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[sunnybob]

Oh yes, I have the power

The switch from 6 volt ni-mh to 12 volt lead acid is dramatic.

I took the cruiser down to the lake today, and it FLEW across the water, much faster scale speed than the full size.

I had the big battery too far forward to start, and it was actually powering its way under. Resiting it closer to middle made it work much better.

I had to add a half kilo of lead each side at the stern to balance the battery, buts its still riding above the waterline, so I reckon another 250grams each side will get the best out of the boat. Reversing the paired prop direction has definitely tightened the turning circle, maybe its increased performance too 

I know I shouldnt do it on a regular basis, but going from full ahead to full astern actually made the boat leap!

My poor old wonky prop shafts arent going to make it though, They are clattering loudly and starting to seep water into the boat now that its sitting a half inch lower, so I'm having a set made with water seals and oil hole.

If that makes it go even faster still, I shall have to start investigating hydrofoils! ::) ::)

If my old dad could only have seen this thing go :'( :'(

the pic is blurred because the camera person couldt focus on it, but it shows the bow wave nicely.

sunnybob, happy at last.

[Shipmate60]

Bob,
Which motor and prop combination did you finally end up with?
She does look rather good!!!

Bob

[sunnybob]

The motors are the electronize 545, connected straight onto the propshafts. the props themselves are original 50 year old brass 3 bladed and paired, about 45mm diameter.

The drive train is all 50 years old and hand made by my dad (except the props, i dont think he could have made them), and the shafts are out of true, and the threads at each end are even more out of line, producing a fair amount of drag and vibration.
Once I have a set of virtually friction free shafts, I expect even more power 

[Stavros]

WELL DONE THAT MAN perseverance has paid off.You see it is no good giving up when it gets tough, when it gets tough that the tough get going



Stavros

[Colin Bishop]

when it gets tough that the tough get going

And that's the last you ever see of them....

[Shipmate60]

sunnybob,
I am sure your dad would have sorted out the shafts himself when he saw her running.
We make the models for how they look and perform.
I wouldnt think he would have minded replacing the shafts to get her running to her full potential, I know I would want her running well.

Bob

[SteamboatPhil]

Hi Sunnybob, you are to be congratulated, she really looks, with the improvements she will be stunning, question, jow long is she ?

[sunnybob]

My dad was a skilled metal worker, but with no access to high precision lathes etc. So it is all literally "hand" made, but thats just not good enough on high revving prop shafts, so i'm happy to replace that part of his work (if he was still here, he wouldnt be sentimental either).

With adding the bigger battery, and 1 1/2 kilos of counter weights, its not much fun carrying this to the water

But I am looking forward to more forwards
the boat is 40" long, 13" across, and 15" from keel to mast top, and weighs 10 kilos at the waters edge.

[OMK]

Frank, what does a man have to do or say in order to scrounge/beg/buy/plead a copy of the plans from you?
what was she called before you named her Olive Tree?

[sunnybob]

PMK, the original was called GWEN EAGLE.

Thanks to Colin Bishop here, I now have a set of plans for it, after almost 50 years of having no info at all about the boat.

I cant recall the name off hand, but the scottish firm that sells all boat plans has a set, but its not on their website. You have to ask for them (pssst, knock twice and ask for Gwen )

For some weird reason, the plans came at around 2/3 full size, and it took a copy shop several attempts to scale them up and then back down untill they came out at the exact measurements I have.

If you wanted, I could take them to another copy shop (I think that one would lock the door when they saw me coming now) and have a full set made for you, but I recall that was about £20.

If you do a search here for gwen eagle, there are several threads where I was learning how to outfit it.

So far, after many many attempts, I have only found 1 person who was aware of the boat's origins, and 1 person who actually said he had a set of plans but never built it. That makes mine a unique model
let me know if you want the plans or not.
Bob (aka Frank :))