Based on your clarification i decided to keep the Lead Battery 6Volt for the motor. also because i need the load to keep the boat balance. Thanks Ron and Tica.

Roy thanks concept clear.

Hi the mixture as specified (coutesy Deans Marine) can be ignored once in place. Just a little thin oil on the outer part of the bearings including the motor.

I personally have phased out SLA's as they need charging every month regardless of use or they deteriorate. NiMh batteries you can just leave them until you require them again.
regards
Roy

I agree totally with Tica.

This is a sailing yacht, which would use the engine for moving about while in harbour but most time it would be under sail. When under power of the motor, it would not be very fast, so keep your model accordingly.

I do not put motors in my sailboats. If you do, you are looking at speed control, bigger battery pack, plus, the motor, stuffing box and so forth.

Will you be sailing your model with sail’s furled and vessel under power? Or, are you planning to sail it under way with full sails ?

Elke is a classic vintage kit and I would stay with a 6V Lead cell as suggested in the instructions.

LiPO's is a great invention when one need the power but Elke will not benefit of that.

Carsten sorry
come to my mind a new possible solution. Can i use for my motor Graupner 280 Speed not the regular 6V battery but a Lipo 7,2Volts? Because maybe is better the Lipo. To compensate the different in weight i can add inside some pieces of lead. What do you think? Or is better to stay with 6Volts Lead battery?

Roycv, Thanks for informations, i will follow the shaft grease solution, first i will clean the tube that keep the shaft in order to remove the old grease inside. Later on can i use to refeel the grease/oil the shaft support that has an hole with silicon pipe dedicated to lubricate the shafts? after each run? Thanks Fulvio

Hi if my memory serves the brushes on these motors are simple metal ones. I would think they would act as a fuse on their own with that current flowing. I would not worry too much when using these small motors as they are little work horses.
As has been suggested a small prop but do make sure there is not too much drag from the grease in the prop tube.

I use a mixture of 1 part vaseline, 1 part 3 in 1 oil and 1 part WD40 spray. Mix it up together and suck it into the tube. Then cover the end of the tube as you push in the prop shaft. It has virtually no friction and keeps the water out.

regards
Roy

Doug good morning
Thanks for your considerations, now have got the information that i need. Thanks also for the attachment that i will keep for future. I will back to you if i will have other topics. Thanks and Ciao

Absolutely Carsten👍👍

Hi Fulvio,
According to my archive (see attached pdf) the stall current of a 6V Speed 280 is 6.8 Amps.
Normal operating current is around 1.8A.
So I would fit a 5Amp fuse.
Happy boating,
Buona sera, Doug 😎

IMO the important current draw is the stall current = the max amount of current it will load the ESC with if the propeller is bocked 100%, you could choose some thing like 80% of the stall current, then it will not blow during start up and it will still be protected if the prop snags.

Good Site
Thanks,
Trev

Caster good morning. My actual motor for the ELKE is a Graupner Speed 280.
According the instructions the Max Ampere during the regular rotation will be 2,2 Amperes. In this case I would like to add a fuse on the wire + (red) but between the battery (lead-acid battery at 6v 4000mA/h) and the ESC correct?. How much need to be the fuse? 8 Amperes? 10 Amperes? Thanks

Hi Ron,
I too tend to use what's on hand
Trev

I agree, but when I was just beginning, axle grease was what was available in my garage. It it was good for packing trailer bearings it should be fine in the boat too, but since my buddy, donnieboy, uses marine grease in his builds, I switched over to it now. 😊

The Marine Grease is the best for marine environments salt or fresh.
Trev

I used axle grease, the red type for greasing axle bearings, it was what was in my shop. Later, at the hobby store, they had blue marine grease which I now use for the rudder post and the stuffing box. Sewing machine oil is too light. You want a grease that will block water from entering the vessel, plus lubricate the shaft.

Carsten sorry what I need to use in order to lubricate the shaft? Oil for swing machine? Thanks

Brass is looking good, but if you have the original 2mm shaft the extra weight may cause excessive load = more were and tear on it. IMO stay with the original and enjoy it.

Ahhh now is clear, in this case i keep as parameter just diameter 23-25 mm. I can use also in Brass? or just plastic because brass looking good

Hello Fulvio

The pitch is not that important for Elke, any 3 bladed prop for fishing boat will do the job, and it is seldom that suppliers of cheap plastic props for kits like this, actually is specifying the pitch.

Carsten sorry diameter of Blade 23-25 mm but the PITCH? how to define?

1: My Elke has a small 3 bladed plastic prop with a diameter of 23-25mm.
2: I have used LiFe batteries as substitutes for Lead batteries.
3: Regarding light, I seldom add these to my models, but when I do, I used LED's and add a resistor for each, based on the diode voltage and required mA. You can buy small LED's with wires that are mad to handle a range of voltage. Some of my friends at the club is using them https://evandesigns.com/ (Be careful it's located in the US so TAX may applies when ordering.
4: Always a good idea with a fuse. If you want to be safe you may add one between battery and ESC and ESC and motor.

Br
Carsten

Carster, thanks a lot fantastic you are simple the best. One more question how to check the right blade? because now there is one on assembled on shaft is a 3 plate blade but i do not know if is the correct one maybe i need to change but i do not know what to buy, The motor is the original one 280. I will utilize lead battery 6V. Can i Use Lipo at 7,2 Volts with original motor that run at 6 Volts? maybe for this reason better 6V battery. Moreover i have the ESC and it is ok but if i like to put lights that works at 3V how i can do to reduce the Volts in order to work with lights? One more question do i need a fuse on the line * between the battery and the ESC? Thansk

Hello Fulvio

Check your PM box, I have send a link to the files that Roycv got from me.

Br
Carsten

Mr Roycv, do you have indications or instructions or Photo in order to realize and install lights in and out a ELKE boat? all this questions because i am new in RC boats from 20 years i just build and fly airplanes. I would like to learns all the different things for boats. Thanks from Italy

Some of You maybe has the ELKE original drawings? can i have pictures for the details of the drawings because i have old model but not drawings or manuales.
Thanks Fulvio

Sorry to All, i would like to know the original pitch of blade for ELKE Hf 408, because i need to revamp an old model and i would like to be sure on blade dimensions and pitch. Thanks Fulvio

Hello Tica I see I have not replied to your kind upload of the building instructions. I apologise for my lateness. I managed to print off everything I needed and the printouts are held safely in the kit box.

It is nice to find help when you need it so thanks again.

Best regards

Roy

Hi, I have been reading the beginning of this thread, albeit now 3 years back but most interesting on the motor choice discussion.

My Elke kit which is still as dispatched from Graupner, and during its life it has gained a 280 motor. I mostly have low powered model boats and these days many of the esc's have an overload cut out. So at the bottom end as I am re current consumption I have not fittted a fuse or ever had a burnt out motor.

My son and I many years back now used to run Bobby's with a 540 and a P40 prop which gave them a healthy turn of speed. Any weed encountered was just chewed up! The only near stalls were caused by picking up fishing line.

In my Elke I am planning on using a prop shop 25mm 3 blade one and either a monoperm or super monoperm with a very cheap esc.

However there are many motors available, choice is not easy, and I do have a liking for using re-cycled commercial motors. As an example I have a twin powered HDML using 2 ex-computer tape deck motors (Pitman now 50+ years old now). The boat goes faster than scale speed and there 2 off 9 cell Nicad packs (they were going cheap) and full speed is just 3/4 of an amp (750mA) per motor.

So I very much agree that a good match of prop to motor can make all the difference to time and performance on the water. I also like to be able to turn the prop and feel the (brushed) motor 'cogging'.

Regards

Roy

Hi Doug,
The Hull is looking great.
Do you have anymore updates on this vessel ?

Martin555.

Hi re props you are right about the 2 blade props. I have not looked in that much detail at my Elke kit.
I was basing it on my 2 Billing Mary Ann fishing boats and they come with very small 2 bladed props.
Which I have changed to what must seem more sensible 3 bladed props.

I have a spare Monoperm Super for the Elke build and I have been using the very small esc's that cost < £5 and use the plugs and sockets more often seen on RC receivers.

They are excellent in performance and have the smallest switch I have ever seen to control simulated braking for cars or when off a nice clean and quick reverse. I guess a safe current would be < 4 amps? I have been using them for several years now.

Regards

Roy

Looking a lot better now Doug, when is the expected re-launch, or is your good lady distracting you from your work😉😂?

JB

Thanks JB,
That cutter is indeed very similar to my Billing Gina, which BTW is a Danish boat not German.
Although the Graupner boat seems to be rigged as a crab cutter rather than a 'fish' cutter.
Attached pics show the 'wreck' that I inherited, and finally the current hull state.
Cheers, Doug 😎

This might help Allen, just dragged out my 204 page Graupner catalogue from the late 70s an found the Elke info. Also for Doug, a pic of the Graupner Ton 12 fish cutter for comparison to your Billings. If anyone needs any info on old Graupner kits or fittings (planes or boats) from the catalogue let me know (PM if you want) Just for interests sake, a pic of the Graupner factory in its' heyday in the 70s as well.

JB

Hi Allen,
Long time no hear!🤔
The saga of your boot sale find restoration started, and came to an abrupt halt😮, 3 years ago.
Did you ever get her running to your satisfaction?
If so any pics or vids of her in action available?
Would be very interested to see how she turned out.
Especially as she's very similar to an ancient Billing fish cutter that I inherited from an Aunt around that time and am (slowly🙄) restoring and converting from static to RC.
Cheers, Doug 😎

Hi Roy,
Please correct me if I'm barking up the wrong tree, but aren't the P and X type plastic props two bladers, primarily for racers?
I believe that this model, a 'plodder' needs a 4 blade water-shover of finer pitch😉
My choice would be a Raboesch type 147-xx 25 or 30mm prop, see page 3 of the attached catalogue.
Driven by a 280 or 285 brushed motor on 6V.
Cheers, Doug 😎

Hi all I note that some time ago the pitch of propellers was being discussed. If you are using the P and X type plastic or reinforced ones then the P type is 1.4 times the prop diameter for the pitch. The X type is 1.7 (I think) times the prop diameter.

Regards

Roy

Hi Carsten that is sad, waiting 4 years for her birthday to come around. Now our queen has solved that kind of problem by having an Official birthday as well as her own, MMMM but that makes her 192! She does look well on it!

Roy

Happy to help and you are not the only one searching for these documents, there are a German Forum that is asking for the same documents. So I'll also share it with them.

BTW my mother is younger than me when one only calculate the birthdays, get it ;-)

R
Carsten

Hi Carsten thank you very much it is most appreciated. I have in front of me now all the printed instructions in English.

I had tried many places before but this is the only response that worked.

All the best! By the way in 1969 my son was 2 years older than you!! He likes sailing though so not so bad.

Roy

Hi Roy

I have just scanned them all, not sure how detailed they are as they are form 1969 (wow I was 1 year at that time) and they will be available soon on my sky drive, I'll send you a link for download.

Please note that the German one is with pictures and the Eng. is only text so you have to download both.

Sharing you email => under my profile Picture there are a button "Send PM" click on that and you can send me a Private messaged.

R
Carsten

Hi carsten, the only instructions I have are for the RC installation. If you have details of starting the build and cutting back the plastic of the hull I would like that. Would it be OK to scan them and send it to my email address?
Not sure how to send you my email address.

Thanks

Roy

Hi roycv

Doing some clean-up due to reconstruction of my workspace, and I found the instruction for ELKE.

If you still need a copy just say so and I'll share it with you.

Regards
Carsten

Hi Roy, Mine was a restoration of a wreck I picked up at a bootsale. All the information compiled in the photos I sent was gleaned from online sources. Good Luck with your project Regards Allen

Hi AllenA, thank you for the pictures. Were there build instructions with the kit?
Roy

Hi Roycv, Please click on the following link which will take you to my Amazon file on the Elke. It has plans and instructions etc. Sorry to be slow responding i've been enjoying the caravan while i still can. Regards Allen
https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/WNr8qLMjcY8nIeoa9xx2mA0Bjhfbt3pCbuWjxCIehX5

Hello thanks for the response. I have the plans including the dated RC installation. In the Graupner advert for the boat it does refer to build instructions in 3 languages. I made the earlier Condor and that had a booklet on building the boat.
regards
Roy

Hi Roy

I fare as i know, this kit comes with 3 sheet plan, and no build instruction other than those 3 sheets.

If it's the sheets you are missing I can provide some photo's of them

Regards
Carsten

Hi Allen do you have a copy of the building instructions still? I have the RC ones. Just bought an unstarted Elke Kit, always wanted one, everything there except the build instructions.
If you could scan them that would be great otherwise post them and I will copy and send them back and pay for postage etc.
regards
Roy