How much does it cost and can you build a cruiser for 500 or less

is there any way you can give me a rough estimate of the costs?

 

It is hard to estimate how much it would cost to build a Cruiser as the choice of equipment varies.

If you build it with a club there are many things they already have that you buy what you need rather than a minimum order elsewhere. Epoxy, small wood pieces, etc.

If you build on your own it can be more expensive depending on what you buy.

So a quick run down:

Today's Cruiser
Hull up to 150
Wood decks 50
Guns - 80
hose /fitting 20
bottle 55
regulator 55
motors 10
esc 30
solenoids 2x55 (I only use recommend KIP)
firing boards 2 x 25
pump relay 5
Pump 30
batteries (4.5ah nimh) 30 each need at least 4
charger 30 - 50
Radio like we use 140
Receiver 30
waterproof rudder servo 45


So you are looking at about $1050 approx.

You can save a little money using poppets you could shave off maybe 110 but would have to add servos and poppets.

If you build it to drive around only you can drop all the air parts but I would keep the pump just in case.

That is based on the products that all the guys in Texas use right now.

If you use the cheapest of cheap products then you might get the price down another 200.. but you get what you pay for.

Sometimes you can get a good deal on a used ship but they usually need a TON of work to be viable.

Hope this helps you out.

Johnny

 

Ah ok, what i meant with the single gun is it only has one installed, and id put another in a different place later. but I heard about strike models and saw that they had a few "rookie" kits for about 600

 

I fully agree here, especially for a new captain. Hobbyking can be your best friend on a number of fronts, one of them being well featured, affordable radios.

If you have some tools and are handy, you can scratch build a hull and save quite a chunk of money too. The cost of all the supplies to build a wood hull should fall in the $75-ish range, and that would probably leave some leftover supplies for the next hull.... and yes, just ask Tuggy.... there is ALWAYS a next hull.. ...

 

I have access to some basic tools (like id probably be hand sanding pieces and hand cutting them) as for building one, its what id prefer. The radios i understand as being a big principle (it holds the same in RC planes).

 

I wouldn't suggest the kit... we usually don't use any of the hardware in the kits as they don't do the job as well as other things. You can make your own drive train cheaply, easy to make rudders, we can show you, easy to make everything and its less expensive. In addition to that I know Doug and myself keep scrap boxes which rookies can raid for small pieces of brass, wood, metal, plastic in the construction of their kit.

You DO need turrets at a minimum which are hard to make on your own but most else.. a few pieces of scrap wood is all you need.

As far as the hobby king radios.. as others have said some like them others don't. The one thing for you to consider in the quest to save money... there is NO ONE in Texas runs a hobby king radio except perhaps in big gun. If you have a problem... there will be no expert at the local battles to help you OR have a spare ANYTHING to loan you in the event of a failure. If you travel much further like Georgia of Florida (15-16HRS from you) to battle then you would find folks that are using the equipment they are recommending and could help you 0n-site.

The guys in Texas use mostly Spektrum (old DX6, DX6i) and a couple futaba or other. AND we already had an issue with a rookie with a Futaba radio... needing a battery pack... nobody else had any batteries for him to use, but thankfully I had one but not two. When that battery ran out it was the end of the day for him as the used NICAD pack would not hold a charge. I like the DX6i as it can use cheap alkaline... I don't have to worry about charging it.. just throw in some new cells I buy at Walmart. Another rookie had a radio that none of the Texas guys new how to program or work with but thankfully Bob from Minnesota attended the event (because it was a regional.. a travel event) and was able to loan him a SPARE receiver for the weekend. At a local battle .. we wouldn't have been able to figure it out until he bought the right receiver.

Nearly everyone in Texas uses Kip Solenoids.. they cost more but will last you the life of the hobby, however you may need to replace O-rings and plungers from time to time.

I cant tell you enough about the VALUE of using the same equipment as the battlers in your immediate area. If you use the same connectors, chargers, batteries, radios, gun systems.. there will always be somebody with a part to loan you in the event of an emergency. Most new guys wont spend a bunch of money for spare parts.. and spares are a BIG part of our hobby.

So for me... I say decide what you want to do and then get with the local group for selection and building assistance.. you wont be the first Captain on a budget we have met and we are all ready and waiting to help out the next new recruit and get them on the water.... so we can shoot them.

IF you want to do Fast Gun in Texas.. we are your local group.. www.texasnavalbrigade.com - and the guys in Houston are most set up to help you out.
If you want to do big gun then you would have to travel to the Dallas area (Kaufman) for everything.

Trust me .. come out to Rosenberg in July and you will have a good time.

 

On the radio, make sure it has servo endpoint adjustments on the radio. Many of the low cost options do not and require a separate PC to make these adjustments. End point adjustment allows you to easily set your max speed (very important in all rule sets).

 

That sounds awesome. Do you mind sharing the breakdown? What parts are made by the builder vs. purchased? Perhaps we need to re-think this a bit if we can build ships for this cost.

 

A ready-to-battle Yamato with a ten year supply of bb's and co2, charged battery's, and a gang of roadies to launch and retrieve the beast, all for three easy payments of $39.99?

 

As some of the commenters said, it's best to use the same materials as others locally, so there is commonality of spares. That being said, I really like the "battling kit" option you've got for some ships. Makes it much easier for people new to the hobby to see what all is needed, and for those who aren't near other battlers, gives a good starting point.

One suggestion would be to make the website kits more... customizable. Have multiple-choice dropdowns for pump, esc, gun options, etc. Perhaps give a brushless option for motors & esc's. You could default to basic with upgradable options for all that.

 

wow you guys are EXTREMELY helpful, i didn't know that this place was very active.