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       The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum Forum Index -> Steam Launches and Boats
Andrew

The Great VI Marine Disaster of 2008.

I tried to turn the bow into the wind but a big gust blew it over.

The engine is fine. My Dad ran it again on the beach.

We'll test the RC tomorow.  Maybe it will work.

johnreid

I bet it is fine, just scary

But it does bring this to mind, one of my faves.

IndianaRog

Oh the humanity!!!

Andrew, I feel your pain...the sound track seemed to groan a good deal at the point of roll over.  I imagine your dad was almost in tears seeing it roll over.  NO ONES fault...just happened.

Perhaps that boat is destined to be for pools or absolute mill pond still lagoon sailing.  

Sorry for the loss of the Futaba components.  Perhaps some can be salvaged...just try rinsing the salt water out of them before drying.

Rog
johnreid

Those servos etc are fairly sturdy I bet they survived the ordeal.
kusuchi

IndianaRog wrote:
Oh the humanity!!!

Andrew, I feel your pain...the sound track seemed to groan a good deal at the point of roll over.  I imagine your dad was almost in tears seeing it roll over.  NO ONES fault...just happened.

Perhaps that boat is destined to be for pools or absolute mill pond still lagoon sailing.  

Sorry for the loss of the Futaba components.  Perhaps some can be salvaged...just try rinsing the salt water out of them before drying.

Rog


Rog,

They may not know a damn thing about steam here, (although we do have a historic Steam Marine Railway, single beam, I think), but they do know a lot about boats!

We had the launch out of the water in less than three seconds.  Flushed it with fresh water.  Removed the access hatch, switch, battery and receiver in less than 60 seconds.

Everything was instantly rinsed with fresh water and rapidly dried with a hair dryer. The four AA batteries were discarded.

The only question is the servo.  This is permanently installed below the stern and I can't get to it.

What I may do, as the Futuba kit came with two servos, is create an access hatch in the stern, kind of like this:

IndianaRog

Richard, seems you provided the most appropriate CPR a guy could to your components, they might all be fine.  I have had those Futaba servos apart, not much to them and what is there is gobbed in white lithium grease...gears internally are nylon.  My guess is it will be fine.  If not, your proposed stern hatch seems a superb solution.

The trials and tribulations we must deal with in pursuit of the perfect launch!!!

take heart, it will sail again and soon I'm sure.

Rog
Bogstandard

Did it hit an underwater obstruction, or did it just spring a leak?

The best bet is to take the batteries out and run everything under fresh water for half an hour, then put them out to dry. If you are lucky and get the salt out, they should be ok.

I have seen electric boats still running after being retrieved from their underwater excursion after half an hour. But it was found a fair way away from its original sinking point, it just carried on sailing, but underwater and along the bottom.

Good luck on the relaunch

John
johnreid

That one servo might not have even gotten wet
kusuchi

Bogstandard wrote:
Did it hit an underwater obstruction, or did it just spring a leak?

The best bet is to take the batteries out and run everything under fresh water for half an hour, then put them out to dry. If you are lucky and get the salt out, they should be ok.

I have seen electric boats still running after being retrieved from their underwater excursion after half an hour. But it was found a fair way away from its original sinking point, it just carried on sailing, but underwater and along the bottom.

Good luck on the relaunch

John


Thanks John,

No, it just blew over in a freak gust.  We did everything on the spot we could.  We'll see tomorrow how successful we were.  We've run it perfectly in swimming pools on four occasions. It had always run perfectly, but this is winter here, a sudden 20 mph wind gust is not unusual.
shaygetz

Owwwww...I'm glad the big bits are OK.
Wallace

Good to see it's all ok.  

Never would have thought that would happen  

When I had my boat, it was flat bottomed, so never a risk of the wind tipping it over.
What the wind did do is constantly blow the burner out  
TRAPPERKEEPER

Bad luck    I once lost an RC car in a pool, got it out and dried it with a blowdrier, and it worked again. Good luck with it!
tmuir

I've heard of people putting the batteries and receivers in zip lock bags and the sealing with an elastic band to keep the water out. Might be worth while doing as its a cheap mod that could save some future tears. Maybe even some lead weights as ballast to make it a bit harder to capsize.

For water proofing controls have a look at this website for ideas.
Here they make radio controlled battelships that actually fire ball bearings and then go out and battle each other.  

http://www.ausbg.org/ships/hms_lion.html
Nick

I'm glad Mocha was safe.

I have r/c trucks and when running them in the winter I've waterproofed them to keep the snow out. It works, but they can easily overheat.

Many parts can be protected by dipping them in Plasti-dip, it peels off when you're done.
Les Marsh

That sunk quicker than the Titanic, you didn't name her 'Titanic II' did you.

Hope Andrew and you are not too traumatised and will carry on sailing, and I look forward to the re-launch.
Was Mocha ok, did the life jacket work.

As others have already said, the servo's are very sturdy and I think they are watertight as well, so it should be ok.


Try it without the canopy if there is a bit of wind.
Sandman

Fingers are tightly cossed that everything is OK Andrew.

I'm sure you'll be back sailing in no time.
Nick

Is there any way to make it more stable?
Mamodman123

Oh dear, just like watching the poseidon adventure  

I'm sure she'll be back better and stronger than before.  
johnreid

Wonder how many of those kits actually saw the Ocean!
tmuir

johnreid wrote:
Wonder how many of those kits actually saw the Ocean!


That one certainly has, up close and personal.  

I guess a capsized boat is something you just have to expect, like when flying an RC aeroplane you have just got to expect to crash it sometime..........
kusuchi

Well, we plugged it all back together with fresh batteries.  The servo made a bunch of wierd noises totally unrelated to the movement of the transmitter,  the rudder moved a little and then...........nothing.

Got out the second servo that came with the kit, plugged it in, works like a charm.

Why would it have to be the only thing I can't get to?

Looks like I'm going to be making a hatch.  I't'll have to be quite large as the servo is mounted to the starboard side of center.  I have mahogany planking I can use to make a surround.

johnreid

Try again, just to be sure. I cant thin of a way to totally seal one, but there should be some way to waterproof one. Servos go out on my RC truck on occasion so I guess that is a more fragile part.
Les Marsh

It could have been worse.
Have you come up with a name for her yet?
johnreid

The unsinkable Molly Brown might be good
kusuchi

johnreid wrote:
The unsinkable Molly Brown might be good


Andrew loves the Titanic movie.  His favorite part is when they are heading out to the Atlantic and it cuts to the Engine room scene when the Captain orders 'Full Steam Ahead'.

'Wonder how many of those kits actually saw the Ocean!'

Very few I would expect.  They can take very little wave or wind action.  Worse still, the potential for salt water damage if they do capsize is an unacceptable risk.  The corrosive effects are almost instant.

Might try a little extra ballast and leave off the canopy when it's windy.  The Heritage Engine is naturally top heavy.
bessytractor

kusuchi wrote:
johnreid wrote:
The unsinkable Molly Brown might be good


Andrew loves the Titanic movie.  His favorite part is when they are heading out to the Atlantic and it cuts to the Engine room scene when the Captain orders 'Full Steam Ahead'.
'Wonder how many of those kits actually saw the Ocean!'

Very few I would expect.  They can take very little wave or wind action.  Worse still, the potential for salt water damage if they do capsize is an unacceptable risk.  The corrosive effects are almost instant.

Might try a little extra ballast and leave off the canopy when it's windy.  The Heritage Engine is naturally top heavy.


aye thats my fav bit too!!

I love all the engine room sequences.

I was very lucky last year to be able to drive the engine at Kempton Park, where they filmed some of the engine room footage.
Les Marsh

bessytractor wrote:
kusuchi wrote:
johnreid wrote:
The unsinkable Molly Brown might be good


Andrew loves the Titanic movie.  His favorite part is when they are heading out to the Atlantic and it cuts to the Engine room scene when the Captain orders 'Full Steam Ahead'.
'Wonder how many of those kits actually saw the Ocean!'

Very few I would expect.  They can take very little wave or wind action.  Worse still, the potential for salt water damage if they do capsize is an unacceptable risk.  The corrosive effects are almost instant.

Might try a little extra ballast and leave off the canopy when it's windy.  The Heritage Engine is naturally top heavy.


aye thats my fav bit too!!

I love all the engine room sequences.

I was very lucky last year to be able to drive the engine at Kempton Park, where they filmed some of the engine room footage.


I was there last year and I found it very impressive. A must see place.
http://www.kemptonsteam.org/
bessytractor

it is very WOW lol
mogogear

My Heart goes out to all the crew!!  
H2o vapour

Hi,

It's all been said, you've still got the boat and that's what matters.

My experaince with wet radio is the time that it takes to dry it out. Try drying it slowly. Usually put mine in the warm airing cpd for a few days. Seriously, this works wonders.

H20
kusuchi

Les Marsh wrote:


I was there last year and I found it very impressive. A must see place.
http://www.kemptonsteam.org/



One very excited boy...on the way.

Thanks Les, (and Bessy)
mc_mc

Oh dear!   Well it's been well and truly christened now.

Things could have been a lot worse,  can hamsters swim?
steamgranny

The perils of navigating on the high seas  
Although I'm sure ship & crew will be seaworthy again in no time  
Hardly consolation but a pussy pulled my newly-restored Luton Bowman onto the floor yesterday & I know have a dented boiler & bent whistle to deal with, thus I fully appreciate your present angst  
bessytractor

ncseverson wrote:
Is there any way to make it more stable?


she has a low freeboard so even with extra ballast any rocking or high wave would send her down.
kusuchi

bessytractor wrote:
ncseverson wrote:
Is there any way to make it more stable?


she has a low freeboard so even with extra ballast any rocking or high wave would send her down.


Right, quite right.
johnreid

I used to have a Radio Controlled Airplane that would crash with the slightest gust of wind. I think that some things are just made for calmer waters.
Nick

Looks like "you're gonna need a bigger boat."

CCairns

Finally managed to get to see your video Richard (one of the places where I work the computer will not play photobucket videos).

It has all been covered by other postings, but you might consider using a sail winch servo. The one made by Hitec is water and dust tight, and it has a standard output horn gear spline, but will be more expensive than a standard servo - http://www.hitecrcd.com/servos/list and http://www.hitecrcd.com/product_file/file/35/HS-785HB.pdf

I use a balloon with a wide neck opening to cover up my receiver and battery packs in my boats, securing the neck with a cable tie.

I'm sure you will be back on the water soon.
kusuchi

ncseverson wrote:
Looks like "you're gonna need a bigger boat."



Working on it.
kusuchi

CCairns wrote:
Finally managed to get to see your video Richard (one of the places where I work the computer will not play photobucket videos).

It has all been covered by other postings, but you might consider using a sail winch servo. The one made by Hitec is water and dust tight, and it has a standard output horn gear spline, but will be more expensive than a standard servo - http://www.hitecrcd.com/servos/list and http://www.hitecrcd.com/product_file/file/35/HS-785HB.pdf

I use a balloon with a wide neck opening to cover up my receiver and battery packs in my boats, securing the neck with a cable tie.

I'm sure you will be back on the water soon.


Thanks Chris,


I was all set to cut a hatch in the stern to access the servo when I read H20 Vapours post:

"My experaince with wet radio is the time that it takes to dry it out. Try drying it slowly. Usually put mine in the warm airing cpd for a few days. Seriously, this works wonders."

Well, my house is an airing cpd, and lo and behold it started working again last night.  It's not perfect, seems to come to rest a little off center on the default dead ahead.  But everytime I turn it on it's a little better.

I'll take a view at the weekend, but miraculously I may have to do nothing.   Steamed it on the stand several times and it runs like a sewing machine,

No more salt water
bessytractor

pools only eh?

At least a happy ending has resulted!
Les Marsh

bessytractor wrote:
pools only eh?

At least a happy ending has resulted!


Until he gets his confidence back.
kusuchi

Les Marsh wrote:
bessytractor wrote:
pools only eh?

At least a happy ending has resulted!


Until he gets his confidence back.


Ran it on the bench tonight.  Smooth as silk.   RC working perfectly now.  It's going to the pool when Andrew gets out of school tomorrow for retrials..

I'm going back on my word on Salt Water.   I have to have video footage of the boat running at Magen's Bay.   I'm just qoing to have to be more careful.  With such a low freeboard, I may have to leave the canopy off.  With the tiny eyelets the canopy wires sleeve into I really thought it would blow off rather than  capisizing the whole vessel.

I'm fairly sure very few forum members run steam launches in the sea.  The consequences of salt water immersion are so catastrophic you really need to assess the risk a little better than I did.   One lives and learns.
Les Marsh

Good luck, and glad to hear it's working ok.
alan2525

What about adding a small Keel or extending the coaming a little higher?

Should help to stop the fire blowing out too? And that canopy working like a sail is a recipe for disaster!

That's pretty courageous operating that thing on the high seas though! It's really not a sea going vessel!
rangerssteamtoys

Ooooops  

Sorry for what happened. If you bought this boat as an assembled model with servos and eferything installed they might have put rubber around the servo case. They do this to many pre-assembled boats. There is always some type of water proofing, probably grease.
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