Hydroplane engines????

[JDTOutdoors]

Hello, All

I'm getting back into the RC scene again, It's been along time. I have bought 2 hydro planes, A miller 1/8 hydro and a Atlas Vanlines 1/8 and they call for .67 size engines(Both are Dumas boats). I was looking for advice on who makes the best engines for this application and should I go with a bigger one or not. What works the best. Also where do I find engines online to buy????? Towerhobbies doesnt have anything at all anymore. Pretty sad. I'm looking to put these boats in comp. Any ideas or suggestions are greatly taken.

Thank you

[BoatDoc]

i'm not into boats that size myself, but i know that OPS makes excellent engines. i've heard that their .67 is quite a piece and popular for 1/8 scale. you can get them aeromarine.

[Hydro Junkie]

You aren't serious about racing these two boats are you? Building them as per the directions will give you a pair of heavy slugs as compared to the new plans built boats. I can help you out some by letting you know how to lighten them up, but I wouldn't recommend anything else with them other than learning how to drive a hydro. Please tell me you're not using Dumas hardware as well.

[BoatDoc]

are we dumas bashing again? :D you never give up an opportunity to do that do you?

[JDTOutdoors]

Please give me your views on this, What kit do you recommend? I have 2 KB .67 inboards ready to go. I'm starting new to this type of racing, What kind of hardware do you recommend. I would like to keep this hobby around 500.00 per boat if possible or maybe 700.00 in one good one. Considering I have the engines and radio. Please continue,
Thank you

[Hydro Junkie]

Okay, you asked for it:)
K&B engines are old school , meaning you won't stand a chance in a race. The engines winning at present are MAC and CMB. I also have a pair of brand new K&B's, never even put them in a boat
If you haven't already bought a Dumas hardware kit, I would go with Aeromarine. Be sure to get kick-back type rudder and skid fin brackets, as well as a strut with needle bearing(my preference) or lead/teflon bushings
As far as kits, Dumas is the only company I know of that even makes one. My recommendations would be as follows:
1) Use the supplied framing for templates and replace the wood as follows;
1/16th aircraft ply for all cross frames except transoms
1/8th 5 ply aircraft ply for lengthwise frames and sponson transoms
1/4 5 ply aircraft ply for boat's transom and a doubler for skid fin.
2) Move the radio box to under the cockpit, instead of behind the engine, making room by moving the fuel tank to under the deck on the right side of the engine. This will take weight off the prop, letting the boat get on plane quicker and easier
3) Cut lightening holes out of all enclosed framing
4) Add 1/4 or 3/16th square spruce glue blocks along any butt joints involving skin panels. Failure to do this will give you a boat that will self distruct very easily.
scrap the laminated plywood tails and rear wing. You can save weight by using molded fiberglass or built up ones.
How's that for starters? :)

[JDTOutdoors]

Awesome!!!!! that is what I wanted to know, Now for the other question, What type of boat or hydro do you recommend to build? From a kit that is. Also where to get it.
Thanks for your time.

[Hydro Junkie]

At this point, I'd say just build what you have and learn with them. If you do as I suggested in my last post, the two will be good learner boats. When you get to where you can drive the ones you have with confidence, then you can worry about getting a boat to go racing with

[Ron Olson]

Here's about the only 1/8 scale site that I have: http://rcmarinedesigns.20megsfree.com/scale.htm . I hope that you have your pop-up blocker on as you'll get a lot of hits in there.

[Hydro Junkie]

Boatdoc, I'm not bashing(this time:D), Im just stating a simple truism. A K&B powered Dumas isn't going to stand a chance in competition. What it will do is help someone learn what to do(or not) when building and setting up a boat. Notice, I didn't say to send them back:D
Ron, that guy has a nice looking boat. The only problem I saw was he only had the one roundnosed fiberglass hull in the 1/8th scale size class. I'm not missing something here, am I?

[Ron Olson]

Yes you did. He also has the Miss Bud hull with its variants and the Miss Winston along with the shovel nose. You have to scroll down to see them as the top third of his site is covered with ads.

[JDTOutdoors]

I was looking at the out-riggers, What do you think of those. I just love the speed they produce. I was looking at the CMB's and they are hard to find. Where is everyone buying their engines from. I was looking into insane boats and they look promising.

Thank you all for posting and giving me ideas, I can use all they ideas I can get on this sport.

[Ron Olson]

There is now only one North American distributor of CMB's and that's from Marine Specialties.
The Insane boats are pretty much made for gas engines although I don't see why a large nitro burner couldn't go in there.

[JDTOutdoors]

Would it consider to be a bad move towards CMB due to avalibility etc. I thought of ONFA? or OPS? Like it has been said before KB is old school, Then I had thought of OS MAx. Damn.....too many to chose from and not enough information on whether they will be around long enough to supply. It makes me want to take my .67 KB's and modify them. port,polish,etc.