I built the larger Huntress before SLEC brought it out as a kit. I fitted a brushless motor and used Lipos as nothing else would have given scale performance. I sold it on some time ago. Some of the full size boats were used for offshore racing and if you do a search for Fairey boats you will get lots of useful information.
Another site that I have used quite a lot is hobbyking.com who are mainly aircraft orientated but I have found their brushless motors etc., pretty good.👍

One of the reasons I like brushless is because they are so well engineered!

If you haven't got one already get a decent balance charger for the Lipos. It will charge your NiMh etc. as well.

Will watch your build with interest.

Chris

Mine are Nimh I just call them all nicads! 😀
But only 7.2v….so I’ve decided to bite the bullet and go 3s Lipo and brushless… I’ll go to Slec and get the motor and controller they have for it.
Will make a start on it in next few days, looks a very good kit. Thanks all.

ChrisF
I disposed of my NiCads some years ago when they expired.
NiMhs provide a viable alternative and are more readily available and are more environmentally friendly.
Yes you probably can find suppliers but I suspect the cost would discourage most.

Steve
If you are set on using Brushed and NiMh then the 600 should work but in my experience they run hot and will flatten a NiMh in a short period if run at speed and in a weedy lake.
There are many examples of similar sized models on this site and the Harbour section sometimes contains details of the motor/battery/ESC and prop set up. I suggest you look and see what you can find. If you need more details send a PM to the member and ask.
Good hunting
Dave

If you've already got them and they still work then why not?

Not that you'd want to but someone on another thread said you could still get them!

Edit: Yep, just looked on EBay and plenty there. I see that the legislation does allow for certain exemptions but I'm surprised they are available on the open market.

Did not realise people still used nicads?
👎

Hi Steve

I was going to suggest as per the others i.e. use your batteries with a brushless motor but if you want to go brushed then something like the MFA 540 should fit the bill. Attached is from the Component Shop. I always reckon you need around 10k. RPM to get decent planing performance.

That's the 34" kit isn't it and if so the extra weight of batteries other than LiPos shouldn't be too much of an issue.

I don't know of any other builders of that kit on the forums and so it is unlikely that you will find anyone who has gone brushed so there is an element of suck it and see.

Chris

It wasn't taken that you were questioning the designers judgement etc.

Like I say, if it was me and i already had some batteries, I would go for a brushless motor and suitable speed controller, that if you found that your batteries didn't give the performance or duration you wanted, you could upgrade to lipos at a later date if you wanted to, plus the cost would be spread out then too.

Will

Yes I appreciate that, I wasn’t questioning the knowledge of the builder/designer in any way, just wondered if anyone had used a brushed motor and nicads instead of the suggested brushless and lipos.
I’ll probably price up the brushless and brushed alternatives and go from there. I have nicads from my car and truck rc days. I guess the weight of the nicad/nimh could be an issue compared to the lipos. Thanks.

If you have the batteries, then personally, I'd be seriously tempted to go the brushless route, but not running lipos.
As I said before, you would still have to buy an ESC, but if you got them both from eBay or Banggood, they'd probably cost you £50 or less for both items.
That would also give you the option of changing to lipos in the future if you decided to.

Will

Hi, just simplicity avoiding the hassles of lipo and the cost. Plus I have the batteries.

I was going to say something very similar to Dave.
The designer, who was a very knowledgable, talented boat builder and designer of model boat kits, would have spent a lot of time ensuring that the correct propulsion system was recommended.
I never knew Dave M, but took advice from him quite a few times and he always came across as knowing exactly what he was talking about, especially when it came to Fairey Marine boats.

You could go opt to go the brushed and non lipo route, but performance and duration would not be the same as a lighter, more powerful(size for size) and more efficient brushless set up.

You could run a brushless motor on a different battery to a Lipo. The cost of a brushless motor and suitable speed controller wouldn't be particularly great, especially if you were happy to wait for it to come from China rather than buying in this country (eBay, Banggood etc), so if it's down to cost and already having a brushed motor etc, then maybe worth considering.

Otherwise, try the motor and batteries you already have 1st. If you are happy with the performance and duration that's all that matters and if not, i suspect that it wouldn't be the end of the world to swap to a brushless motor afterwards, although I cannot remember what access to the motor and mount appear like after completion of the boat.

Will

I suspect Dave Milbourne the designer chose the brushless motor to give the model the scale performance he desired. I searched our Boat Harbour section and there is at least one Huntress shown but no details of the motors used. I suggest you do a search and send a private message to the builder and ask for his help.
https://model-boats.com/harbour?q=Huntress
Dave

Is there any particular reason that you don't want to go down the brushless/Lipo route?

Will