how reluctant would you be to "updating" some of that 24 year old technology?

I guess I would be "relatively" reluctant.
I know the "new" radios dont work well in subs
and the "retro" speed controls are relatively bullet - proof.

what were you proposing to update ?

Dave,
You can pick up a 75MHz radio for a song now that most everyone is using 2.4GHz radios. And the brushless motors and ESCs from china are so cheap but good quality.

But my trolling motors are high torque, low rpm, and waterproof, and will run for hours on a 7ah gel cell .

My propellers are large diameter and pitch, and do not need a 30k rpm motor.
Instead, they require the lower rpm and high torque of the trolling motor.

Your trolling motors,ESC and battery will work fine, but I like my boat to be much lighter when I'm lifting it out of the water. You will need a strong sling and a crew to heft the boat out of the water.
Just wanted to show alternatives for other boats.
Some low KV high-torque motors are made by eFlite.
I use a 245KV high-torque motor with a Castle/Hydra 120amp ESC in my boat.

http://www.e-fliterc.com/Products/De...odID=EFLM4160A

http://www.castlecreations.com/products/hydra.html

Giovanni

Originally Posted by Rotorhead Dave

I guess I would be "relatively" reluctant.
I know the "new" radios dont work well in subs
and the "retro" speed controls are relatively bullet - proof.

what were you proposing to update ?

those mechanical speed controls are giving me nightmares.

But - those mechanical speed controls are so - darn - bulletproof !!! :O

same for the 1989 vintage 75mhz radio gear ! ( more watts, too ! ) And I have already customized the radio transmitters with slide pots !

We 'built' an 8 channel radio, with 8 proportional channels, by teaming up a pair of 4 channel units, on different 75mhz frequencies. Then we replaced most of the joysticks with linear slide potentiometers. This allows a servo to be moved to any positon and left there, as none of the slide pots are spring loaded in any way.

i don't remember when the gold certification happened, but your antique 75mhz radio might be illegal*.

Hmmm. Good point !! :O

Guess I better check my transmitter cases and hope they have the "sticker of life" !! :O

Saturday ! Time for more photos !

few more shots. Note the new stainless steel prop shafts !

Stainless shafts, nice. Red props, are they plastic, and do you intend to use them with this build or do intend to change them out at some point. It all appears to be going well, nice work.

large red plastic props are from Graupner. Large diameter & Pitch. Perfect for trolling motors.
I also have Scale props made from bronze. They will be polished up and used for display / show purposes only.

I suppose I should paint the blood red props a dingy gun metal gray color, so they are not such an eyesore !