HTV Boats
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- Joined
- Nov 8, 2006
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This is a response to Greg Johnsons question in a 10 year old thread so you don't have to reread old info.
So this is what I see after 10+ years of FE experience.
P/Limited has not grown much, with 27-30 boats that are difficult to stay upright. Even small 36mm motors have a little too much instant power. Many who built them quit or went to cats monos and hydros.
Full P and Q have not taken root in any significant numbers. That said for tunnelheads there is hope as price and performance is still there.
In our early Q boats (6S) we went to 40X82 motors and found speed exceeding .45 nitros. Hulls are marginal in handling the power. The next issue is available ESC's. The old Seaking (T-180;s) 180 works well but has limits. Most of the available 200-300 water proof ESC's are large and don't fit well under limited cowl space. There are a few that work. I like 200 Castles converted with cooling tubes and then potted to waterproof. The Flier 250 is compact and of the 4 last Seaking 180's I purchase 2 cut out at speed and no one has an answer so I won't buy another.
Motors are cheaper to buy with decent quality. Back then NEU cost $200-300 and mot many other good options. Over the years I feel Leopards have improved and with SSS and TP you can buy reliable power under $200.
For tunnel racing to move forward I think there are a ton of .45 nitro hulls out there collecting dust that will stay upright and satisfy a need for speed. I have a Vision with a 40X82 low KV (1000) that I set up for 8-10 cell records. Speed so far mid 70's in two lap setup. Over 80 I feel can be done but it will destroy a few hulls in that process. Those are speeds a .45 hull cannot maintain for a 6 lap heat race.
A 3+ watt 40mm X 82 mm or longer in 6S trim for Q is a 60mph +handful and yes a few will run but they have been out there for 10 + years and the class is not growing. A few of us locally in Florida are promoting a local limited Q class (40X75mm) motor limit. Those motors pull 140-150 amps with aggressive props and speeds 55-60 using Flycolor 150's that are holding up. Boats handle well and take water the P/Limited can't think of with similar cost.
Kris Flynn maybe will chime in with how FE tunnel classes are evolving down under as a whole other than the rockets he builds.
Mic
So this is what I see after 10+ years of FE experience.
P/Limited has not grown much, with 27-30 boats that are difficult to stay upright. Even small 36mm motors have a little too much instant power. Many who built them quit or went to cats monos and hydros.
Full P and Q have not taken root in any significant numbers. That said for tunnelheads there is hope as price and performance is still there.
In our early Q boats (6S) we went to 40X82 motors and found speed exceeding .45 nitros. Hulls are marginal in handling the power. The next issue is available ESC's. The old Seaking (T-180;s) 180 works well but has limits. Most of the available 200-300 water proof ESC's are large and don't fit well under limited cowl space. There are a few that work. I like 200 Castles converted with cooling tubes and then potted to waterproof. The Flier 250 is compact and of the 4 last Seaking 180's I purchase 2 cut out at speed and no one has an answer so I won't buy another.
Motors are cheaper to buy with decent quality. Back then NEU cost $200-300 and mot many other good options. Over the years I feel Leopards have improved and with SSS and TP you can buy reliable power under $200.
For tunnel racing to move forward I think there are a ton of .45 nitro hulls out there collecting dust that will stay upright and satisfy a need for speed. I have a Vision with a 40X82 low KV (1000) that I set up for 8-10 cell records. Speed so far mid 70's in two lap setup. Over 80 I feel can be done but it will destroy a few hulls in that process. Those are speeds a .45 hull cannot maintain for a 6 lap heat race.
A 3+ watt 40mm X 82 mm or longer in 6S trim for Q is a 60mph +handful and yes a few will run but they have been out there for 10 + years and the class is not growing. A few of us locally in Florida are promoting a local limited Q class (40X75mm) motor limit. Those motors pull 140-150 amps with aggressive props and speeds 55-60 using Flycolor 150's that are holding up. Boats handle well and take water the P/Limited can't think of with similar cost.
Kris Flynn maybe will chime in with how FE tunnel classes are evolving down under as a whole other than the rockets he builds.
Mic
