Today's weather was great for R/C model boat running & sailing in our favorite water hole the Hamilton Bay .The real Edward Cotter is a fireboat based in Buffalo New York & is also one of the oldest fireboats in the world . Near the end I almost had a disaster where I just touched the Ferry boat because I use a I-Phone to record videos & also run the models transmitter & some times I get distracted .

Typical yorkshire weather, after 5 minutes it chucked it down so had to make a quick retreat. used just one 2200 3s lipo for now but need a bigger lake/pond really as can only give full power for 3-4 seconds, so stop -go is not good but was hoping to get some good photos-videos, but the rain stopped play till another day.
Edit, forgot to mention. most of run on centre prop only. the last 5 seconds or so is full power, well nearly.

I wanted to try the driveshaft brake I'd recently fitted and thought I might as well do it on an actual ramp. This ramp has around a 30deg slope so it was a good spot for a test. Tried it with just the trailer first, (don't want my boat model disappearing down the ramp at high speed) and it worked well. I've done another vid where I but a 3kg water bottle on the trailer to simulate the weight of the boat, and that also worked well (although it's a bit scary when 13lbs starts rolling down the ramp backwards.

Lost the trailer a few times going over a big join in the ramp ( forgot the tow ball lock nut) so had a few goes to get it right. I was surprised how well a piece of string round the driveshaft could hold that weight so easily. Only negative is that it's not as good in forward, (would need another wound the opposite hand on the shaft) but that's not as important as reverse control. Still waiting for the weather and tides so I can try another launch. This ramp's not bad, but a little rough !

Set the new Surpass 3000KV 36 diam finned in-runner up in the boat, and did a tank test. Lots more power than the HV brushed 1200kv 550, but with higher idle. Re-did the reinforced silicone coupling and fitted a small collar to the inner end of the motor shaft to hold the tube from moving forward against the motor, as with the extra torque of the in-runner, it was trying to twist the tube off the shafts. Seems to be hanging in there static which is a promising sign. Once running, the load will come off which should help.

Runs full at around 4A and the battery holds at around 3.8v/ cell )alarm is set at 3.6 for safety, (as a sort of rev limiter) performance should improve a bit now. Have to wait till tomorrow as the restrictions end at 6am Sunday, (then have to hope for good weather for the test) The prop in the jet is a 28mm 3 blade racing prop which I modified to fit. Don't think I'm going to get much more out of the jet unit without it exploding😁, (it's only plastic I think, not GRP), - might have to buy a back-up and fit it with better quality bearings etc. If the jet was in the usual 'plastic' 24" toys it would be a rocket, but it's pushing 6lbs which is a challenge😀

Note the police chase outside in the background😁- always action around here, lots of hoons in cars😁

Weather was perfect tonight for a test, so I did the 15km trip out to the Gulf harbour pond (most weed free pond) to throw the boat in. After a thorough under water hull inspection from the marine department, she was off. Everything worked ok except the silicone drive tube which had become enlarged due to soaking in the grease coming out the front of the jet shaft. It was slipping badly and probably losing about 60% of its' thrust. Manoeuvrability is excellent but reverse leaves a bit to be be desired. Steering in reverse is perfect but the thrust is not going forwards enough from the bucket. Might have to build in some nozzles to direct it better.

Smoke air and water are working as well as can be expected, (smoke is a bit wafty, but with too much air introduced it will disappear as it gets thinned out too much to see) I was not expecting miracles as this was a bit of an experiment (modified cheap jet unit with unknown abilities) but at least it shows promise😁. If I can find a coupling which is concentric it will solve the drive problem.

Trouble is, the Chinese insist on making a 4mm shaft, 4.95 (or whatever) which is useless for balance in a 4mm ID bearing for example. Fine for cars, but no good for boats or planes due to balance requirements (it's a mission trying to balance plane props due to this thinking,- they do it with everything) shafts for electric motors are a nightmare at times as the play they build in, can ruin an otherwise good motor. I might have to buy a flexible rubber/nylon universal or a collet style( preferable as these take up any undersize on shafts) to fix it. They included a spiral alloy one with the jet unit which is as loose as a rooster in a sock, and only good for slower things like 3D printers etc. One of these days they will learn how to machine things to fit.😐

This will be last Sequin Tug run for 2020 weather great for Nov.6th it was 19 C today & will be nice weather for the next few days Then the cool weather will be back again . You can see that most of the real boats are now out of the water & are now in storage for the winter because Hamilton Harbor usually freezes over .

Ever wondered what to do with all your model planes stored away in boxes?

A bit windier this time (10-15 mph) but it's not built to sit on a shelf, so having made a few adjustments I thought I'd risk it. It tried playing submarine a few times after a spin but handled the wind ok till trying to get back, - tried to weathervane back out, so ended up power on beaching. Lots of fun in the sun, -still more adjusting to do, ie get it steering straight by itself and limit the drifting slightly.

Seen here under medium to heavy weather, Buxton Model boat Club member Peter Gelsthorpe tell us about his Speedline Models Thames Barge .

Crew posting to Tug, still in dry dock and more crew to be completed and fixed to deck, limited room, but at least 2 more to go......still to be maidened, happy with subtle weathering....not over the top...fender soaked in some tea bags for a week....satisfactory end result...

Proboat Alpha - ready to run, model of PBR, Patrol Boat Riverine, used by US Navy during Vietnam conflict, served 1967 -1972.

Images show basic detail, 1/18 scale, with crew. Bow gunner servo is linked to rudder. Comes with Navlights, looking forward to a night sail.....some painting added to weather craft, as well as painting radar housing a lighter grey....and the canvas roof over wheel house....a little artistic licence with vessel numbers......Brown Navy did'nt always have numbered vessels....but could'nt help myself.

Bravo Zulu Chaps😉

Enjoyable day.Light rain but lovely weather.Members from Kawartha Marine Modellers,Confederation Marine Modellers and Metro Marine Modellers attended.Wide variety of boats.Had BBQ afterwards.There is a couple of pictures of Springer tugs for people to have an idea what to do to theirs.