The best source for ARF boats?

[Ray280]

As I'm a plane guy and new to boats, just looking for the best online sources for the boat enthusiast's equivalent of ARF (almost ready to fly) models.

Any suggestions appreciated.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Try Tower hobbies... of course.

[forresterace]

I suggest you look up Steven at http://www.offshoreelectrics.com

The CEN boats come highly recommended for starters and Steven is excellent to deal with

Doug Forrester
Forresterace Designs

[pmpjohn]

You didn't say electric ARF.
www.whobbies.com

John

[forresterace]

Very good point, John. :D

Doug Forrester

[pmpjohn]

That's OK Doug. This is primarily an electric forum. Since going to work at WH I haven't had much chance to play with FE boats. Tony keeps me pretty busy on the large gassers. I had to change my fun time to something not boat related so my old Astro boat motors are finding their way into aircraft.

John Starks

[RCRandy]

Originally posted by pmpjohn
That's OK Doug. This is primarily an electric forum. Since going to work at WH I haven't had much chance to play with FE boats. Tony keeps me pretty busy on the large gassers. I had to change my fun time to something not boat related so my old Astro boat motors are finding their way into aircraft.

John Starks

That is why I have a few old muscle cars in the garage.
Oh Yes I build all kinds of ARTR at BBY Racing, We can help too.

http://www.bbyracing.com/default.htm

[pmpjohn]

Ray,
If it is fast electrics you are interested in you owe it to yourself to check out BBY. Not low dollar entry level but nobody is satisfied with slow floaters for long. Faster is better and Randy's boats are always hard to beat.

Randy
Funny how things go round. My hobby was hot rod sports cars until I got into the business and started playing with boats. Now that my work is boats I'm playing with airplanes and your collecting hot rods. Who would'a thought.

John

[RCRandy]

John I now have a Hot Rod 440ci Motor home of my own too!! I go to all the local races with it . What will it take to get ya out hear for the Nationals this year?

[pmpjohn]

Randy,
Round trip airfare might do it! LOL
John

[Ray280]

Hi Umi, Doug, Randy, John,

Thanks for all the options - they have lead me all over the web exploring various sources. What I have discovered is that any of the really nice performing electrics are from smaller custom shops like bby. Boats just don't seem to be as advanced to the marketplace for ARF kits.

Randy & John, I am a gearhead also, taking a break from the expense due to a new baby. My last street car was a 1978 280z (hence the name Ray280) that I converted to contain a GM performance div. zz430 clone with a few extra mods to get it to 460hp. This was mated to a T-56 6-speed. It was quite a ride - started to have sever float at 160mph so I never did find out what true top end was. Anyhow it's sold, so I work on the little stuff now.

Thanks again for the leads.

[RCRandy]

Originally posted by pmpjohn
Randy,
Round trip airfare might do it! LOL
John

Ya I have tried to use that one my self! I was thinking more like some one to pick you up at the airport and a place to stay. Our fellow gear head explained it well I own a small custom shop. sorry I do not have that deep of pockets. Love to have ya come out for a visit. It would be a lot cheaper than the time you drove to LA. Oh I will be in Orlando in april at the Hydro shoot out April 25 to 28. got a ride for me?

[pmpjohn]

Randy,
My basic transportation unit these days is a conversion van with most of the seats pulled out to make room for airplanes, canoe, camping gear ect. Don has sold his motor house and is living in NY,NY so that is out. Not sure if I can talk the boss into the time off since we no longer manufacture electric boats. Maybe if the organizers would make time for a large gas hydro demo run during an intermission I could justify it to him. We are about 2 hours south of Orlando. Stay in touch something may work out.

John

[RCRandy]

Well I am one of the dudes in charge at the nationals, if you make it to Califorina. You can do an large gas hydro demo ! In fact I will run a .67 nitro mono with you. In orlando? I am not in charge of anything except myself.

[Pagemaster]

Doug thanks for that plug!

The Cen boats dollar for dollar are a tough boat to beat. On 16cells and $45 worth of up grades for water cooling and new prop it runs in the 26-29mph mark for enduro or 30 plus in a sprint setup. I do have some videos on my page of the modified version.

I agree that Randy's boats will be faster but at a higher cost and more assembly time.


Steven Vaccaro
www.OffshoreElectrics.com

[Andrew Gilchrist]

I agree with Steve after having run these things for 2 years I am satisfied they are a great value boat

stock they are a good familiarisation toll and with just a few well spent dollars they are a lot of fun!

Andrew Gilchrist
www.fastlectrics.com

[Pagemaster]

Andrew have you fooled with the Grey Thunder at all? I have a few things I'm going to try this summer, including a cheap conversion to straight shaft.


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[Andrew Gilchrist]

Steve not yet but I have had a close look at them

The first thing I would do is get rid of the steerable outdrive. I cant understand why they went away from the Baja setups. They only require a new rudder and prop and they are excellent.

It looks to me like the stock drive shaft could be slid rearward if used with a Graupner style connector and a drive dog and dura collar used as prop retainer

Andrew
www.fastelectrics.com

[Pagemaster]

Andrew thats exactly what I was thinking. The stock rudder and standoff are only about $5. I just need 4mm drive dogs. I'm going to try the graupner 4mm to 3/16 converter to see if that works. I'll let you know my findings.

[Andrew Gilchrist]

Steve

the CEN drive dog (they may sell the shaft and dog together) or Kyosho probably the jet arrow should have 4mm drive dgs as their shafts are 4mm

If you run into trouble I can get them for you as we are metric - swap you for some silver bars and cash

Andrew
fastelectrics.com

[Pagemaster]

I ended up using a replacement Aqua Jet shaft that has a dog with it. Very easy mod. Cant want to get to run it on 16cells.


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