Layout issues

[abx131]

Well I am getting ready to build an old 1/8 round nose and had a question about the radio gear and fuel tank. I know the best place to locate it is in the nose for weight purposes. With a newer style like a Miss Bud, you can place the gear under the cowl in what would be the cockpit. The cowl is removeable almost all the way to the front of the boat. On the old round nose boats if there is an engine cover it only exposes the center of the boat. How do you get access under the planking of the front end without placing a noticeable access hatch. Any photos of someones older boat with these areas exposed would be appreciated.

[Hydro Junkie]

Most of the guys have the fuel tank up forward(either under the foredeck or along side the engine on the right side) and put the radio box as far forward as they can BEHIND the engine. It makes running the throttle pushrod a little harder, but using ball links makes it a little easier.

[abx131]

HJ I thought the idea was to place all that stuff as far forward as possible?

[Hydro Junkie]

It is, but with a round nose boat, you do have limitations that aren't there in a picklefork or a turbine. Also, a round nose has a much smaller bottom area aft than a picklefork or turbine, meaning less aerodynamic lift than the newer boat designs. It does make a difference on how you set the boat up. I would recommend contacting Marc Connaly, through the R/C Unlimiteds website(www.rcunlimiteds.org) and ask him for more specific info on his Notre Dame, which is also a roound nosed boat. He may have insites that I don't, as all my boats have been the pickleforks and turbines.

[abx131]

Well the miss supertest boat was a large boat for a round nose. It was 30 ft long and most of that was in the front end. It is a good 6 ft longer than the Notre dame/Bud hull you are thinking of. That is why I think the set up is so important on this one because I dont want it too tail heavy. I'm just not too sure how to go about it.

[Hydro Junkie]

Try again. At 30.5 feet long and 12.5 feet wide, the Supertest is 6" longer and wider than the Notre Dame/Budweiser, with a 2" wider tunnel. Of the 6 inches of extra length, 4 of them are behind the sponsons, while the other 2 inches are in the front, due to the 6 inches of extra width. The boat isn't a large boat, for it's day. The 1959-1963 Miss Thriftway/Century 21 was 3" longer, the 1959 Maverick was 2" shorter, at 34 feet, the 1957-1960 Thriftway II was 3.5 FEET longer, but the biggest boat I've seen for that era was the Gale VI/VII at a whopping 36 FEET LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are right, however, about the set up being important. That's why I say contact Marc Connaly. His 1969 Notre Dame is a very fast boat, so he had to do something right. It also falls into the 30 foot long catagory, though it is a foot wider than yours, full size.