SAD BUT TRUE

[anthony_marquart]

A few weeks ago I crashed a new 40 rigger.. total destruction. hit the rocks.,

last Sunday I was doing a second testing of on my sp21.. Well,.. long story short,.. after a few very good runs.. the boat did not respond and hit the rocks again. Fortunately the hull was rock solid, hit the rocks and flew into the grass.,. Nothing a bit of bondo and a rudder servo won't fix,..

I sat at home,.. pondering giving up the hobby. I thought why the F is this happening.. then it hit me.. what was common in both boats? the receiver,. I took it out to examine. The wire for the antennae, right where it goes into the case, case 90% broken of.. you couldn't really notice it as it was so close to the case.,.,

lesson learned,.. guys,.. if you are running old style radios,.. and you have used the receiver in multiple boats,.,. check that connection.. this has cost me so much that I am still not sure if I can stay in the hobby.

The only way I will continue is with a 2.4 gig radio,.. multiple receivers for the same transmitter..

On a good note.. the AJM SP21,.. is a very good runner I think. I've got a lot of tuning to do to get to peak performance.. but the platform is rock solid... HA,.. no pun intended !!!

here is a link to a few laps before crashing.

 

[Rene Danner]

Anthony that has happened to all of us at some point or another.I had the same problem with one of my gas boats after my 5 yr hiatus, went with Futaba Fasst have not had a problem at all.

 

[user 6667]

Anthony, from the experience on this end the 4PL with FHSS is a great system for the money.

Although I think the 4PKS with FASST is the best.

Jack

 

[Grimracer]

So you know.. team Futaba member Brain Buaas uses FHSS and says.. its by far the best lock on system he has ever used.

Choose Futaba!

Grim

 

[Tom Foley]

I would never put a boat in a lake like that !! That's just crazy .

 

[namba276]

we used to race in Seaside cali...it had a fountain like that... We would tell guys in the drivers meeting "don't mill deep in the back, there's that fountain"...Guys would hit it in the mill. nasty...rip ANY boat to shreds! Anthony, I have had boats hit the shore on saturday open water, and stay up all night patching for sunday races. It does happen to everyone, you're not alone. Don't quit cause of that! keep fighting. boat looks awesome!!

Bob

 

[anthony_marquart]

i didn't know the antennae was bad

 

[seaducerpete]

Thats why radio checks are a good idea if your not running 2.4

 

[Hydro Junkie]

Actually, radio checks are a good idea no matter what system you are using. It's a known fact that any radio set can fail at any time, be it a bad RX, dead/bad battery pack, failing servo or, as Anthony found, a bad antenna wire

 

[David Bryant]

we used to race in Seaside cali...it had a fountain like that... We would tell guys in the drivers meeting "don't mill deep in the back, there's that fountain"...Guys would hit it in the mill. nasty...rip ANY boat to shreds!

you guys still race boats at that Seaside spot? I know it well, right across from the Embassy Suites Hotel? It looks nice actually. Did'nt realize, or notice, any fountain? Is that sea water?

 

[longballlumber]

Having your radio and receivers checked out (re-tuned when necessary) is a small price to pay when running/racing some VERY expensive toy boats. These guys have served me well in the past...

http://www.radiosouthrc.com/

Later,

Mike

 

[Andy Greene]

I used a 75mhz radio this weekend at our race after several years of 2.4 - I kept forgetting to put the antenna up and it bit me

Once you go 2.4 you will NEVER look back . Futaba 2.4 Faast all the way B)

 

[Bill Gibson]

I used a 75mhz radio this weekend at our race after several years of 2.4 - I kept forgetting to put the antenna up and it bit me

Once you go 2.4 you will NEVER look back . Futaba 2.4 Faast all the way B)

I did the same thing with a PLANE!! It came with an FM radio, and ive been using 2.4 gig radios for my little electric aiplanes...thank GOD for GRASS FIELDS!

 

[Andy Greene]

I used a 75mhz radio this weekend at our race after several years of 2.4 - I kept forgetting to put the antenna up and it bit me

Once you go 2.4 you will NEVER look back . Futaba 2.4 Faast all the way B)

I did the same thing with a PLANE!! It came with an FM radio, and ive been using 2.4 gig radios for my little electric aiplanes...thank GOD for GRASS FIELDS!

Yeeep and Brandons tall cattails- I had planned on buying the boat before the weekend was out anyway- just woulda sucked if it was torn up and blown up too

Hope your well Bill, we missed ya B)

 

[namba276]

we used to race in Seaside cali...it had a fountain like that... We would tell guys in the drivers meeting "don't mill deep in the back, there's that fountain"...Guys would hit it in the mill. nasty...rip ANY boat to shreds!

you guys still race boats at that Seaside spot? I know it well, right across from the Embassy Suites Hotel? It looks nice actually. Did'nt realize, or notice, any fountain? Is that sea water?

David, we are considering putting on an event there next season...In '09 I dragged what was left of the fountain to shore and left it there...It is not sea water, it is fed by the Salinas river. it dumps into the ocean and would take a major problem to allow sea water in. It's a good place to race, not real good for spectators tho.

Bob

 

[David Bryant]

we used to race in Seaside cali...it had a fountain like that... We would tell guys in the drivers meeting "don't mill deep in the back, there's that fountain"...Guys would hit it in the mill. nasty...rip ANY boat to shreds!

you guys still race boats at that Seaside spot? I know it well, right across from the Embassy Suites Hotel? It looks nice actually. Did'nt realize, or notice, any fountain? Is that sea water?

David, we are considering putting on an event there next season...In '09 I dragged what was left of the fountain to shore and left it there..

I see, thanks. I'll try to get up there if you guys do it

 

[Mike Cathey]

Having your radio and receivers checked out (re-tuned when necessary) is a small price to pay when running/racing some VERY expensive toy boats. These guys have served me well in the past...

http://www.radiosouthrc.com/

Later,

Mike

I agree. I send all my Futaba radio stuff to Hobby Services after every season. It might cost me a C note but stacked up against a wrecked that's peanuts. If you have bad servo and can't fix it they will often sell you a new one at a reduced cost.

 

[Bob Morton]

Futaba. Send your bad reciever to them and they will send you a new one at a reduced rate.

Nails

 

[Daniel's Racing]

Just keep in mind these antenna's on the 2.4 are coaxial and are 10 times more susceptible to damage as any FM standard wire antenna was.

You don't want to kink it, crush it and you certainly do not want to put it up an antenna tube and fold it over the top and cap it like we did FM antenna's. One time like that and it is shot. You also don't want to run the coax through any holes where it could chaff. Put the antenna tube in the lid and only push it up in the tube.

 

[Grimracer]

10 times more susceptible to damage.. Truth is quite the opposite.

Grim