I got the boat bug this summer with a ProBoat nitro shockwave...got a big lake at my doorstep and it handles the average water conditions fine. In my estimation...it's fast....also buggy. Burnt out two drive shafts, one radio in three full fuel tank runs. Seems they've discontinued the boat....wonder why. Never had the replacement drives or radio in stock...still waiting past 2 months for a radio. Gonna drive the wheels off of it ,it seems.....untill it sinks...not alot of physical room for modifications and componant upgrades in a 36 incher..
To small for me...Not much room to modify anything either. Gonna abandon nitro...that stuffs for planes anyways <g>(have a 60 float plane on the table almost finished)....die hard mentality
iI've got a Zippkits Easy Vee kit sitting next to me at the moment. still in the box...instruction manual in my lap. My solution to nitro boats <g> Built alot of planes in my life...only two non power boats. Gonna go for the meat.
I'm a mechanic of sorts. Have been warranty Homelite, Echo, Weedeater...(on and on) warranty service guy. (background )
I've a non-clutch Homelite trimmer motor in the garage (free)<I hate Homelite recoils> On picking up a mower part at my local power mower shop today, I see a clutched Echo trimmer is being sold for $140 (great recoils ). I've got two Weedeater motors also...can't see any way to utilize thier recoil system for boat use. I do see it's apparent that Zenoha is the motor off choice for the majority of boaters. Prepared to spend my mad money if it's spent wisely. (hate afterthought mistakes and regrets)
Questions:
>direct drives vs clutched motors (is there a performance issue here)
>air cooled vs watercooled (how damaging is the heat from air cooled to the average ply/glass boat structure)
>can water cooled motors, have the hatch inclosed completley to avoid water infiltration.
>Radios...what is the allowed and / or preferred band for boats.....AM/ FM
I'm on a lake thats 3/4 of a mile long...I know I won't be going out farther than I can see what the boat is doing...but I don't think a tinker toy radio is in order either.
Lots of questions I know.
Thanks for any feedback......Oh....I buy alot of things on the net...Zippkits was a great expereince! To bad they aren't a full line distributer for everything you need <g>................like Proboat flex drives <g> hahahahha

wow that's a mouth full, welcome aboard. I just got into boats this year myself and just from what I've seen if you can afford it go with a zen. Yes you can commpletely enclose the hull as long as you provide some air vents in and out so the motor can breath. That being said you will want a water cooled exaust to keep temps. down abit. as for the radio I am using a Futaba 2pl am with no problems don't know the freq at the moment but if you're gonna order one just get one for surface use. On the subject of radio's, if you do go with a weedy type motor be sure to get a resister type plug to help with interferance. Now onto the drive if the boat is going to be used for sport and not racing I would go with a clutch,It's alot easier to manuver and launch but you will need a water pump to keep the motor cool when sitting( if water cooled and cooled exaust). I used Warehouse hobbies for all of my running gear they have great customer service and the quality is good too.