Wltoys WL-915 F1 boat issues, fixed?

This boat has a few issues and I had to have a go at fixing these them.
It was leaking so I added extra foam to hopefully stop the water getting in.
I also changed the prop to reduce the cavitation as it was quite bad with the stock prop.
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[@adamwolfy4826]

Awesome video as always! Seems like a money pit to get it running good! It has so much potential but so many issues!

[@rccrazy]

Yeah its a bit strange, well the stability is the main issue but the water leaking in it's annoying😅

[@islandrc-duke1972]

Cool little boat and great information

[@scaleworksRC]

I know this is an older one, but I just ordered this boat. 50% sale! Aside from it taking on water, it looks like a pretty well made little boat that can be upgraded. I'm going to try marine tape around the hatch on the first go.. hopefully that prevents any water from getting in. Give it a go if you still have yours!

[@rccrazy]

Yeah sweet a fun little boat👌 I don't have mine anymore but I did attempt to tape the canopy when i had it, it didn't really work because of the way the hatch is designed and it goes kind of under the hull aswell. You may find a solution though🤞

[@scaleworksRC]

@@rccrazy Yeah I just saw that and was like "crap.. that's probably the flaw right there" but yeah I have another idea. Some flexible putty along the seam might do it. Or even just some good old marine grease. Cheers! ✌

[@rccrazy]

Yes pretty much why I sold mine😅 Putty I never thought of but I thought of grease, I didn't try it because I thought it would just be too messy. Hope you work something out👍

[@billy3650]

Good video. Us plumbers use a clear waterproof grease that's waterproof and easily removable.

[@rccrazy]

Yeah someone mentioned Vaseline witch I actually though of myself. To be honest I haven't had it out since that vid but mainly because of the instability, don't particularly like the way it drives but I'm probably doing something wrong😅 Thanks mate👍

[@evanthom586]

Check the water cooling tube is not disconnected at the outlet behind the servo

[@rccrazy]

The water cooling was fine, all secured properly yes.

[@evanthom586]

I got one and found water getting forced in through the join between the strut and tube and coming up the stuffing tube and flicking into the hull, put some silicone around the join and put a flattened bead in the groove on the hatch. Seems to be heaps better.

[@rccrazy]

I actually sold mine some months ago but for anyone else that has one that is great advice👌

[@69jonhill]

Great vid, mate. I'll give this boat a wide berth.

[@rccrazy]

Thanks heaps mate👍 Actually forgot I used to have this boat😅

[@daniel-is6zf]

I was going to put a few prongs with tpu on the top edge so when I'm trying to take a wide turn I might get a bit more grab... Might backfire but I'm hoping I might be able to use this in a little tighter of an area as that's what's available too me

[@rccrazy]

Yes I adapted a blade to my hydro boat because it lacked steering one way and it definitely gave me sharper steering but only at certain angles, make your adjustable if possible to get different angles👌

[@daniel-is6zf]

@@rccrazy ok glad to hear I wasn't the only one thinking this and cheers for the input 😁👍... I'm going to try and find some time in the next few days to do that I'll put them up on thingiverse or something if its of any use to you 😁👍.. need to sort out the leakage rusted parts and a swollen battery.. long story. But pretty pissed at the one of the lhs's as I took it back once already and was assured it would be fine... Lasted a minute before it locked up battery swelled more and yeh... Pure fluke I was already heading towards the bank 😮‍💨 started to flood

[@rccrazy]

Yes mine had a few rusty screws and stuff after a while😅 Puffy batteries can sometimes be ok but yes most of the time it is sign's of stress. Even if someone says it's ok it always pays to keep an eye on it👌 Good luck with the steering parts😉

[@daniel-is6zf]

Dude I'm having no luck lol . I sealed the outside with marine sealant around everywhere I could find outside .filled the top channel tried to make that seal a bit better haha.. goes great for about 30 seconds it's hell bent on sinking if I remotely stop haah just lose control of the servo 😆 so no go on those control fins yet

[@rccrazy]

Oh no good🫤 Yes that's one of the reasons I sold mine, the F1 style hulls never seem to work properly for me. I love the Hydroplane style boats though, twin hull at the front and a flat single hull at the rear, boat drifting🤪

[@timallen6035]

That is pretty nuts how it keeps filling up with water and it's lack of stability. It does seem to sound a little different with the different prop.

[@rccrazy]

Yeah I think it just one of those products. I don't want to call it a lemon but it's not far off🤭 It's streamline going straight so I could use it for a speed run boat maybe😯

[@barrysrcdump3557]

I found that the strut was too long, putting the prop too far into the water. I shortened mine by 5mm, so the centreline of the prop is level with the bottom of the sponsons. That made a huge difference to the cavitation and motor revs. You need to bend the stuffing tube so it's level again.

[@rccrazy]

Wow! You know your stuff when it comes to boats, I don't really understand most of what you said🤦 so sorry! Maybe I should just stick to cars😅

[@barrysrcdump3557]

@@rccrazy 😂 That's ok, I'm nearly 61 and raced nitro boats for years. The skeg is the bit with the tube that holds the propshaft. If you unscrew the fake outboard motor, there's two screws holding it on. If you cut the big flange off and make it 5mm shorter, it will raise the propeller. Only the bottom blade should be in the water when it's running, that's called surface drive. As it's all too low, the other blade scoops air down where there should only be water. This also increases the drag and rpm. After you've done it, you'll need to bend the outer casing of the drive shaft a bit, so it's parallel with the hull again. It's very thin, so just do a little bit at a time or you'll put a kink in it. I've fully race prepped mine but just this mod, with the stock prop, took it from 28 to 34mph. I hope that helps. 🤝

[@rccrazy]

Thank you a heap for that explanation👌 The surface drive makes sense, would that be because the prop is just moving the water away from the next blade causing an air pocket therefore creating cavitation? If only the lowest blade is hitting then there is always a fresh patch of undisturbed water for the next blade to push, is that close?🤔

[@barrysrcdump3557]

@@rccrazy The first bit... not quite. The second bit.... spot on. The other type is FS (fully submerged) prop, like scale boats. The way it's set up as stock, is halfway between the two. 👌

[@rccrazy]

Ok sweet👌 I'll have a play around with it and see how it goes. Thanks👍

[@roadstar499]

Seal stuffing tube...use good and plenty of grease on flex drive....place boat in sink to see where water is entering..dry boat than add sealer to those areas..sometimes finding leaks can be a pain,but it worth it..if leak is just entering lid add silicone using your finger...all boats vary a bit..theres not just one way to fix all..

[@rccrazy]

I have not had this boat for quite a while now but thank you! Good info for anyone needing it👌

[@roadstar499]

@@rccrazy yes,many can learn from comments of videos..i know i have on many over the years..

[@rccrazy]

Yes I have also! Good info is never not needed if you know what I mean😁

[@dimamariankov1929]

I will gonna upgrade the outrunner in to 3700kv on the wl 915

[@daniel-is6zf]

Actually lol water watching that might be a bad idea 🤣

[@gregorydunn9292]

I was looking closely in the video, did you have the hull drain plug in? It looks like no but it’s hard to see. I don’t have water issues with mine.

[@rccrazy]

Yes half way through the test I noticed the water was above the plug hole, I removed it so it would drain as it was driving from the force, it seemed to work ok but no not ideal. I think a thicker foam seal would help.

[@schleimigerhelmling6763]

Hi. Why do you not use tape? What means the C by the Lipo. Is 75c not to much, can it damege the motor? Greetings Ben.

[@rccrazy]

Tape would not seal it because of the shape at the front, stretchy/flexibility tape may work but I'm still not sure. The C rating is basically how fast the power can be pulled from the batteries, technically a higher C rated lipo will be slightly faster or have more punch but will go flat a little quicker.

[@dimamariankov1929]

next video idea: Try the boat with 3s 2200mah 25c (:

[@rccrazy]

I was running a 75c 3s in this video, 25c would technically be slower. I sold it possibly 2 years ago.

[@garethlee1644]

I think the water is coming in from the hull its self where its joined from the factory ,its the same scenario with the ft009

[@rccrazy]

Yeah I was going to try and re-seal it but I'm not sure it would be worth the hassle. The instability was what made me not bother about fixing it😕 Maybe try one day.

[@RC-gj7kq]

Hi buddy. U think stock propeller is better? New propeller I saw slow fast I think to buy this model. All boats water flow in. I solve the problem in mi boat for water flow in with plastelin. Try it. Is not nice but work good

[@rccrazy]

Hey mate👍 The stock prop is better than the one I tried but there is better props on the market definitely. On this boat the water is getting in under the canopy and it can't be sealed properly with tape. Not sure how to fix it, it's a factory molding or design issue🤔

[@RC-gj7kq]

@@rccrazy what u recomend me for buy Rc boat?? Any sugestión???

[@rccrazy]

Do you mean what rc boat would I recommend? I have only had 3 or 4 boats but not great ones and small so I'm not sure🤔

[@RC-gj7kq]

@@rccrazy ok. No problem Saul. Maybe I will buy this one. Is cheap and if is not work not lose to much money. Thanks

[@rccrazy]

Yeah sorry mate, I'll do a bit of work on mine and see what I can do to fix the leaking. It's warm in Melbourne now so I'll take them out and do some filming soon👍

[@ejb2184]

Yours looks faster than mine is it stock

[@rccrazy]

I'm probably just using a better or higher C rated lipo if you only use the stock lipo

[@im2tall1]

you don't have the drain plug in ! That's why it's full of water!! SMH

[@rccrazy]

I actually took it out the last few minutes in hopes that it would drain itself as the water is being forced to the rear of the hull anyway It did seem like a little less water stayed in the boat, couldn't be sure though.

[@olsoutdoors1757]

How long does your stock battery last

[@rccrazy]

I haven't had this boat for quite a while but if I remember correctly it was around 12-15mins depending on how much full throttle you use, if you just cruise you could probably get like 25mins

[@olsoutdoors1757]

@@rccrazy mine only seems to last 3 minutes going full speed and it’s brand new

[@rccrazy]

Oh no that's not quite right🤔 Maybe you got a bad battery, it happened with these cheap batteries.

[@billcowens3408]

Put Vaseline on the seal

[@rccrazy]

I was going to try something like that I just never got around to it. Thanks👍

[@shhs1791]

You didn't do anything ... !! The speedboat is filling with water again .. !! The speedboat is not unstable ... but you don't know how to drive ... and that is the point that people train so they can race ... The speedboat has enough power, and is very interesting to drive directly from the package ....

[@rccrazy]

Thanks for your opinion/ personal experience👍 No I didn't really do much in the way of filling with water, not sure how to fix it, tape won't really work! And from experience this boat is the most unstable twin hull boats iv owned, I had a true outboard f1 boat about 12 years ago and I could hold it flat around any corner, it topped about 90kph. But I definitely do not claim to be a good boat pilot by any means!

[@andrewmcintyre336]

Looks like your missing drain plug

[@andrewmcintyre336]

Mine stays bone dry

[@rccrazy]

I have not had this boat for some time now but in this video I tried all sorts of stuff to prevent it from filling up including deliberately removing the plug so as the boat was moving forward the water could drain due the G force, it did work somewhat but as soon as it stopped the water would cascade back in. Just a bad molding on the canopy I think as it would not butt up against the hull lip without tape but tape didn't work due to the bottom latch/canopy design😅🤦 Many people have had this issue with this particular boat, you must have got a good molded canopy👌

[@andrewmcintyre336]

Ah. Mine has 5 locking tabs in total. It has 2 extra ones mid hull. I normally tape my boats however it is impossible to tape this one lol. Mine is the XK version. If that makes any difference. It's still WL toys allegedly. My dog loves chasing it down the beach. I will add that I had to drill out collet to 3.2 mm so I could put flex cable back in. I have no idea how they got it in originally. Flex is larger than 3mm. Crazy about water. Maybe buy a another. They're crazy cheap right now. 😊