Boat upgrade help!

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for some help and advice. I currently have an electric RC boat that has been stored for a long time. I believe that all the electronics got wet previous to it be stored and no longer work. I was after some advice of what to upgrade it all too.

I do not have much of a budget. What would you recommend getting and doing? It's currently got 2 motors with no rudder. I have servos and a few other bits here I can use.

I will be uploading some photos shortly.

Any help is much appreciated!

Hi Chris and welcome to the forum,

I think I would start by finding out what works and what doesn't...for example, apply some voltage to each motor in turn and see what happens - start with 6 volts and go up in small steps. (Use dry cells if necessary).

The blue box looks like it may be a speed controller, so, you may have to disconnect this to test the motors properly. It may also have a radio control receiver built in as well. Have a look for any labels or tags which may give further clues...

Does the boat float without any leaks ? - check the plumbing to the water-cooled motors. Steering may be by differential use of the motors (one running faster than the other). If so, it's back to the blue box for further tests. If this checks out you may not need a separate rudder.

Do you have any R/C gear you can use for testing ? There's a lot to be said for contacting /joining a local model boat club. There you will get heaps of advice and may also be able to help you sort the model out.

Come back to us when you have some results !

Cheers,

Dave

Hi Chris. As above. HOWEVER, if it just doesn`t want to work you have a decision to make. Generally, both the RX and esc are in the same box, the motors are differentially controlled to effect turning thus no rudder.

There is little likelyhood of repair unless it is something as easy as obvious corrosion or broken wires.

Making it run again would require a RX, and either fitting a servo/rudder and having one ESC to do both motors, or using a V-tail mixer and two ESC to steer via differential motor control.

I would see how much new ones or second-hand ones are before spending out.

#Ashley

Thank you both for your response and help it is much appreciated.

I have done a little more testing on the current setup, both motors are working when powered directly. However the electrical box is faulty and don't believe it is work trying to repair. There is a lot of cuttiosion to the PCB and connectors and one of the transistor is damaged.

I would like this as a small project giving me something to do. My plan is to replace the both motors and new speed controllers, fit a servo and rudder system.

What would you recommend brushed or brushless motors? And what size would you suggest?

Thank you once again (:

Chris. A pair of 28mm brushless outrunners of 1300Kv can be had on E-bay complete with esc, for very little money. We have used them at the pond to power loads of stuff and they appear to last well, I think only one esc fail over a couple dozen bought. The ‘only’ 30A esc seem to be ok, unlike those advertised as ‘120A’ ones.

A rudder can be fitted easily, does not have to be in line with the props, or a mixer can be used, a W tail mixer or something.  

Ideally you would want to use a Lipo, 3s, to power this, for which a special Lipo charger needs to be purchased. Component shop a good place to start. I see they also do a wider range of brushless motors now.

Ashley

**LINK**

Edited By ashley needham on 25/09/2023 08:39:48

Welcome Chris

I note that you say that you don't have much of a budget. Trouble is with projects like this costs can soon escalate.

You could go brushless but to retain water-cooling which is common on this type of model, as being run at prolonged high speeds, then inrunners would be better as the outer casing doesn't turn. Coiled tube could be used but often matched water jackets are at more cost. You can get water-cooled motor mounts for outrunner though, but the existing motors are mounted low which might be a problem. It looks as though it has flexible drives? These will have to be adapted to the new motor shafts or new couplings obtained. If going brushless then an ESC will be needed for each motor and a water-cooled type.

Rudders for this type of craft are usually mounted on the stern. Noahs Ark RC do a range of different types.

As Ashley says, if using LiPo, then for safety, use a smart charger, Overlander batteries is another supplier.

Just trying to be realistic here. As the motors work and they are already mounted it might be better to stick with them, replace the other components and add a rudder?

Chris

I tend to agree with Chris F, if the motors are OK and were intended for the boat then stick with them, one thing less to buy! If you change the motors you may well need to change the couplings if the motor shafts are a different diameter.

You do need to establish what voltage they were originally running on and ideally be able to measure the power consumption to help with battery choice and capacity. The water cooling suggests they might be 12v motors.

As Chris F says, costs can easily escalate if you don't think it all through carefully.

It is possible that Ashley's suggestion could work out cheaper depending on component costs. New brushed motor ESCs have got rather expensive.

Check out the Howes Models site for typical new prices for R/C gear. If the servos you already have are old then they may not work very well with the latest radio standards.

**LINK**

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop on 25/09/2023 17:27:27

its a tricky one,this.

I think you will have to write down the cost of everything individually, list the various options, and then price up these options according to the prices of the bits.

Remember a brushless motor needs its own esc so two will be needed for two motors. One esc Will do for two brushed motors but you would need a rudder.

Ashley

Re batteries, LiPos are the way to go for lightweight power and performance but you need a more sophisticated charger although it will usually charge NiMH cells as well.

Colin