Traxxas Spartan

[oscarel]

Traxxas now sucks in so many eyes out there
I've seen many videos showing 6s runs and not one has gotten close to the so called 50mph + ... low 40's on all the vids
and keep in mind, traxxas does not say 50mph but "50mph + on 6s"everyone running 6s should see constant 50-54mph all day long

One of my first posts in this thread was Eagle Tree data showing 46.3 so there is data out showing more than low 40's. I'll see if I can get more data with fresh packs. This was with a boat pulled right from the box with no trimming done, just placement of batteries.

Also, for the cooling issues here's something to try. File the leading edge of the rudder water inlet till it comes through as seen in these pics. From what I've witnessed there seems to be an air bubble that forms and doesn't allow water to flow when running at speed.

[Doby]

Good tip...but I have to ask...how the heck did you see the air bubble when the boat was running

[oscarel]

I didn't see it, but it doesn't flow when running just an educated guess. With this mod there is a steady stream flowing when there wasn't before.

[Brushless55]

One of my first posts in this thread was Eagle Tree data showing 46.3 so there is data out showing more than low 40's. I'll see if I can get more data with fresh packs. This was with a boat pulled right from the box with no trimming done, just placement of batteries.

Also, for the cooling issues here's something to try. File the leading edge of the rudder water inlet till it comes through as seen in these pics. From what I've witnessed there seems to be an air bubble that forms and doesn't allow water to flow when running at speed.

46mph is decent... for 6s?
but I hope someone can post us a video of a stock Spartan running low 50's like traxxas claims..

I use a point file and open up the back part of the pickup in the rudder it will pull out the metal just a tad and make for a small scoop
that's what I do on all my rudders and it works great

[oscarel]

Yeah, for whatever reason when this boat was first run there was a good stream coming out. The last couple of times I've gone out with Butch there was nothing and there was not a drop of water coming out. We were given this rudder to try and at slower speeds there's now a very good stream coming out.

[Brushless55]

Yeah, for whatever reason when this boat was first run there was a good stream coming out. The last couple of times I've gone out with Butch there was nothing and there was not a drop of water coming out. We were given this rudder to try and at slower speeds there's now a very good stream coming out.

give us a pic bro!
so there is good flow running slow and fast?

[Joeyhatch11]

I've got 6x2S 5000mah lipos, 20C/30 burst. I've read that some ESC say to have more than 25/30C of constant discharge rate but I use these Lipos on my 1/8 Associated RC8e and they hold up just fine. So I'm assuming they'll be good with the boat.

[oscarel]

I wouldn't assume that, I believe boats are a lot harder on equipment since the spikes with the prop biting and letting loose will cause much greater amp spikes than you see on land and air based equipment.

[Joeyhatch11]

Well what are your thoughts on the shockwave 26r? Someone over on RCU said there junk and the hull are cheap thin plastic.

[Brushless55]

I've got 6x2S 5000mah lipos, 20C/30 burst. I've read that some ESC say to have more than 25/30C of constant discharge rate but I use these Lipos on my 1/8 Associated RC8e and they hold up just fine. So I'm assuming they'll be good with the boat.

the esc is rated at 80amps constant
you will have about 100amps cont. out of those packs and stock this boat is pulling about 35-40amps cont. so they should work just fine
the spikes though can be very high
give them a try and watch the temps on them

Well what are your thoughts on the shockwave 26r? Someone over on RCU said there junk and the hull are cheap thin plastic.

I would stay away form that boat
if you have 6 packs then a MG or SV and even the new AQ Cat will be a great choice for those packs and you will have 3 runs

[Joeyhatch11]

Yeah I'm over on TowerHobbies now looking at the Aquacraft SuperVee 27R. I'm going to bite the bullet and get one. At some point in the next month or 2 I'll just have to place another order on HobbyCity and get another4-6 lipos. With 5000mah and 14.4v, how long are my run times expected to be with moderate throttling? Thanks guys, Joe

[Joeyhatch11]

Looking at videos on youtube a lot of guys are pretty much running wide open and there about 5-6 minutes long so I'm guessing with 1/2 throttle runs I'd get a good 8-10?

[Make-a-Wake]

You know what else..................this is one of, if not the top FE forum, and highly knowledgable folks here are upgrading tubing diameter, boring out the rudder pickup, tweaking the tabs and cog...............and STILL cant hit 50 with a stock boat...............

The average "Dad with his son" will buy it, throw it in the local pond and WOT it up to the low 40's.....................til it combusts................send it back, or get a refund, then he'll say "son, boating is just not a good hobby........too difficult and expensive, lets go bowling".......................thats the sad part.

[oscarel]

Yeah, that is true. I'm trying to not let that happen with the friend that bought it. He told me today he's getting frustrated so I'm trying my best to help him as much as possible. Unfortunately this is like most things new, it takes a little to get it right. I know when I got back into boats I bought a Blackjack 26 and was upgrading before it ever hit the water, so Traxxas isn't the only one to need tweaking to get things right. Remember this thread http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ead.php?t=3044

[Brushless55]

Yeah, that is true. I'm trying to not let that happen with the friend that bought it. He told me today he's getting frustrated so I'm trying my best to help him as much as possible. Unfortunately this is like most things new, it takes a little to get it right. I know when I got back into boats I bought a Blackjack 26 and was upgrading before it ever hit the water, so Traxxas isn't the only one to need tweaking to get things right. Remember this thread http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ead.php?t=3044

well that thread was started 3 years ago and we have moved way beyond those issues today.. I hope
with all the money traxxas has, they should have hit this one out of the park

You know what else..................this is one of, if not the top FE forum, and highly knowledgable folks here are upgrading tubing diameter, boring out the rudder pickup, tweaking the tabs and cog...............and STILL cant hit 50 with a stock boat...............

The average "Dad with his son" will buy it, throw it in the local pond and WOT it up to the low 40's.....................til it combusts................send it back, or get a refund, then he'll say "son, boating is just not a good hobby........too difficult and expensive, lets go bowling".......................thats the sad part.

that is the biggest reason I started posting questions and concerns about the durability of the motor and esc on this RTR when info first came out about it (and so many dissed me for that..)
to many now are looking at something else with all the bad comments and finding in threads all over the WWW
and how many really know how to set up a boat out of the box to maximize its performance? well for me after several years, I'm still learning
so for the newbies, they are and will have issues just getting past the heat issues

Looking at videos on youtube a lot of guys are pretty much running wide open and there about 5-6 minutes long so I'm guessing with 1/2 throttle runs I'd get a good 8-10?

yep, you should get 8min or so on light throttle, but bro when you hit the switch, you will run WOT
be sure to get a lvc or some kind of buzzer for the packs