Anyone remember the 'Key West' from Graupner?

[QuietRiot]

Been looking for my all time favorite electric racer - the Key West. That boat was the SWEETEST looking of Graupners kits and it had a HUGE motor to boot. I hadn't seen such a scary fast single motor boat as this one. Hobby Lobby used to sell it, but no more - anyone know where I could pick one up?

[MommaSezNO]

Not sure if this is the one you're talking about, but I found this on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300122672625
- looks like a sweet deal (assuming the starting bid stays at $1)!!

[pompebled]

The Key West has been out of production for quite some time now, I guess even the few left in their boxes will have started to get brittle by now...

Other than a showcase on the mantle-piece I wouldn't recommend it anymore.

The design is outdated, modern cats are so much quicker, I'd go for an epoxy hull cat if I were you.

Regards, Jan.

[QuietRiot]

I guess even the few left in their boxes will have started to get brittle by now
Could not disagree more with all due respect...One of my club buddies has the Key West which is why I want one of my own. He's had it about 8 years now and it's not brittle in the least - he even nailed a floating log straight on at full speed with zero damage to the hull (no cracks that is) - the removeable canopy popped off and went flying about 20 feet, but that's it!

Yes, there's always a boat that is going to be faster of course than anything any of us has, that's just a given in this hobby, but you can't beat the look and lines of this boat. My buddy runs his on two paralleled 2100 3 cell lithium packs and that boat just screams! - it beats all the others in our local club hands down. I must have one of my own, so he can at least have a fair 'horse race' on his hands.

[xteec]

www.BBY.com has a copy of one called the Scat Cat. Randy has taken out the step in the back of the sponson and left it flat. The bottom of the hull is pretty much the same but the top deck has been changed to avoid copyright laws. The boat handles pretty much the same and it still has the Key West sound.

[QuietRiot]

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" as they say. I still want the original. I'm putting in a silent bid at the ebay auction on this boat so I don't become part of the feeding frenzy!

[CashRC]

Friend of mine had a Key West while we were stationed at Ramstein AB. It called for 8 cells, we put 12 cells in her, 6 in each sponson, and ran the Graupner microswitch 2-speed speed control. AT full bore this thing was seeing 12 cells in series, and would flat haul. It was powered by a big 'ol Speed 700 motor, and was very reliable. I had a Graupner Deep Vee powered by the same motor and speed control, but it ran 2 7 cell packs. It was a monster, and neat to drive, but I can't remember the name of the kit right now...

I had a couple of Graupner and Robbe boats, brought a couple of them back with me, but they got traded off long ago....:(

Cash

[QuietRiot]

we put 12 cells in her, 6 in each sponson...
I'm guessing those were heavy sub-C cells. You ought to see this thing run with the same voltage but with 1/3 of the weight by using Lipos. Less dead weight to haul around and less hull surface in the water...HUGE increase in speed.

[n.h.schmidt]

HI
I know someone who has a new in the box Key West kit. The hardware was sold seperately and he would not have that. I will be seeing him on sunday. Ill bet he would sell it . I can't predict what he would want for it . Do you have a price in mind that I could suggest, just for starters. I can also ask arround at Batavia and find out of anybody still has their old ones. n.h.schmidt

[xteec]

Ask Bob Wilkenson in Batavia. I know he has one in the garage but he might not get rid of it.

[tuvix72]

I purchased this one over 10 years ago with some modifications in mind but never got her finished... I always did like this boat and still look forward to seeing it run one day!

Snapped these picks last year after pulling it out of the "junk box"

http://gpodio.smugmug.com/photos/74438271-M-1.jpg

http://gpodio.smugmug.com/photos/74436716-M-1.jpg