Propwalk, aka paddlewheel effect. When I was a powerboat instructor in the Sea Cadets I used to demonstrate how propwalk could be used to advantage when manouvering in to a berth in a Champ or a Viking.

Hi Lew

Thanks for you're insight as I had forgotten about how it would affect the being able to turn on the spot handling I have just now. I'd never manage that with both props turning the same way. I mainly run on one prop as it is just now. Both get used for my last run back to the pond docks though with my oversized rudders I get very good low speed handling with the one prop. Nice to have the other as back up

Regards
Scott

I understand what you're saying about the gearboxes Etc. I get into this with my other RC stuff (armor, other vehicles).

However, with the boats I try working out solutions that will make the boat perform much better. This is why I use the multiple motor controls.

With a single control for multiple motors it is harder to maneuver around obstacles. Individual controls allow for some accurate maneuvering at a decent speed. This more accurately replicates movement of a real boat as I have yet to see a real boat using one motor to control two propellers. (I'm not saying they don't exist, just that I have never seen one.) Just my opinion.

Lew

Hi Lew

My current project has two motors tow secs for differential control if needed though I have something for more complex setups. I don't like the norm of a simple setup 🙈. I love the look of gearbox's and pulleys when you get the setup just right. My RC helicopters are an example as after every flight I take all the head components and gears to bits and service.

Just find something very enjoyable about it all rather than bringing my boat home for a quick clean then sitting in shelf. I'm a tinkerer and addicted to it. Many years ago I had two Graupner gearboxes connected via a prop shaft and a motor at an odd angle just for the enjoyment of finding ways to try get it to run smoothly 😅

Regards
Scott

All of my boats uses one motor per one shaft/prop. I have several two motor boats, one three motor boat and one four motor boat.

The two motor/shaft/prop boats use two ESCs for independent control. (The current price for a Hobbywing 1060 ESC is about $24 (USD). As was said previously, you get much better control with this configuration.

For my three motor/shaft/prop boat I use two ESCs, driving the outer motors and the middle motor is turned on and off by a servo activated switch for a single speed forward (I don't see a use for the middle motor to go in reverse).

My four motor/shaft/prop boat (photo) is basically the same as the three motor configuration. Two ESCs, drive the outer motors and the middle motors are on a servo activated switch for a single speed forward.

I don't have any gears, belts, etc., only direct drives. The less you have between the motor and the shaft the less chance of anything slipping or breaking.

Lew

As Nick says you could put an idler pully in the revers the direction of one of the props, but it makes for a noisy set up the belt drives I used do have an idler pully available, check out the word document also the centre distance calculator is useful

If you were to use 2 motors that are independently controlled it would make fine tuning for straight going very easy using the adjustments on the receiver (not sure what these adjustments are called) and it would make docking and turning in a sharp small circle very easy. I am not sure why you would need 2 rudders.

You just need an idler to reverse the direction of one shaft. I have loads of gt3 belt, I will put some in with your radomes...

That is literally what I'd like minus mine being a brushed setup. Where did you find those pulleys then belts from?

I currently have a twin prop setup and twin rudder. Mine both turn the same way though she doesn't have a turning effect and both rudders are at neutral trim. When using one motor just now she tracks almost straight as well.

Would the shape of my hull have a lot to do with this?

Beware of driving two props with one motor I have tried this with toothed belts and it does turn 2 props however a 2 prop set up require the props to rotate in opposite direction otherwise your boat will have a permanent turning effect on a straight rudder I eventually went for twin motors make your way through the blog for more information.

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