mentioned that vendors are flakey he is right. He wasn't talking about stores like OSE, it's the suppliers to the stores that made me crazy. I had hardware kits, parts and pieces on order for over 6 months! Believe me when I tell you that's not unusual. I could never figure it out, we're they doing so much business that my small 1000.00 dollar hardware orders weren't big enough?

As far as gas boating goes I love big boats. A top of the line FE boat is way more expensive to run than a gas boat. Ask Bill Malvey, I built him 2 of the same Snipers, one FE and one gas. Sure, the FE boat is faster but it also cost 3 times as much. It had better run faster. But the gas version is no slouch, 60+ MPH and can run for a half hour is not "slow". How many 60MPH FE boats can match that? Sorry, but my gas boats aren't loud either. All of them have good mufflers which make them quieter than an average lawn mower.

There are other things that affected my decision like racing, FE boat races simply don't have the support from the racers. The same races are always held with the same handful of racers that would attend. You rarely saw a new face at these events. You also rarely saw families attend a race. A big FE race has what, 30 guys show up? I would say the "average" race is about 15 to 20 guys attending. Look at the FE Nationals, it's pretty sad to say the least.

I've put allot of time into promoting FE, hopefully one day these new box art boats will get more people involved. That's a good thing for the hobby. I'm a model boater, I like all types and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. I still have a fleet of FE boats I won't get rid of any time soon. I'll still build FE boats for customers who ask for them. But when you have a stand alone business and want to keep the doors open you have to make the tough decisions.

Paul.

[Jeff Wohlt]

I'm thinking more of the NEU and Castle lines that have done well for us. Chinese is Chinese. Nothing new there when it comes to product QC.

My only point was FE has moved farther faster than the gas.

All it takes is a few reads about Fine design to make you ask why do business this way? He was a leader in FE for years and now people have waited and waited and nothing.

I have been told that the gas motors still need bearings and rebuilding after so many runs unless you buy $1000+ Quickdraw motors. Throwing in the old weedeater motor is just not going to cut it.

No doubt you get more for less in a gas boat. I will be building one soon.

May need to pick your brain on a motor soon.

No doubt about it. Paul builds some great stuff. I remember his saying in WI when I saw him there. If I am not first I am upside down. Usually he was first.

[SteveReesor]

Paul,

Your mark on FE will be missed. I wish you all the success with the gas business.

I liked racing against ya, perhaps we'll meet racing gas. I actually bought a stocker to play with at the pond between charging on testing days.

Gas is strong here as well.

FE does suffer, at the District and National levels as those of us who choose to race are a small group. I am not talking about at club level as I believe that club racing is pretty good around the US and around here.

All out balls to the walls racing in FE is expensive, not only in equipment, but the travel and accomodation end of it. We are a small group.

My stocker was set-up to easily convert to a modified Zen...which I may do this year, to add a boat to District racing. I still race Open Mono...just a fun boat to drive...its like a cadillac on the water.

Best of luck to ya'

Steve

[ride1226]

One thing to consider is that the Parks that allow "loud" boats are dwindling... and now with the Parks in danger of being closed (or at least understaffed) due to budget cuts, that will play a big role in what type of power source will be able to run... well, at least in CA.
Something that grinds my gears is that we have nice climate ALL YEAR ROUND and yet, this state is no very keen in rc boating, SPECIALLY electric... and yes, I am a little peeved and all this

I live in SoCal and take my FEs to dixon lake in escondido. They dont care about the electrics at all, because my arguement was that they dont allow gas fishing boats but they rent out electric ones. So they where stuck. Now the fisherman on the other hand, if the biting is good that day keep a fair distance because they dont like the disturbance. I can also take my boats to lake wohlford. But no gassers. I like the convenience of fill and go but dont like the tuning and power differences and hassle let alone the noise. Ill stick to my FE.

[Paul Pachmayer]

Hi Guys,

I have been told that the gas motors still need bearings and rebuilding after so many runs unless you buy $1000+ Quickdraw motors.

Not true Jeff, I've been running the same 2 full mod Zenoahs for 2 years, probably has 5 to 10 gallons run though each with absolutely zero problems. I took them apart this winter and only replaced gaskets, they still looked new inside. At the Nationals last year I took first place in XLS 27 Mono running against all the hybrid engines. Four first place and one second place finish with a 350.00 dollar engine.

I liked racing against ya, perhaps we'll meet racing gas. I actually bought a stocker to play with at the pond between charging on testing days.

Hi Steve, I'm not giving up on electric all together. I still have several FE boats I won't be parting with so we'll meet up on the water no doubt! I'm sticking with my 4S and 2S boats.

Guys, I don't care what type of power source you use, as long as your running a RC boat all is good!

Paul.

Paul.

[red6]

I have both, but I like the fact that my electric never stalls out. The gas is nice for long runs. In the end the electric is always bringing the gas one back in if I run out of fuel or stall out.

[H&MWill]

Will,
There is a IMPBA District 12 club in Baltimore and they run a district race just south of Hagerstown in late September. I'm probably going to go up there since it's only an hour away. I joined my local club in Northern VA even though my son and I are the only FE's in the club, but I figure someone's got to be first. We're just in it this year are to run novice with the nitros, learn as much as we can and have some fun. If your interested, PM me if you ever want to start racing. My club is running their district race at the end of this month.

Enclosed is a pic of a club members .90 nitro powered submarine.

Sweet! Thanks alot.

[Tony]

My buddies actually say they get bored running theirs because they run so long.

I had nitro onroad cars, and offroad truck. Took atleast 25 minutes to empty one tank of gas. Wish my FE boats would run that long.

[Grimracer]

Hi Guys,

That's my site. The decision to drop electrics wasn't an easy one for me. I've been in electrics since way before brushless motors came out. There are several reasons that justified the switch and costs are a big one. Like Darin pointed out FE guys are notoriously cheap. The Chinese stuff is cutting into the FE business hard and I simply don't do "Aquacraft" type work. When Jay mentioned that vendors are flakey he is right. He wasn't talking about stores like OSE, it's the suppliers to the stores that made me crazy. I had hardware kits, parts and pieces on order for over 6 months! Believe me when I tell you that's not unusual. I could never figure it out, we're they doing so much business that my small 1000.00 dollar hardware orders weren't big enough?

As far as gas boating goes I love big boats. A top of the line FE boat is way more expensive to run than a gas boat. Ask Bill Malvey, I built him 2 of the same Snipers, one FE and one gas. Sure, the FE boat is faster but it also cost 3 times as much. It had better run faster. But the gas version is no slouch, 60+ MPH and can run for a half hour is not "slow". How many 60MPH FE boats can match that? Sorry, but my gas boats aren't loud either. All of them have good mufflers which make them quieter than an average lawn mower.

There are other things that affected my decision like racing, FE boat races simply don't have the support from the racers. The same races are always held with the same handful of racers that would attend. You rarely saw a new face at these events. You also rarely saw families attend a race. A big FE race has what, 30 guys show up? I would say the "average" race is about 15 to 20 guys attending. Look at the FE Nationals, it's pretty sad to say the least.

I've put allot of time into promoting FE, hopefully one day these new box art boats will get more people involved. That's a good thing for the hobby. I'm a model boater, I like all types and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. I still have a fleet of FE boats I won't get rid of any time soon. I'll still build FE boats for customers who ask for them. But when you have a stand alone business and want to keep the doors open you have to make the tough decisions.

Paul.

Thanks Paul...

Your Bud

Grim