ML Boatworks GSX480 Gas Sport Hydroplane prototype build

[Mike Luszcz]

2/23/14- Got up to the lake today. Here is a good long video of the gas sport hydro running. I have lots of good pics too. I will upload them soon, Mike








There is a full build thread over on JRCBD, but wanted to share with you what is about the finished product. Its my newest design, the GSX480 gas sport hydro. 48" in length. I built the prototype, and handed it over to Dick Loeb to paint, rig and test. He sprayed the paint today..man it looks great! Decals, and re-rigging in the next day or two..then off for some testing! I will be driving up to the ODMBA club pond once him and Donnie get it dialed in for some video. I just wanted those on here that don't visit Jim's to know its coming soon, especially with as large a race class as gas sport is.

I made the cowling from blocks of balsa into a plug, then mold..Turned out really well. More info soon. Here is the link to the build thread on Jim's. Enjoy, Mike

http://www.jrcbd.com/showthread.php?t=74081

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Some early on pics:

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Truss system framing:

 

[Scott Miller]

Looks great!

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Thanks Scott. Just a few things left to do till its ready for the first test. Both Dick and I are really excited to see the results! Mike

 

[HOTWATER]

Beautiful!!! Great job Mike and Dick!!!! Looks fast just sitting there!!!!

I am already looking forward to buying one of your gas rigger kits!!! You know you will be designing one...lol!! I would like to be first in line for one!!!!

 

[Blackout]

Love the paint scheme! Turned out real good!

 

[El Zorro]

Wow, this thing looks great! I might have to come down there to see this thing run...........

Dick Tyndall

 

[Mike Luszcz]

I talked to Dick today...should be Monday they do the first test. If it goes well, I will ride up next weekend and do some video! Mike

 

[Matt Smith]

Very Nice Mike!

-Matt

 

[Mike Luszcz]

I just got some initial test news from Dick Loeb and Donnie Padgent (spelling*)...Dick Tyndall and Kentley Porter's brother in law Keith Thompson were also out there. Keith apparently got video of the 3-4 runs (I am guessing 4 as they tested 4 different props) and says he will try and upload that asap.

Conditions, 20mph wind, rough water

Boat ran with a mild 29.5 mod motor. Dick said he could run the boat dead into the wind wide open, turn in the rough water wide open with no issues, hold the bouys with no issues. He said this motor had the boat in the upper 60's, but also said Donnie was handing him a brand new "badazz" fully modded 29.5 to put in it as the hull wants more apparently! He tried 4 different props and could see the hull react to each prop change, which he said is a good thing. He also stated that the sponsons had not even been scuffed yet, and there were even some clearcoat bumps here and there. He wanted to test it just as any possible builder might run the boat in its worse condition. He summed it up with he could have thrown the boat in today and raced it just as the initial setup was. Pretty good news! Dick Loeb said he would post something later, and I suspect Dick Tyndall might add something as well!

Oh, per my conversation with Dick Loeb on Saturday, the final weight of the boat, ready to run is 16.5lbs, and that the "natural" CoG was right around 1.5" behind the sponson heal with no lead added to get it to that point.

 

[Dick Loeb]

This boat was a blast to drive in at best nasty wind conditions, you would have thought there was no ruff water at all.... The boat tracked perfectly,hanging on its VA CRAFTSMAN turn fin,no jumping in the corners or in the straights, it just ran really well. Its going to be a super BAD AZZ ride for the Gas Sport class. Handleing ,Looks,Speed its almost better than sex... Thanks to Mike for all you do for everyones fun in this Hobby!!! Great boat kits at ML Boatworks .com

 

[El Zorro]

This boat was a blast to drive in at best nasty wind conditions, you would have thought there was no ruff water at all.... The boat tracked perfectly,hanging on its VA CRAFTSMAN turn fin,no jumping in the corners or in the straights, it just ran really well. Its going to be a super BAD AZZ ride for the Gas Sport class. Handleing ,Looks,Speed its almost better than sex... Thanks to Mike for all you do for everyones fun in this Hobby!!! Great boat kits at ML Boatworks .com

I have to say that this boat will be a winner! I was very impressed with how the boat handled the rough water. It never hopped, never darted, nothing. It went across the water like it was on glass. Dick just needed one of his monster Sport Gas engines in there to get this thing in the mid to high 70's MPH. This is going to be the boat to beat in racing this year. It will be an easy build for those of us who are not use to building boats. All of Mike's kits go together easily without a lot of special tools. One thing that impressed me was the gas tank location. It is very close to where the Center of Gravity is. What this means is that the boat will run the same from when you throw it in the water until after the race is over. Something I found out over 25 years ago. It is certainly not a secret, but something nobody seems to think is important when building a boat. Great job, Mike! Thanks for all that you are doing for our hobby.
Dick Tyndall

 

[Chilli]

Congratulations guys. Looking forward to see this one run in 2014.

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Dick Loeb,

Thanks for taking the time to rig, paint, and test this boat. It means a lot to me. Thanks for your kind comments, but I know where I would be without your help and knowledge over the last 4 years, so I thank you! And to think, it all started with the clown boat kneeler! haha

Dick Tyndall,

Thanks for going out there and taking the time to comment on what you saw. Many thanks for your contribution to the build as well!!!

Thanks Chilli, maybe I can get to some of those races this year......

Mike

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Here are some pictures Dick Tyndall just sent me. The video should come soon. I think Keith is having some trouble finding the cord to connect to the computer. If he is not able to get the video offloaded I will be going up there to record the boat once the weather changes as the big motor has been installed! Mike

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Got up to the lake today. Here is a good long video of the gas sport hydro running. I have lots of good pics too. I will upload them soon, Mike

 

[Maryland FE]

Mike,

Looking good.....

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Got up to the lake today. Here is a good long video of the gas sport hydro running. I have lots of good pics too. I will upload them soon, Mike

In addition to the video I posted yesterday, I took a lot of good pictures of the boat running. Here they are. I also took pictures of the rudder and sponson bottoms. The rudder is stock length, and the sponsons are still slick-sticky clear coat..not blueprinted and roughed up. Once the rudder is cut down and the bottom worked over, the boat should be good for at least a few mph. Enjoy the pics. It really is a good running boat. We all agreed that the propeller on the boat when I did still shots made the boat run really well. The one during the video carried the sponson more. Should have video during the final run instead of still shots. You can see how nice and level its running!

This is also a first for ML Boatworks as I have never really video'ed any of my designs after testing them. I have been asked to do this over the years...This is a great start! Mike

 

[Mike Luszcz]