SAW tunnel record team effort

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Bob Kensill

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2003
Messages
2,546
I have been sharing ideas for a new SAW tunnel design with Tommy Lee. He has an idea for a boat to break the 75mph barrier. My intent is to collaborate with anyone wanting to be part of the greatest R/C tunnel project ever attempted in IMPBA history. I am going to make some simple drawings, to send to Tommy, for his input soon. Anyone can volunteer for this. Be ready to put on your thinking caps! Feel free to give your ideas or opinions.
 
With what power Bob?

Would love to see what Tommy has.

I have been consistanly just over 80mph on 4s lipo (eagletree gps)...but it would only be 75-77mph "through the traps"
 
Not to knock the fast electrics, but the more you spend, the faster you go. $ spent = mph. The top speed is only limited by battery/ ESC and motor. A good fast electric outboard sounds a lot like a full size Champ Boat. Kris, maybe you can find some things that can be used by the nitro boats. BTW I made an 80+mph pass with my OPS 80 outboard
 
Bob, not to knock what you are saying, but there is a lot more to Fast Electric tunnels than you seem to make it sound like. There was a lot of time, and effort by multiple people to set the 6s record at 78.43mph combined. If it was that easy, everyone would be doing it. I set that record right at 2 years ago, and no one has been able to break it as of yet...Heck, the person who helped me get there, Jimmy Johnson, is the only one that I know of with a nitro tunnel recorded at over 80mph one way. Still faster than my 79.5mph FE one way pass. Money doesn't buy you everything

I respect you, but you mentioned how easy FE was to me on the phone one day, and it was kind of a shock that you feel any record is "easy" to do, no matter what the power setup. It is a LOT of work and tune time....Respectfully, Mike Luszcz
 
Mike

I meant no disrespect to any accomplished model boater. All fast electrics I have seen run used off the shelf electronics ( motor, ESC and batteries) The hull and prop were the only variables, other than the driver. I am sure that there are fast electric ""gurus" that do more.
 
Bob,

Be happy to participate. We have some Nelsons that have performed well. As far as the FE's like Mike stated there's a little more to it. The advantage is consistent power not affected by weather. You still need to select proper electronics components, then make it all come together. Boat and propellers still rule. I dabbled in FE SAW setups and above 75mph you really tear up equipment when the boat tumbles. 80mph is attainable but you are going to build a few hulls.

Mic
 
Bob, I've had some luck play'n round with these numbers.........

Interested in what ya come up with on your drawing,

Gene

Edit: added pic

Vt58086.jpg
 
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Mike

I meant no disrespect to any accomplished model boater. All fast electrics I have seen run used off the shelf electronics ( motor, ESC and batteries) The hull and prop were the only variables, other than the driver. I am sure that there are fast electric ""gurus" that do more.
You need to attend the NAMBA SAW events to get a clearer picture.
 
I have been to at least thirty IMPBA record trials, and set nine records, including the eight year old "A" outboard tunnel oval record. I have a 70mph outboard patch and a 95mph hydro patch. There are very few nitro heat racing boats that could set a record. Fast electric may be the power of the future, but look at the r/c airplane hobby, nitro is giving way to electric for one reason, it is "easier". You can't argue that. But back to my main post, we are all addicted to going fast. We can all help each other. I gladly share my ideas and have given a large part of my boat collection away just to keep the hobby growing. Let's see what we all can do if we all pitch in.
 
Easier? Lol, try getting through the torque transition of an FE powered tunnel with a large diameter prop. Not many can get that part right, and keep the boat stable. Nitro spools up so much slower and smoother, I would call running the traps with Nitro much easier. I have battled this issue with FE power for years. Most runs twist the hull up by the time they get to 30mph. Just trying to clarify this with you! Mike
 
Is there a design difference between Nitro and FE as to hull dims ?

Other than whats under the cowl, Wondering bout the comp for torque roll etc.....

Gene
 
Mike has said allni need to say :)

Yes I agree Nitro is harder. I was spinning a modified x442 at 40k LOADED rpm

I can assure you I probably spent less than you did to do 70mph with a nitro.

When even I tried more pitch (ie x642 of same blade shape) the boat was not as happy...but faster! I needed to play with setup some more.

Darin is doing over/near 70mph with a $90 "spec" motor from the UL1

A modified noavrossi keep $460 + say $100 at least for Stan to modify?

Tuned pipe (spp) $120

Thats a lot of money and more than I spent to do 80mph (excluding breakages which can happen with nitro).

you never mentioned what power you and Tommy are planing on using? 3.5? 7.5? Bigger?
 
B tunnel- Novarossi 35plus 21, Orion 21 CRF and Picco 21 X3

D tunnel- K&B 45 (8702), Picco 45 bluehead and K&B 45 billet

D outboard hydro- same as tunnel

May try E class with K&B 67 and Novarossi.65
 
A wrong landing from a 72mph "get off"

Then some mods to try and reduce lift..which the boat now does 75-80mph consistently. untill the motor said NO MORE

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I hit the shore with Tommy Lee's 40 SAW boat at 70+mph. It did about eight flips, and the only damage was a broken cavitation plate
 
Gene,

There is a reason there is an FE class and a nitto class. Tommy set his nitro records 20 years ago with K&B's and most still stand today. Now thats an accomplishment. These FE records fall like rain at just about every SAW event. Thats what Bob is trying to say.
 
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But not the hard ones like outboard tunnels Ron :)

Only the easy ones get broken every year...look at Tylers efforts to finally take Jeorgs record last year in LA...not just money thrown at that ;-)

I understand what he is saying and I agree it is harder to go fast with nitro
 
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