Ride pads?

[mark]

i want to put some ride pads on my Scat Cat 32" but i want to make sure i know what im doing before i do. i know what ride pads do and all but where do they go on a cat hull and what do they look like? could someone post some pics? thanks

-mark

[Jeff Wohlt]

I will send you some on Tuesday. Mine are almost done...at least the first stage.

[mark]

thanks jeff. hey what color are you painting you Scat Cat BTW? im just curious because i havent quite decided what color to paint mine. im aiming towards a John Deer yellow toned down a little.

-mark

[NEED4SPEED]

Hey Mark..theres also some nice pics of ride pads posted in the picture gallery by KevinW..you might have to do a search from 100 days ago though..hope they help.... Rex

[mark]

thanks, ill check for them!

-mark

[Jeff Wohlt]

These are not the best but I was running out the door.

[Jeff Wohlt]

Another. These are not finished but close. I will smooth them down at the front and also add to the smaller sponsons in the front of the hull.

[Jeff Wohlt]

Mark...funny you say yellow...that is what I am doing. Her is a pic of my little cat and yellow. Looks good on the water and easy to see!

[mark]

looks good Jeff! i like yellow, i think ill paint it that. about the ride pads, i think i understand where they go and all. i have just one more question... do you paint them? you want them to have sharp edges right? wouldnt painting them dull 'em up?
thanks

-mark

[mark]

what should the thickness be? i plan on putting some on the boat tomarrow.
thanks again,

-mark

[Jeff Wohlt]

I think I used some 1/8" ABS sheets 8.5x12" I got at Hobby Town USA.

Even painted...they are much sharper than any ABS hull is.

After painting/clear coating, I wet sand the clear coat back down with some W&D 600 paper to make the bottoms smooth.

You simply cut them the same width as the sponson "flat part" I leave a small bit hang over on the inside of the sponson and then fill edges with CA.

You also need to do the curved part on the inside of the sponsons at the front (see pic) I have not done these yet.

[mark]

ill look for some of that plastic, thanks. i thinkk i know where they go so i should be okay...for now!LOL

-mark

[mark]

hey! im a racer now... just broke 100! sweet.

-mark

[KevinW]

1/16" or even .040 thickness will work perfectly well.

Don't slap on 1/8" thick ABS and add a bunch of unnecessary weight.

On painting: Don't paint the plastic pads unless you absolutely cannot live with them being their natural color (probably white). The less sanding you do on the pads, the less you will round off the edges. Keep all of the edges (except the leading edge) as sharp as you can.

Kevin W.

[mark]

thanks, i dont think im going to paint the pads. you dont see them anyhow when you are running. what about making them out of wood? i cant find any store around here that carries plastic sheets.

-mark

[mark]

if i used wood then i would coat all sides with epoxy and then get the edges as sharp as possible. what do you think? will that work?

-mark

[KevinW]

Wood will work fine. Make the edges sharp and waterproof 'em. You are ready to roll.

Kevin W.

[Jeff Wohlt]

Here are the front pads on. Now what I have to do is use some filler and taper down to the hull better. I think I am using .40 abs that I got at Hobby Town USA. Plenty thick but also plenty light for the difference in performance.

Only reason I would not use wood is the possible soaking up water and glue not holding as well if they are not well coated...which adds weight.

[Spuds]

To sharpen the sponsons I've used the small rt. angle extrusions that you can get at your LHS. It comes in various sizes that fit over the rounded edges of the sponsons. I CA these in place and then use epoxy and micro balloons to blend it in. Has anyone else taken this path? I've found it adds minimal weight and does not change the scale or hull intent or apperance and the edges come out very sharp ... of course I don't know if it works as well as adding a second surface and its more work.

[Jeff Wohlt]

Sorry so long but been busy. Here is a shot of the ride pads with the taper formed. A little detail work before priming but you get the idea. I puttied them with squadron putty and then formed them to match the hull.