Pro Boat IMPULSE 26 & IMPULSE 31 electric boat!
#16
Tech Elite
Thread Starter
We ran Impulse 26's yesterday at the Indy Admirals Indoor Fun Run at Carmel High School. Had a great time! The let us have the high school pool for 3 hours once a month this winter.
I ran mine stock but with new Traxxas 3000mah 7-cell packs. Does just great! They barely fix crossways, but they do fit!
Another buddy, Dave, has taken his stock motor/ESC out and replaced it with a Traxxas Venolin (sp?) system. Brushless. Unbelievable speed.
Here's his solution to the hatch latch problem. My magnets don't meet well enough to latch either, so I am going to do the same.
I'm sorry I didn't get a photo with the hatch off. Basically, he drilled out the spot for the magnet. Put a nylon bolt up through from the underside of the deck. Then, tightened that off with a nylon nut that you can't see. When you place your latch on top, then he thumb tightens the nut on that you do see. Works perfect. And with his brushless motor/speed control combo, boy does he need it to keep that canopy on!
I ran mine stock but with new Traxxas 3000mah 7-cell packs. Does just great! They barely fix crossways, but they do fit!
Another buddy, Dave, has taken his stock motor/ESC out and replaced it with a Traxxas Venolin (sp?) system. Brushless. Unbelievable speed.
Here's his solution to the hatch latch problem. My magnets don't meet well enough to latch either, so I am going to do the same.
I'm sorry I didn't get a photo with the hatch off. Basically, he drilled out the spot for the magnet. Put a nylon bolt up through from the underside of the deck. Then, tightened that off with a nylon nut that you can't see. When you place your latch on top, then he thumb tightens the nut on that you do see. Works perfect. And with his brushless motor/speed control combo, boy does he need it to keep that canopy on!
Last edited by IndyHobbies.com; 02-22-2012 at 02:53 AM. Reason: spelling!
#17
Tech Rookie
I also tried a plastic prop from Pro Boat as well. I did get slightly better performance out of the boat with this prop. I'd still use the S/S one for areas where you have weeds, etc. But for where I was, it was open water and clean. So, perfect for the PRB0151 Prop. Its 1.6" x 2.5" composite the label says.
I stuffed the boat into a large wave off of a passing pontoon boat. The top came off and the tupperware lid did as well. So, she was about half full of water! I popped the drain plug and carefully opened the RX so that it could air dry. The ESC is sealed. No problem and ready to run again.
A close up of the connector between the shaft and motor. Works just fine.
I stuffed the boat into a large wave off of a passing pontoon boat. The top came off and the tupperware lid did as well. So, she was about half full of water! I popped the drain plug and carefully opened the RX so that it could air dry. The ESC is sealed. No problem and ready to run again.
A close up of the connector between the shaft and motor. Works just fine.
#18
Tech Elite
Thread Starter
I do not know,but I will try to get a measurment for you. I've been very happy with my whole set up.
#19
Tech Rookie
Thankyou!
#20
Tech Elite
Thread Starter
Here's a few more photos of Dave's Impulse with the TRAXXAS Brushless System in it!
It literally vaporizes water! What a beast!
The second photo shows how he added a block of foam to the underside of the top hatch. Its just the right thickness to PUSH the lower hatch down. Makes a BIG difference he said on helping to keep water out. That Dave...he is one smart dude!
To determine the right thickness of foam, he took a ball of clay and laid it on top of the transparent hatch. Then, he placed the top hatch on and squished it down to the normal level. When he removed the hatch, he had the desired thickness via the squished clay ball! Another smart thing!
He also spent a lot of time making sure his motor lined up with the shaft. Of the four I looked at at the hobby shop, FOUR were not lined up properly. That will cause friction which will slow you down and maybe wear your drive shaft components quicker too despite the Teflon.
It literally vaporizes water! What a beast!
The second photo shows how he added a block of foam to the underside of the top hatch. Its just the right thickness to PUSH the lower hatch down. Makes a BIG difference he said on helping to keep water out. That Dave...he is one smart dude!
To determine the right thickness of foam, he took a ball of clay and laid it on top of the transparent hatch. Then, he placed the top hatch on and squished it down to the normal level. When he removed the hatch, he had the desired thickness via the squished clay ball! Another smart thing!
He also spent a lot of time making sure his motor lined up with the shaft. Of the four I looked at at the hobby shop, FOUR were not lined up properly. That will cause friction which will slow you down and maybe wear your drive shaft components quicker too despite the Teflon.
#21
Tech Elite
Thread Starter
This is my Impulse now NAKED!!!!
I'm going to airbrush the top deck and sides. The decals from the factory were fine, but I can't leave well-enough alone. I like to airbrush R/C cars, so I'm going to have some fun with this!
Here's some bodies I've done: http://www.indyhobbies.com/Airbrushing.html
I'm going to airbrush the top deck and sides. The decals from the factory were fine, but I can't leave well-enough alone. I like to airbrush R/C cars, so I'm going to have some fun with this!
Here's some bodies I've done: http://www.indyhobbies.com/Airbrushing.html
#23
Tech Elite
Thread Starter
They are not skipping off the water like the SuperVee or Impulse brushless, but they are quite respectable. I run the 8.4 volt packs and that gives mine some extra punch.
I couldn't leave well enough along of course, so I'm turning my Impulse into one of the LUCAS OIL Superboats. I masked it up over the weekend and got the red paint down. Looking good! More photos soon.
I couldn't leave well enough along of course, so I'm turning my Impulse into one of the LUCAS OIL Superboats. I masked it up over the weekend and got the red paint down. Looking good! More photos soon.
#24
Tech Elite
Thread Starter
Ready to hit the water! I like the way it turned out. Very much an improvement over stock look.
I cut the "LUCAS OIL" lettering out by hand. That took a while. The rest of the graphics are decals.
Sorry about the backdrop in the photos. Its February so that's the best I can do for now!
I cut the "LUCAS OIL" lettering out by hand. That took a while. The rest of the graphics are decals.
Sorry about the backdrop in the photos. Its February so that's the best I can do for now!
#26
Tech Elite
Thread Starter
We have another indoor fun run coming up, but that pool has turns and twists and a lazy river. So, he won't be able to run it fast there either. I'm not sure I can even run mine in that pool!
#27
Tech Apprentice
iTrader: (3)
Hey Indy could you take a measurement for me off your boat please? I am trying to find out on the motor mount what the width of the 2 screws that mount the plate to the hull are.
I am looking at changing motors on my old boat before I get one of these impulses also and would like to see what the measurement is because maybe I can use their mount system in my old hull as well. That way I can hook up water cooling alot easier.
I am looking at changing motors on my old boat before I get one of these impulses also and would like to see what the measurement is because maybe I can use their mount system in my old hull as well. That way I can hook up water cooling alot easier.
#28
Tech Elite
Thread Starter
Hope that helps. I was surprised it was so exact. I expected metric.
Just so you know it is soft aluminum. I have used a rat tail file to elongate the slots to get the motor to align better with the shaft. so, if you need to modify that plate a little, it shouldn't be a problem. This photo was taken BEFORE I did that. You can see some mis-alignment. The other thing I did was add washers and lock washers under the hex bolts. They just used the "cram them down tight" method from the factory. Not proper.
#30
Tech Elite
Thread Starter
Got some better pics of the underside of the boat. Their real one had a white bottom hull too. I figured that area would potentially get scratched, so I left it white.
Last edited by IndyHobbies.com; 02-24-2012 at 11:04 AM.