Newbie with a question-Prather tunnel/outboard

[C Marks]

Hello everyone ! Nice forum here ! I'm trying to decide on a new boat, but have a few questions. Looking at a Prather 29" Tunnel with a K&B outboard. Still awaiting more info from the owner before making a final decision. This is a kit from Prather that was never completed an he claims the engine has never seen fuel. What should i be looking for ? Any downsides to this model? How do they handle? Turn? Blowovers? I hear the new Lap Cat's from Prather handle great, but i was just wondering about this one since it is an older design. Unit will come with new Sullivan starter and Futaba radio/receiver. Boat is about 95% complete as it sits now, less paint ! I can pick it it for around $300 dollars. Good deal ?? Stay away and buy a RTR kit ? Please advise ! :)


...This just in ! Engine is a K&B 3.5 cc

Chris

[BoatDoc]

tunnels can blow over easily, but they are pretty fun to drive. i've got a prather lap cat with a k&b 3.5cc. i don't drive it anymore (i'm done with nitro...had nothing to do with the boat). once you get it set up, you'll find that it turns pretty easily. they get really light towards the end of the straights, and you'll have to learn to back off the throttle to hold it down. mine was a white knuckle ride most of the time, it would definitely get your blood flowing. if your engine is new, you'll want to run it rich at first and slowly lean out the needle until the motor is properly broken in. this means a lot of part throttle running, and and going between low, mid and high settings with the motor. you're also going to end up killing the engine quite a bit, so bring along some means of recovery. for a prop, get an octura x440, make sure it's balanced/sharpened. the x438 might be good for break in, but the boat won't reach full potential on it.

[C Marks]

Great info, Doc ! :wave: What kind of speed may i expect to see from this combination in stock form ?? With proper modifications, what kind of speed can i get out of it ? Besides the Octura x440 prop, what other mods do these engines like ? What percent nitro content ?

I know its a lot of questions, but i am fairly new to r/c boating, especially outboards ! :)

Chris

[BoatDoc]

for speed...let's leave it at "plenty fast". learn to drive it before modifying!!! i could count how many times i've gone against that advice, but it would be embarassing! a stock x440 will be fine for now. once you get a handle on it there are a few mods, but for now, stock is the way to go. you could get into tuned pipes, and modded props and all that jazz...but let's save that for later, shall we?

[C Marks]

:D Aaww shucks ! No..seriously Doc, i have to agree with your " learn it first" advice. Now to come up with a custom paint scheme ! I was thinking along the lines of a Tangelo Orange Pearl w/ ghost flames !

Thanks again,

Chris

[Ron Olson]

Seeing how it is "less paint" expect to fill a LOT of pinholes as it is an epoxy'glas hull. It's a very old design, outmoded compared to today's tunnel hulls.
I was just looking at this boat because I owned 2 of them and was more curious than anything: http://www.intlwaters.com/index.php?showtopic=17847

[Doubledog]

The Prather 3.5 OB was my first boat. Loved it. Just Doc said, its a ton of fun, and user friendly as long as the water isn't much more than a ripple. The Prather might not be the fastest and wouldn't be my choice for racing, but its all about what you want to do. If looks & decent speed are you're thing, you've made a good choice.

Ron said the pinholes are terrible. Yes. Be prepared to spend some time doing prep & finish work as those boats are notorious for the pinholes.

Or you can have a look here: http://www.intlwaters.com/index.php?showtopic=17847

That is an excellent deal & one I'd consider just to add to my collection. A lot of us know the seller Watercadet from these forums & his boats are what he says.

Have fun. :)

[Ron Olson]

Jamie, is that the DPI in there? It looks like the site is down right now as Tom was doing some work on it. I had two of those and they were great boats. There is currently another one on eBay for auction in very good shape, http://cgi.ebay.com/3-5-Outboard-Tunnel-Hull-RC-Boat_W0QQitemZ300043546655QQihZ020QQcategoryZ19166 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem .
Watercadet's has a patch on the transom probably covering a minor stress crack, not unusual for these boats in that spot but otherwise a great handling hull and forgiving in the setup.

[C Marks]

Thanks for the info, guys !! Here is the boat i was speaking of. Anything else yall could tell me about it ?? I'm all Ears !!

[C Marks]

How about this ? Is it supposed to be a trim tab or something along those lines ?

[Doubledog]

Yes Ron, the boat he has/had for sale is a DPI hull. I remember running against them & the WOF hulls back in the day. The DPI has some nice lines similar to the Hotshot that I like so much.

C Marks, I've got the same boat on my shelf at home. Its only purpose is to be a queen.

That boat is one of the few 29in. versions Prather made. Or at least I haven't seen that many. The 27in hull was for the 3.5 & then the next hull was the 31in version for the 7.5. Then they came out with this hull thats good for either engine.

It is definitly not a racer with a 3.5 & I'd lean more towards the 7.5 for it.
The 'tabs' aren't really much of anything or at least what I've noticed. Might help prevent blow over?

Be prepared to fill those pin holes. Get some Monkey Butt micro balloons and fill them in.

Again, have fun.

Here's mine: (http://forums.radiocontrolzone.com/showthread.php?t=221815&highlight=3.5)

[C Marks]

Thanks, DoubleDog !! I'm glad to hear you mention the 7.5 cc for this model. I was thinking about the same thing .

The pics of your tunnel look great and the polishing on the motor really sets it off !! Nice job !!

How do you think it would look if i were to cover the cockpit area like the newer models ? Also, exactly what do i use to fill the pinholes before primer ?

Chris

[Watercadet]

Ron, Jamie- Thanks for the nice words and the plug!
Yes there is a patch on the back that Big Daddy Rod did before I got the hull. The transom is as ridged as my WOF boat that JD built.

[Doubledog]

Look for Monkey Butt or any other type of MICRO BALLOONs to fill in the holes.:) There will be a bunch of them.