What can I do to improve engine/boat performance on this boat?
I'm new at this and looking for a quick hop-up.
I understand the technology on this boat is a little old, but I think some simple mods would be a learning experience.
This boat was given to me with NO info.

First: What is the motor?
Second: Will a bigger carb get the R's up?
Third: Is the out-drive holding it back?

I think that might be an old Equalizer hull? Not 100% certain though. The engine is hard to see , but looks like a modified Homelite. The drive looks like an Octura setup...strudder possibly. Hard to really see in the picture posted.

Drive should not be holding it back really, unless it's a rudder inline with the prop...in most cases having the rudder to the right of the prop (about 2.5" ) yields better overall performance for racing. The hull will probably not like running faster than mid-high 40s unless you do extensive mods to the bottom.

For mods on the homelites, see this site to get you started: testfly.0catch.com/homelite/homelitemain.html

Thanks Marc,

My question should have been placed in "General".
After a little research you are correct, it is a Homelite.

It runs well, very dependable. I considered a larger carb, but it would probably blow the thing up!

I should keep this "daily driver" like it is and build a different boat a little more up-to-date, Zenoah and all. I have a Pro-Boat hydro with a "Z" that runs rings around it.

Looks like it's probably been modded already with the water jacket and all. The Walbro 167 (believe it was a WA-167) used to be the favorites on the modded Homelites. It looks like that may well be what is already on their though. You don't want to go to bigger bore than the 167...it simply will not help those motors and will kill low-end throttle response. I agree with you, keep it for play if it runs good. :drinks:

At this point within the hobby we have such GREAT props that I would spend your money there.

An ABC 2714 or 2716 two blade will indeed work better

I like a x670 or x472 octura your pipe looks a little short have you tried pulling it back?Most pipes like that will slide on the header.

dump the alum band pipe, get a steel pipe. true the bottom of the hull, install turn fin, try a set of trim tabs, move the rudder farther back from transom

That is either an Equalizer or when Boatman Hobbies sold them they were called an Eliminator.They were sold in two lengths a 47" and a 52".The Equalizers had a bad hook in them that was supposed to be fixed when Boatman got the molds,but when another guy bought the molds he had to do alot of work.I have the last 52"Eliminator built by him and then he sold the molds to another guy who hasn't done anything with them yet.Boatman sold most of the RTR hulls with the Homelite in them.I haven't finished mine yet,but will probably run a stock Zen 260 in it as the guy who built it said a modded one is too much for it.Jim on JRCBD ran his 52" with a modded homelite and got over 50 mph with it,then switched it to a Sikk.The green boat is how it looked when I got it but it has been stripped and is ready for new paint someday.

www.modelgasboats.com/media/ku...mages/boat1.jpg[/img] Yes I have the 52' Eliminator from Boatman Hobbies. I lost my hatch and tried the guy in Minnesota that bought out Boatman but he never came through on making me another one. Mine runs well and is fast. It originally came with the Zen 260 but I am just now putting in a Sikk. Ridgerunner you dont have a spare cowl/hatch do ya?? Tom

Tom,I don't have an extra hatch,but I have an extra deck,which I'm looking for a hull bottom to put it on.I tried that guy to but he isn't doing anything with the boats yet.I may have to use a contour gauge to get the shape of the hull and build one out of wood and put the fiberglass deck on it.There was a guy who was making a 47" version of the Eliminator and the hatch is the same size as the 52".I saw it on JRCBD in the manufacturer section I believe and the site was www.comancherc.com,but doesn't come up anymore.Maybe you could see if anyone knows who the guy is.Maybe you could make one out of fiberglass making a foam mold or even wood and come close to the shape.Here's a pic of the hatch.