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Author Topic: DF65  (Read 6325 times)

g4yvm

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DF65
« on: December 08, 2013, 06:20:23 pm »

Sailed my DF65 at Poole Park last week...really enjoyed myself too.  My son sailed his (my old) Odyssey and we had a great day out.  The lake is drained now but it'll be filled again in the new year I think.


I watched an A Class from PRYC sailing, they look very very nice!!


Lots of chaps from PRYC there but their web site is shockingly out of date...still shows a deceased person as a committee member.  Really ought to be tidied up, that.  I'd consider joining...might talk to someone next time.


Anyway, if anyone is considering a DF65, I'd say go for it.  A nice little boat.


david
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Netleyned

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Re: DF65
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2013, 03:55:13 pm »

Hi David
Just back from my third outing with my DF.
Yes I went for one in the end.
Two outings in light winds ok and then
today 20mph winds brill :-))


She was at the limit I think but it has shown me that
with good sails she will be even better.
I can now get an A rig and a B rig with confidence
that I am not wasting my money.
Put her back in the car and sailed my Marblehead on a B rig
for the rest of the afternoon.
Anyone looking for a good small rtr yacht will not go wrong.


Ned



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g4yvm

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Re: DF65
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2013, 11:06:24 pm »

Glad you like it.

You mention the A and B rig.  Is the stock rig a C then?   Id assumed I was sailing an A rig.

D
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Netleyned

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Re: DF65
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2013, 08:58:23 am »

The rig supplied is an A rig.
I was talking about upgrading as
Housemartin, Graphite and Cat sails are making
sails for it and RC yachts and Abersoch boatyard are selling
The rigs to enable a B and C set of spars and sails.


Ned
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tiaki

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Re: DF65
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2013, 11:39:47 am »

Just relented and bought a DF65 used for $105NZ with damaged receiver. Are there any aftermarket receivers compatible with the supplied radio? Or should I be throwing in a complete  radio set and ditching the supplied set?
Cheers
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g4yvm

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Re: DF65
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2013, 11:47:56 am »

I think is spektrum compatible

D
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Netleyned

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Re: DF65
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2013, 01:46:53 pm »

Just tried binding with Spektrum compatible orange Rx No Go.
Tried with Radiolink No Go




Ned
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g4yvm

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Re: DF65
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2013, 02:15:43 pm »

Ah right.


Well if it was ME i'd ditch the tranny and buy another one.  The supplied one is okay but mines already feeling like Im about to lose the sticks!  I'd go for another Spekky tranny (or actually I'd buy one of the HobbyKing Orange ones.  They look very nice, they are low price and match the Orange Rx perfectly.  I have used Orange Rx in boats and aeroplanes for a few years with no faults whatsoever).


David
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tiaki

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Re: DF65
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2013, 05:59:54 pm »

I was thinking HK turnigy 4chV2 as they have a good rep. But with so much Futaba 40meg gear sitting looking at me it may well find it's way into the yacht. Fortunately I'm the only DF I know about locally so I have stripped it down ready for some mod's. My first thoughts are to rebuild the radio ply mounts in marine ply and epoxy in all the deck fittings once they have been cleaned and painted. It looks like they are steel and have rust on them. It may be rusty water dried on them so will check first if indeed they are steel or stainless. I have managed to save the servo and winch, ditched the battery holder and now the radio gear. One of the clips on deck has rusted through so will replace these with fishing swivel clips. I will add clips to the backstay and sheeting attachments for quick rigging and de-rigging. Lower the winch and use sail stick for the deck patches, unless I find an alternative that looks neat and tidy for ease of battery changes. The original deck patches are kind of nasty looking now and no doubt this is why the water has been through the radio gear.
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triumphjon

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Re: DF65
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2013, 07:04:38 pm »

as with most brands of 2.4ghz you need to stick with like for like , my own df is now using a spektrum compatible orange rx , im controlling with my recently purchased dx7s , apart from a nasty hull split just a month after purchase these boats seem to have a habbit of taking on water while sailing , ive yet to trace the source , but since it hit the water in early september its managed to kill TWO  rx battery packs . our club , portsmouth model yacht racing club sails both the df and micro magic every saturday morning at canoe lake in portsmouth from ten am until around lunch time , all are welcome to come and join in ! jon
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tiaki

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Re: DF65
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2013, 07:49:05 pm »

My biggest fear with this yacht is the construction. I will be resealing all joints as I doubt the quality of the joints left as they are. Also notice that there does not appear to be any undercoat to the lead and keel. As this one has been left with saltwater sitting in the joints the lead is corroding about the keel and both parts are suffering paint flake. I think I will strip back the keel and polish the alloy before clear coating it and repaint the lead bright red. I will epoxy the lead on and fill the bolt hole with epoxy and micro balloons. The stupid horse for the main sheeting has to go and a stainless wire horse built to replace it. So much for having it all shipshape in a day.
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tiaki

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Re: DF65
« Reply #11 on: December 20, 2013, 04:23:15 am »

Does anyone know what battery is used through the "battery hatch"? As this one is set up for a battery pack in the radio tray.
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Netleyned

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Re: DF65
« Reply #12 on: December 20, 2013, 09:04:17 am »

I have a 6v AAA NiMH flat pack which attaches to the
keel box with Velcro.
You will need a short extension lead.

Ned
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g4yvm

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Re: DF65
« Reply #13 on: December 20, 2013, 11:26:47 am »

My DF used to ship a bit of water too, not mases and only in rough water when she was more awash than afloat, but she was a wet boat.  I found that it cam in through the deck eye fittings and the sticky hatch covers. I epoxied all the eyes etc and cleaned the deck with meths prior to taping down every hatch cover.  She is now (or was last time) bone dry.  I dont use the battery hatch, its just sealed off now.  Maybe I should seal of the big hatch and use the battery one!  There's a thought.


Mine has shown no hull weaknesses yet.


I use the Spekky compatible Orange stuff too, and will be replacing my DF handset with an Orange tranny early in 2014.


David
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Netleyned

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Re: DF65
« Reply #14 on: December 20, 2013, 04:05:15 pm »

Thats the thinking behind using a battery pack that will fit in the small hatch.
The main patch once applied can stay undisturbed.
My DF  sailing in 20mph winds last week was submarining quite a lot.
My Marblehead on the same day took on a pint of water DF dry :-))

PS Graphite sails do a bag of better quality patches.
4 Large and 12 small for £6


Ned
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tiaki

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Re: DF65
« Reply #15 on: December 21, 2013, 03:42:39 am »

I have increased the battery hatch by 3mm in length and can now get a pack of AA batteries through it. they are pushed as far back as possible. I have filled in the joints under the hull ( keel and rudder ) with silicone for better laminar flow and just in case the gasket fails then leaks. I have also applied sail stick to the bolt hole of the keel which was bedded down with silicone to prevent corrosion in the joint. Deck side I have done away with the bung/ plug, covered the screw holes for the keel box and covered the radio hatch with sail stick. All deck fittings have been epoxied in and the sheeting has been changed for quick removal and installing. As the A rig is the only rig that will be used I have done away with all the silicon tubes and a lot of the bowsies.
The grey hull is a Viper which carries 35grams of lead less yet being pure lead is considerable smaller than the lead provided for DF65. I wonder what extra they have in the lead.
Weather permitting they will both be getting a workout tomorrow.
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JamesD

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Re: DF65
« Reply #16 on: December 22, 2013, 09:42:47 pm »

I have just bought a set of Catsails B and they are OK, bear in mind you will have to buy a set of rigs not far off £70 with sails & postage,i also bought another battery 1000mAh from Rc yachts which is only 50g in weight bear this in mind when buying other AAs i bought a multipack of 4 1.2v AAs and they weighed in at 153g.

I think there is some classification going on about this model,what i have been told if you want to race in a certain class you must use all the stock items ie Tx & Rx Sails & Batteries
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knoby

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Re: DF65
« Reply #17 on: December 22, 2013, 10:52:31 pm »

Specific rules for the DF65 are available here


http://www.abersochboatyardservices.co.uk/common_images/Dragon%20Force%20Restricted%20Class%20Rules%20v1.2.pdf


They do allow different rig sizes & a change of TX/Rx, as well as some other modifications.
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Netleyned

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Re: DF65
« Reply #18 on: December 23, 2013, 04:11:54 pm »

If you are using the little hatch for your battery pack
then a 6v NiMH pack from Component Shop is just the
right size and weight is OK. These are triple A and cost
around a fiver with an extension lead.

I have used one of these packs for about 2 hours strong wind sailing
and on completion the voltage is still over 6v. 900mAH

Ned.

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Netleyned

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Re: DF65
« Reply #19 on: December 23, 2013, 04:21:18 pm »

I have just bought a set of Catsails B and they are OK, bear in mind you will have to buy a set of rigs not far off £70 with sails & postage,i also bought another battery 1000mAh from Rc yachts which is only 50g in weight bear this in mind when buying other AAs i bought a multipack of 4 1.2v AAs and they weighed in at 153g.

I think there is some classification going on about this model,what i have been told if you want to race in a certain class you must use all the stock items ie Tx & Rx Sails & Batteries

Why buy a B rig first?
A Cat sails A suit would have been £42.50
with postage and more cost effective.
You will be using A rigs 75% of you racing.
The original sails won't be up to scratch for racing.


Ned
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JamesD

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Re: DF65
« Reply #20 on: December 23, 2013, 04:36:17 pm »

Hi Ned. The reason i bought the B sails because i was told if you wanted to race you had to use the original / stock sails,apparently there is 2 classes as i can make out,one is the RG65 and the other is the DF65 class.


James
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Netleyned

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Re: DF65
« Reply #21 on: December 23, 2013, 05:04:03 pm »

James
The sails supplied by Cat , House Martin and Graphite
are OK for both classes.
You can even make your own as long as the measurements
are OK.

DF racing is a restricted class where you are not allowed to change much.

There is a min battery weight, any radio is OK and most other bits must be original.

The RG 65 racing is a development class where a lot
more leeway is given
High aspect ratio sails can be used
(DF sails are low aspect)
If you wish to race with RG65 guys you need to
register for a sail number which must be displayed
which is impossible on the DF supplied sails.

Ned
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JamesD

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Re: DF65
« Reply #22 on: December 23, 2013, 08:03:17 pm »

Hi Ned.Thats better clarification,thanks very much


James   :-))
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mrpenguin

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Re: DF65
« Reply #23 on: December 25, 2013, 10:23:02 pm »

@JamesD:

Sails:
I added Housemartin sails to my DF, an A rig and a B rig. I also bought the B rig kit, this means you can do a sail change in a couple of minutes, just swap everything above deck. I did not bother with a C rig - if the weather is that rough, I will be staying home....
The Mylar sails are better in light weather. The prime reason I changed sails was for identification, the DFs all look the same in a group!!

You can race in the DF65 restricted class with any compliant sails (not just the provided ones). You can make your own if you want. The DF65 rules clearly define the sails, specifying size and reinforcements. Sail material is undefined, but both sails must be the same type of material.

Batteries:
I sailed with the 4 x AA (rechargeable) for some time, they are fine but perhaps a bit heavy (125 gm) - I changed to a 700mAh LiFe battery and that provides plenty of endurance for more than 6 hours of sailing (weighs 37 gm) - this is under the minimum battery weight limit of 45 gm

Sail numbers:
The RG65 rules clearly specify the placement and numbering on sails.

Sail numbers for the UK - see link toward the bottom of this page: http://www.rg65.org.uk/rules for how to get a number.

For other readers:
Sail numbers in Australia - find yourself the RG65aus Yahoo group. You need to get a Yahoo ID and then join the RG65aus Yahoo group. Check the database (under "files") and claim an available number. The group moderator will approve and update the database.

Sail numbers in other countries - no idea; sorry...

 
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