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[davejay]

Hi all,


After many failed attempts with GRP hulls I'm now at the point of giving up. My latest failure is a 59" narrowboat. I gathered parts for the build, fitted the propshaft (supported), built the motor mount as per the advice on here, had to use a double Huco coupling because of the drop between the motor shaft centre point and the propshaft centre point. Tonight I connected up the battery and the whole thing sounded like a drag racer. I did all i could to quieten the beast, did all the checks etc etc and the blasted thing sounds awful. So it is now that I'm at the juncture of giving up/in to all things boatie related.


I will therefore be selling what I can to at least get some revenue back from what I've invested so far and then cut my losses.


I will shortly be listing bits for sale in here when time allows.


Here's a hint of what will be for sale.


6ch Volantex rc set (new and boxed)
MFA 800 motor
2x high capacity 12v 7ah batteries
MTroniks tio 30a speed controller


Sheets of plasticard (A3 and A4 sheets of various thicknesses) approx 15 sheets.


Etc etc.


Going to stick to my DF65 yacht as my only boat now and therefore withdrawing from the world of model boats henceforth.


Thank you in advance to all that have furnished me with advice on the past and I wish you all the best in all that you do.


Kind regards,


Dave

[RST]

Dave this sounds very dramatic.


I must admit I use the tried and tested method of using a single or couple of AA batteries -whatever just enough to turn the shaft and find a "sweet spot" to glue it in. Also most motors and propshafts sound terrible unless they are in the water!  Even a fingertip on the propshaft outer or prop boss makes a massive difference.


I only ever refurbed one canal boat model before. A model of my bosses restaurant barge at the time 20 years ago plus and probably closer to 50in I'm not sure if it had a motor bigger than a 385 or a low drain 540.  Certainly not an 800 series motor, the prop clearance wasn't that big enough to warrant it for a start.


Given how simple a barge is I suggest you stick with it.  Otherwise I guess if you're that fed up a sales list is required.

[davejay]

I know it sounds dramatic and like a rattle tossing episode but it's time to concede.


I did try a low voltage battery test, tried virtually everything.


You know when you're forever fighting against the build and it gets tiresome and a chore, it's time to give up!

[BrianB6]

Why does the prop shaft have to be out of line with the motor shaft?   Since there is little shaft outside the hull, a small angle would not show up even on the prop.
Take heart, put it on the shelf for a week and come back with a fresh approach. 

[tigertiger]

I think most of us have had days when we could put a hammer through the model and give up. Things inevitably do go wrong and flummox us. I have slept on things, often for days or even weeks, before another way of doing things comes to mind; and sometimes there is still a need to try, sleep, repeat.

[roycv]

Hi Davejay, have you had anyone look over your boat like an experienced model boater?  Are the items you have for sale also from the narrow boat?  If so:-

There is something you might try.  Can you find a sngle cell battery a dry one will do. I do mean 1.5 volts!   Put this in place of the SLA that you have.  You will need 4 batteries in a holder and plug this into the receiver battery socket, preferably with a switch.

 You must turn the speed controller on off switch to OFF.  Then Tx on and it should all work, check that the rudder servo works OK.

Then see if everything slows down.  Not much cost to the experiment and if it fails the batteries can be used elsewhere.

These big motors will run on a very low voltage, I tried a single cell on an 800 motor I have and it turns over.  It may be you need a small increase in voltage say 2 Nimh cells which would give you 2.4 volts.

We can't afford to lose model boaters!
Good luck
Roy

[john44]

Hi Dave, so sorry to hear you are giving up on the build. Would it help if I mailed you pictures
On how I fitted my motor. 800 motor on a 12v supply is the wrong way to go its way too fast.
You need a geared reduction motor as I suggested.
Once again sorry you’re giving up on it, but if I can help at all with your build please ask.


John