any suggestions on wood hydro?

[mark]

i have designsed a new kind of hydro that i was hoping to build sometime in Feb. i wanted to build it out of balsa but is there any tpye that is better for boats? i was going to use wood glue then coat the model with another type of adhesive to strengthen the wood. what are your opinions on wood hydros?thanks.

i will post a picture of it when its almost done. the idea was to make two sponsons that look like they where sawn of the side of a regular hydro and connect them with alumunum tubes where the body would have been. i would keep the electronics evenly weight in both sponsons with the motor sealed seperately under the tubing with a short direct drive. its kinda hard to explain but if ya got an image in your head let me know what ya think. my maine question is how do you like wood hydros?:confused:

[Don Wollard]

Cool!

Wood is a good material for hydro's and houses.
:)

Actually good luck with your project. How about some more info. How big is your boat? What will it weigh, finished?

The material and how you use it could have a big difference on the outcome. What will you do with your boat when completed?

[mark]

i was going to use the hydro just for fun. if it performed well then i was going to compete it in the NAMBA Fast Electric Nationals. its held at Tocoma which is resonible close to where i live.

the idea of taking out the center cavity was to make it have less drag so i could make it go faster on a cheaper motor. i will probable use a 700 BB motor. right now i am looking at 24" without the running gear... so probably 28"overall.

as for the weight, i have no idea. it is going to have to be lighter do to the loss of mass, and water displacement. i dont want the thing to sink! i am hoping that all works out and i win the nationals!:p :D
-mark

[ccboatworks]

Sounds cool I've played with similar ideas. Two things I recommend you don't do though. Wood glue is water soluable your boat wont last very long if you use it(use ca glue). Don't put the electronics in the sponsons put foam for flotation in there. If you smack up your sponsons with the electronics in them you won't have electronics.

To seal the hull on my wood boats I use epoxy finish(the stuff they use on tables and counter tops). You can brush it on and sand it smooth it adds a bit of wieght but it gives your boat a hard shell.

Have fun!

Chris
ccboatworks

[eddieh]

HEY GUYS, i LIKE BALSA BUT i LIKE 1/32 PLY BETTER, SPECIALLY IF YOU NEED IT TO BEND ETC, i GOT THIS NEW GLUE AT SEARS CALLED "GORILLA GLUE" PRETTY TOUGH STUFF, iF YOU TACK YOUR PIECES WITH CA, AND THEN DO THE SEAMS WITH THIS gORILLA STUFF ,,,, IT BECOMES VERY RIGID AND STRONG, (i ALSO USE THINNED 5 MINUTE EPOXY) FOR COATING OUTSIDE IF YOU THIN REGULAR EPOXY WITH ALCOHOL, YOU CAN GET A FAILRY SMOOTH SURFACE, FAIRLY THIN, HEAT IT UP SLIGHTLY WITH A BLOW DRYER PRIOR TO CURING AND IT WILL LAY DOWN LIKE GLASS,,,,:D

[Jay Turner]

...the idea was to make two sponsons that look like they where sawn of the side of a regular hydro and connect them with alumunum tubes where the body would have been. i would keep the electronics evenly weight in both sponsons with the motor sealed seperately under the tubing with a short direct drive...It sounds like a catamaran without the tunnel. This is not a new idea, but it has some merit - without the tunnel there is less chance of a blow-over, but there is also no tunnel lift to reduce water drag. Problems would be waterproofing the electronics sufficiently, trimming the prop depth and angle, and hooking up in the turns without a turn fin. I'd be very interested in hearing how this idea works!

[Drobie]

Originally posted by Eddieh
i GOT THIS NEW GLUE AT SEARS CALLED "GORILLA GLUE" PRETTY TOUGH STUFF

I've used Gorilla Glue on woodworking projects. I don't have the bottle in front of me, but if memory serves, it's polyuerethane glue.

[mark]

thanks for alll the help. i have made the bottom porsion of the sponsons. i have been using waterproof glue. it works pretty well. then i was just going to put 10 min epxoy on the inside of the joints.

as for the electronics in the sponsons, well, its changed a bit. instead of putting all eletronics there i am going to add a wing connecting the sponsons in the back that is big enough to hold esc, reciever, servo. i am still going to put the batteries in the sponsons.

also i have been making the hydro out of 1/36 inch bass wood. do you think that is good? and what is a good setup for the dollar. i dont have a lot to spend, but what motor is most highly reconized in hydro racing? i was going to use 700 BB but want to know what you all use. any suggestions? thanks, this site is extremely helpful. been into this stuff for 6 years and never knew about it . thanks again.

mark:)

[Dick Crowe]

Hey Mark,
Sounds intersting. It's always fun to see what can be done.
I'm not sure if you know it or not, but the Northwest Model Expo is this coming weekend at the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup. I'll be there both days working at the Hitec Booth. If you make it down, bring your boat and look me up. Our local boat club will also have a booth upstairs at the event. I plan on bringing my saw boats to the show. Hope to see you there.

See ya,
Dick Crowe

[will_myster]

Sounds really cool, i would like to see the finished product. Walking in the dark design wise, i have found rewarding with various project, way cool man.

[Ray Bidwell]

Yes Gorilla glue is polyurethane glue. It is water proof and expands so very good at gap filling. I use it alot in wood working, for fixing loose rungs on chairs it is the best.