proper way to launch miss bud 1/12

[Stihlpro1]

Hello everyone. I just bought my first boat today. The miss bud 1/12 scale nitro. I am expeianced with nitro having flown helis for 10 years and racing nitro trucks for 2 years. My question is with the miss bud. Can i just set in in the water and then give it juice or do i need to hand launch it to get it up on plane. If so please give me the proper procedure for launching, (throttle , angle, speed) to get this pig screaming across my pond. I was breaking in the engine today and it would not get up on plane but as soon as i turned left(Slowly I might add LOL) it got up on plane, turning right would not let it get up on plane. Any help would be great, thanks. :)

[sleepy306]

I too am in the same boat as you! I flew planes, then nitro trucks and my first boat is the Miss Bud. I just learned how to get this puppy going yesterday and I was not too thrilled. First, to launch properly, I get it started, then put the cover as fast as I can while giving it some gas to keep the engine going. Then when i am ready, I hold the boat by the cover (maybe not the best place to hold it) and at the beginning of my wind up to throw the boat forward, I gun the throttle WOT and giving a good bowling toss. That sucker just goes.
It doesn't go as fast as I thought...definately not 30 mph (maybe 30 kph). I have a mugen mr12 5 port that I want to put in, but I need to find out how I can use an SG shaft engine on it.

Hope this helps you out. Also, the engine will not Idle very well at a stand still

[Stihlpro1]

So where are you placing the pressure on the boat when you start it? I don't want to crack my hull. Also how long did you break it in for. was it up on plane for break in?

[BoatDoc]

i've got a trick to using that pull start without stressing the hull. use your glow plug wrench to loosen the plut about a quarter turn, and start as normal. then retighten it. i also recomend that you get some fiberglass or carbon fibre tape to lay in around the engine mounts and under the engine. i had a hull full of stress cracks before i came up with that! because of where i run at and a bum shoulder it's tough to get a "proper" hydro launch, so i set it in the water and gently bring up the gas until she pops onto plane. there's about a million and one speed tricks for the engine to get some more speed and a lot of people are using Y535 props.

[Stihlpro1]

do you have any pics of the hull mods you made to deal with the stress cracks?

[BoatDoc]

my bud is down for body work. bad depth perception and a sudden gust of wind led to a pretty impressive crash. right now, she's sanded down and looking pitiful. all i did was cut strips of Dave Brown carbon fibre ribbon and a piece or two of fiberglass and layed 'em around the mounts. but there are not any pics...not until all the work is done anyway. and with my other projects it may take a while.

[Ron Olson]

Bring the revs up then give it a level toss about a foot above the water. You have to keep the boat up to a decent speed at all times or else it will start cavitating if you slow down then try to get it back up to speed.
New item out now from Sullivan ,www.sullivanproducts.com , called the Tiger Drive. It replaces the pull starter with a gear drive that uses an electric starter or cordless drill to fire the motor.
The Mugen would be a wicked motor to swap in there but the SG shaft does present a problem.

[KG4]

I purchased my bud boat almost two years ago and i must have gotten a good one.I start mine by holding the head and givin it a quick pull,I dont have to keep reving it it idles very nice.I then grab the hull with my right hand and give it a very gentle toss and as soon as it hts the water i give it full throttle and it shoots like a rocket.I did notice that the prop was too far up on the shaft so i adjusted it down put some blue thunder 30% i the tank and it flies.I keep up to my dads 3.5 outboard vee bottom no proplem.I also dont have the water problem everyone else is having and i do not have an auto bailer.I also pull the prop shaft and grease it after every day at the pond.It just takes a little tuning and a little more nitro and it is a fast boat

[Hydro Junkie]

Good call Ron. Actually, the best way to launch ANY hydro is to have a second person toss it for you. Ron's directions are good, but when you launch one of these things, not having full control is asking for disaster. In my years being around 1/8th scale boats, every time a boat is launched, the driver has BOTH HANDS on the radio. There is also a radio check performed before launch of cycling the rudder to verify the radio hasn't been inadvertently turned off while putting the cowl on the boat. Granted, these things are anywhere from 40 to 51 inches long and running 11CC engines, topping out at 55 to 75MPH, but safety is still PRIORITY #1. Holding the cowl to launch isn't exactly a safe way to launch either. If you haven't noticed yet, the cowl is only held on by two thumbscrews and a small lip of plastic under the back of the cockpit. As these areas are less than 1/16th inch thick. they WILL NOT hold up to this type of launch for very long without failing. You need to hold the boat by the hull. On the scale boats, they are usually held with the left hand behind the left sponson and right hand half to 2/3rds of the way to the transom from the sponson. As the nitro Bud is smaller and lighter, if you must launch it yourself, I would recommend holding the boat with the right hand, thumb on deck and fingers wrapped around the side to under the hull, just behind the skidfin. A bowling ball style toss should get you going. I still stress the two person method, for safety ;)

[Ron Olson]

HJ, no hook shots though! :o
Yes, it always good to have someone helping you out with launching the boat. If they are inexperienced, tell and show them how to do it. A second set of eyes is always helpful to watch out for wildlife that may by getting ready to land or seeing debris on the water. Please don't run around Wildlife, swimmers or full-sized boats that are running. Watch out for the prop at all times.

[Hydro Junkie]

One other thing, DON'T USE THE SUPPLIED STAND FOR STARTING YOUR BOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! The stand is good for display, but could cost you a finger, or worse, when used as a starting stand. Build a stand with the stern end enclosed to protect the prop from ANY CONTACT. Even at an idle, with the plastic prop, it can do serious damage to skin and bones. Worse still, if something gets accidentally pushed into the prop, it could be thrown into an eye, ear, or ? With an Octura or Prather Prop, the danger is magnified by the copper and stainless used, as they aren't flexible like the stock plastic :(

[KG4]

Very good advise hydro junkie.Some people think these are toys and they are far from a toy they are full blown high performance race boats.I see you are into 1/8 scale hydros.I would love to get involved in 1/8 scale racing.Any advise on where to get a turn key race boat and any advise you can give me on the class is appreciated.I raced stock and modified (kneeldown) hydros for 12 years and my knees cant take it anymore.I would either like to race sport 40 or 1/8 scale.Thanks Bob

[Hydro Junkie]

As you are in Michigan, you might contact Ron, as he is in Kalamazoo(hope I spelled it right). There are several places to find info on sport 40 and eighth scale racing. I would start with your LHS. If they can't help, contact NAMBA, IMPBA or APBA. They are the sanctioning bodies for most, if not all R/C powerboat racing. For more info on the eighth scale boats, we have two clubs here in Wahington State who's websites might give you some information on the boats themselves, as well as the basics on rules. They are rcunlimiteds.org and unlimitedsnw.org. As for the sport 40 boats, I don't have a site to check with. Again, maybe Ron can help with that. Turn key boats will be hard to find this time of year, as the racing season has already started. If you can find other scale club websites, they might have boats for sale listed. If you would be okay with building, you can get plans for almost anything through newtonmarine.com, however his plans may need to be tweeked to make some of the parts fit right. I would not recommend Thunderboat Reproductions as a source to buy completed hulls. Everyone that has bought one that I know of has had to do extensive strengthening to keep the boat racable. Hope I've answered at least some of your questions. If not, send me a PM or email through this site :)

[HEADRIPS]

Hey Ron...thanks for the link for the starter....just ordered one, I had been looking for a starter drive for the dynamite .15 since I got it.