• Never operate your R/C boat while standing in the water.
• Never operate your R/C boat in the presence of swimmers.
• Always use a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when boarding
and operating your retrieval craft, i.e. Jon boat or duck boat.
NOTE: Because of the sharp running hardware included with
this R/C boat, we do not recommend a rubber blow up raft.
• R/C boat running hardware is very sharp. Be very careful
when working on and around the metal parts.
• While the motor is running pay close attention to the
propeller. Do not come in contact with the propeller at any
time the engine is running or serious injury will result.
• AquaCraft products are to be used by ages 14 and over.
™
CAUTION: The performance of this RC boat is not for the faint of heart! Out of the box speeds
can reach 40 MPH. Your full attention must be maintained while operating this product.
AquaCraft will warrant your UL-1 Superior for 90 days after
the purchase from defects in materials or workmanship of
original manufacture. AquaCraft, at their option, will repair or
replace at no charge, the incorrectly made part. This warranty
does not cover damage caused by crash, abuse, misuse,
alteration or accident. To return your boat for repairs you need
to provide proof of purchase. Your store receipt or product
invoice will suffi ce. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PURCHASER
BE ENTITLED TO ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER RESULTING
FROM THE USE, MISUSE OR INABILITY TO USE THE
PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT. This
warranty gives you specifi c legal rights and you may also have
other rights, which vary from state to state. (Outside USA and
Canada, contact local importer for warranty information.)
Hobby Services
3002 N. Apollo Drive, Suite 1
Champaign, Illinois 61822
Attn: Service Department
Phone: (217) 398-0007
9:00 am - 5:00 pm Central Time M-F
E-mail: hobbyservices@hobbico.com
STANDARD REPAIR SERVICE
After the 90-day warranty has run out, you can still have your
UL-1 Superior repaired for a service fee by the experts at
AquaCraft.To speed up the repair process, please follow
these four simple steps:
Important Note: For standard repair service you must
specify whether you wish the charges to be billed COD or
if you wish to be notifi ed of the charges so you can send a
check.
1. Please return the ENTIRE system, boat and radio.
2. Make sure batteries are removed from the transmitter.
3. Send written instructions which include a list of all items
returned, a THOROUGH explanation of the problem or
problems of the service needed. Be sure to include your
return address and daytime phone number. If you have
access to e-mail please provide us with your e-mail
address to help speed communication.
4. Send to the address above.
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INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the AquaCraft™ UL-1 Superior!
We want the time you spend with your new R/C boat to be
fun and successful so please fully read the manual. If for
any reason you think this R/C model is not for you, return it
to your local hobby dealer immediately. Your hobby dealer
cannot accept returns on any model after final assembly or
after your boat has been operated.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• Never, ever, attempt to swim after a stalled R/C boat.
Do not get in the water for any reason to retrieve your
boat. To aid you in retrieving a stalled R/C boat, set up a
fi shing reel with a tennis ball tied to the end of the line.
Or better yet, get yourself a small boat so you can row
out and pick up your R/C boat. Remember to use a PFD
any time you enter your retrieval craft.
• AquaCraft products are to be used by ages 14 and over.
• Do not touch the propeller anytime the motor is spinning.
Pay equally close attention to items such as loose clothing,
shirtsleeves, ties, scarves, long hair or anything that may
become entangled in the spinning prop. If your fingers,
hands, etc. come in contact with the spinning propeller, you
may be severely injured.
• The speed and mass of this boat can inflict property damage
and severe personal injury if a collision occurs. Never run this
boat in the presence of swimmers or where the possibility of
collision with people or property exists.
• This boat is controlled by radio signals, which are susceptible
to possible interference.
• If your UL-1 should happen to stall, water currents will slowly
carry it to shore. The bad news is that the boat could be
carried to the opposite shore. When surveying areas to run
your model, keep variables in mind such as wind direction,
size of the lake, etc. It is not advisable to run R/C boats on
any free-flowing bodies of water such as creeks or rivers.
• Realistic looks and modern UL (Unlimited Light)
style details.
• Lightweight painted fi berglass and ABS construction.
• Tactic 2.4GHz radio system.
• New AquaCraft 36-56-2030KV 6 pole motor.
• 60AMP water cooled ESC with 12 Volt stutter bump warning
system and 11.6volt battery cut off.
• Center “drop tub” interior.
• Direct water contact aluminum motor cooling jacket.
• Special GrimRacer 2mm thick aluminum turn fi n.
• Black anodized aluminum hardware.
• FE Racing inspired waterproof tape down hatch system.
• Magnetic cowl locking system.
• Break away vertical fi ns.
• Heavy duty steering pushrod.
MANUAL SPECIFICATION AND
DESCRIPTION CHANGES
All pictures, descriptions, and specifi cations found in this
instruction manual are subject to change without notice.
AquaCraft maintains no responsibility for inadvertent errors
in this manual.
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ITEMS NEEDED TO COMPLETE
YOUR UL-1 SUPERIOR
• GPMP0622 Great Planes® ElectriFly™ LiPo 7.4V
3200mAh 20C Power
• GPMM3152 Great Planes ElectriFly Triton
Computer Charger
• GPMM3160 Great Planes ElectriFly Equinox™ LiPo Cell
Balancer 1-5
• AQUB9514 AquaCraft GrimRacer Pro Radio Box Tape
• AQUB9500 AquaCraft GrimRacer Speed Grease
• Four “AA” Batteries (Transmitter)
™
Jr DC
OPTIONAL ITEMS
NOTE: Your UL-1 Superior requires the batteries be less
than 6" [155mm] long. Keep this in mind as you shop for
batteries for your UL-1.
• GPMM3015 Great Planes PolyCharge™ 4 DC
4 Output LiPo Charger
• GPMM3153 Great Planes Electrifl y Triton2™ DC
Computer Charger
HOW TO SELECT THE
PROPER BATTERY
One of the very special features of this model boat is its
ability to properly and safely use the latest in LiPo battery
technology. Your boat will be lighter, faster and handle better
using this style of battery. If you do choose to use NiMH
battery packs in your UL-1 Superior you will experience a
decrease in overall performance.
We have up to 64 usable amps average for the duration of
our run. Most LiPo batteries will allow the amps (current) to
spike above this rating but only for very short periods of time.
DO NOT USE A BATTERY PACK THAT CAN NOT DELIVER
THE MINIMUM REQUIRED AMPERAGE.
Also note that the ESC in your UL-1 is rated at 60AMPs.
This is ULTIMATELY the AMP rating you DO NOT want to
exceed regardless of the current rating of the packs. The
ESC will handle amperage spikes up in the 70amp range but
if operated continually at or above the recommended rating
you will damage the ESC. Your UL-1 Superior Hydroplane
(in stock confi guration) safely draws under the ESC current
rating. With higher pitch or oversize propellers your motor
and batteries can surpass the rating of the ESC and the ESC
can be damaged. We do not recommend using more than
18 volts in your UL-1 Superior.
STORAGE AND SAFETY REGARDING LIPOS:
It’s a good idea to charge and store LiPo batteries in a
safe area or container. NEVER leave your LiPo batteries
unattended while charging. A metal surplus ammo box
makes a great storage and charge container. A LiPo sack
also works quite well.
If you have a bad crash and the battery has seen a hard
impact, set it on the ground and let it sit for 20 minutes before
charging it and placing it back in your safe storage container.
For best performance and safety, never discharge your LiPos
to below 2.9V per cell. Always use a balancer when charging
and store your packs fully charged.
If your LiPos sit charged for a long time you might fi nd that
running this charge out can cause the stutter warning system
to kick in during the fi rst minute or so of the run. It’s a good
idea to cycle your batteries the day before to reach maximum
power from the batteries.
WARNING: Please read and heed all warning information
that comes with your LiPo batteries.
Your UL-1 is designed to use two 7.4V LiPo packs. A 7.4 volt
LiPo battery pack is typically called a 2S pack, 2S meaning
two cells in series. Our UL-1 is designed to use two 2S packs.
The ESC connects the two 2S packs into a total of 4S or four
(4) cells in series for a total voltage supply of 14.8V.
IMPORTANT: You are going to need to purchase batteries
that will be able to supply at least 60 amps average. If you
multiply the mAh (capacity) of the battery by the C (current)
rating you can determine the duration amperage the battery.
It’s easy. Here’s how. Lets do a sample calculation based on
the Great Planes Electrifl y 7.4V 3200mah 20C LiPo battery
(GPMP0622). 3200mAh is really 3.2 milliamps hour (mAh)
so, 3.2 x 20 (20 is our C rating on the pack) = 64 amps.
EXTRA SUPPLIES
As with any hobby, it is a good idea to assemble a useful collection
of tools and accessories to bring along when you head to the
pond. Here are some items you will want to keep handy.
• Extra “AA” Batteries • Rubber boots
• Spare prop • Paper Towels
• Hobby knife • Spray-On Cleaner
• Metric Allen Key • Sunglasses
• Metric nut drivers • Sun block
• Servo tape • Folding table
• Extra hook and loop • Lawn chair
• First-Aid kit • Canopy or shelter
• Standard and phillips head screwdrivers
• WD-40 or other water displacing fluid
• Cooler with plenty of ice and water
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COOLING CHECK
Check the cooling system to make sure water can fl ow
through it. You can do this by running water through the
cooling system to check for leaks. It is not uncommon to get a small amount of water in your boat during a run. The
stuffi ng tube typically allows a small amount of water to enter
the boat. If you are fi nding larger amounts of water in the boat
than normal, make sure to re-check the cooling system.
FINAL ASSEMBLY
3. Install the provided hook and loop onto your LiPo batteries.
1. Slide the cover off the bottom of the transmitter.
2. Install the batteries following the diagram in the bottom of
1. Turn on the transmitter, taking note that the power light is
illuminated on the transmitter.
2. Stand clear of the propeller and plug each of the main
power batteries into the ESC.
3. At this time you will hear one beep. To arm the ESC
squeeze the throttle trigger and hold until you hear one more
beep. Release the throttle trigger and you will hear three
more. You boat is now ready to operate.
Review:
Plug in the packs ➙ One (1) beep
Squeeze the trigger and hold ➙ One (1) beep
Release the trigger ➙ Three (3) beeps
Ready to operate
LAUNCHING THE UL-1
4. Now is a good time to check the rotation of the prop. Very
quickly jab the throttle trigger and check the rotation direction of
the motor. It should spin the propeller counterclockwise. If the
motor spins the wrong way, simply switch any two of the three
wires between the motor and ESC. WARNING: DO NOT hold
the throttle down for more than one or two seconds to check
the motor direction or you might risk damaging the motor.
5. Tape the cowl in place carefully, making sure you press it
securely down. Make sure you use a good quality hatch tape
like GrimRacer Pro Radio Box Tape. Other radio box tapes
can leave sticky adhesive that can be hard to remove.
6. Snap the forward canopy in place. Your UL-1 is ready to
dominate the water.
You can set the boat still in the water and hit the throttle or
hand launch it. The boat is designed to leave using either
method. When using the still method, you are going to have to
be quite aggressive with the throttle to get the boat on plane
but once on step you can back off. Having said this, if you
operate your boat at “less than full power” for the full duration
of the run, you might likely experience an ESC failure. The
extra voltage the batteries deliver is being managed by the
ESC and can cause the ESC to get hot enough to fail. When
doing a hand launch toss the boat in the water with a forward
motion. As the boat hits the water, apply throttle.
Its also good to note that ANY weeds, duck feathers or other
obstructions that could get hung up on the running hardware
can and will affect the performance of your UL-1. Any extra
drag can cause your power system to overheat and do a
thermal shut down or possibly fail. It is best to operate your
UL-1 in water that is weed free and clear of all obstructions.
If your ESC “thermals” in a short time, it will cool and you will
be able to re-arm the ESC.
MAINTENANCE
SIMPLE MAINTENANCE TIPS:
• After each run remove the drain plug from the transom and
drain any water that might have entered the hull.
• Allow the electrics to cool after each run.
• Check your prop for nicks or damage after each run.
• Lightly re-grease the drive cable every 6 or 7 runs.
• After running for the day remove the drive cable and wipe
away any water. Lightly re-grease the drive cable and reinstall in the boat.
• Spray WD-40 or some other water displacer through the
cooling system to prevent any oxidization of the metal parts.
• Clean the exterior of the boat and leave the canopy and
cowl off overnight to allow any water to evaporate that
might be in the center tub.
• At your earliest convenience re-charge your LiPo batteries
and store them in a safe storage container.
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Page 7
RE-GREASING THE DRIVE SHAFT:
1. You are going to need one 10mm open end wrench and
one 12mm open end wrench and some grease.
TUNING TIPS
STRUT – The strut on your UL-1 can be adjusted up and
down as well as tilted. To adjust the strut you are going to
need to loosen the 4mm bolt that holds the strut in position.
When making a strut adjustments you only need to move it a
small amount at a time.
2. To loosen the cable coupler hold the 12mm wrench still
and turn the 10mm wrench counterclockwise. To tighten turn
the 10mm wrench clockwise.
Lowering the strut helps stabilize the boat by lowering the
nose of the boat. However, doing so can slow the boat down.
Raising the strut has the opposite effect. Tilting the strut is
helpful to tune the hull to a particular propeller. If your prop
is causing the back of the boat to hop up and down (unhook)
try removing or lessening the drive angle. If the boat seems
pined (stuck to the water in the back) try adding some drive
angle. I like to adjust the strut to the point the back of the
boat just starts to hop and then move the strut back just a
small amount to stop it.
3. Slide the shaft out from the back of the boat and re-grease.
Reinstall and retighten the cable.
RUDDER – You can tilt the rudder fore and aft to change the
way the boat handles. The more you tuck the rudder under
the boat (negative angle), the tighter the boat runs on the
water. Tilting it back (positive angle) causes the back of the
boat to run looser. You don’t want to overdo it so just work
within the amount of movement provided by the bolts. Also
the more you tilt the rudder back the less aggressive the
steering becomes.
7
Page 8
TURN FIN – The turn fi n is what holds the boat in the corners
at speed. The turn fi n can also be tilted back and forth to
change the way the boat handles. Tilting the fi n up (positive)
causes the boat to run tighter on the water and tilting it down
(negative) causes it to run looser.
FIBERGLASS – Like the other parts of the boat you can
gain some performance by working the bottom of the boat.
You can fl at sand the sponson bottoms dead fl at to gain
more speed as well as roughen the surface to release any
surface tension the smooth paint causes. We like to fl at sand
the bottom of the sponsons and then scuff them with a red
scratch pad. The scratched surface keeps the water from
clinging to the smooth, painted surface, allowing more boat
speed. It’s a great tuning secret.
PROPELLER – The propeller is the most important part
of your boat. It is responsible for the thrust, traction,
acceleration, speed and handling of your UL-1. Your UL-1
Superior can use both low and high lifting propellers as well
as others. When you are testing your boat, you are going to
want to use a prop that allows you the longest runtime and
best speed. This propeller might or might not be the one you
use when you are racing. Remember a Fast Electric RC boat
race only takes a few minutes so the prop you might use
for racing could be too hard on your electric components
for general operation. During normal operation you are likely
to run the boat much longer so be careful not to over prop
your boat. To check to see if a prop is too much load for your
electronics run the boat for one minute. Bring it in and check
the temperatures of both the ESC and the motor. If they are
hot or you cannot hold your fi nger on either part for more
then 5 seconds, you are over propped.
AQUACRAFT GRIMRACER PERFORMANCE PROPS
FOR THE UL-1 SUPERIOR
AQUB9720 40x52/3 Metal Prop (3-Blade)
AQUB9755 L38x55 Metal Prop
AQUB9760 L40x57/3 Metal Prop (3-Blade)
RACING
GET ON THE CLOCK AND MILLING ON THE COURSE:
Getting on the clock is a term we use to get our boats ready
for the start of the race. In RC boat racing we use rolling
starts and part of the fun is milling the boat, or the time we
spend getting on the clock. Timing is everything and your
boat has to be dependable enough to mill well and go fast
enough to win the race.
The start of an FE RC boat race is typically broken down into
three sections. Total clock time is 60 seconds and broken
down into the following: Preparation time, 60 to 30 seconds.
This is what we call “get ready” time and lasts for 30 seconds.
Next is launch time, 30 to 11 seconds. This is the time when
boats are launched and must be up and running. Last is “No
Launch” time, 10 to 0 seconds. Boat cannot be launched
after this time. This is also the point where the boats are
milling, picking lanes and ready for the start.
DRIVING A LANE:
In RC boat racing our boats race around an oval course. A
lane is the distance outside the buoys that is approximately
the width of our boat. If there is a boat around yours, you
have to hold your lane as you are driving next to it. If you are
clear of any other boats, you can choose to run your boat in
any lane you like. Depending on the boat setup some boats
run faster on an inner or outer lane.
PASSING:
Passing another boat properly takes preparation and power. If
you are in an outside lane and the boat you want to overtake
is to your inside, you’re going to have to give that boat some
room before overtaking the lane. Make sure you have AT
LEAST 3 boat lengths before overtaking that boat’s lane. Truth
is it’s best to have doubled that distance to avoid drawing an
infraction. It is best to stay with the lead boat and hunt out his
or her weaknesses on the racecourse. If they have a habit
of going wide off buoy 6, take note. If you get the chance,
sneak in behind them and try to overtake them on the inside.
Remember, if you race your opponent cleanly, they will likely
return the favor as you are now inside their boat.
8
Page 9
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Precision Prop Balancer
Precision Prop Balancer
The below organizations have rules for racing model boats
like your UL-1 Superior.
International Model Power Boat Association (IMPBA)
www.impba.net
North American Model Boat Association (NAMBA)
www.namba.com
ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS
To order replacement parts for the AquaCraft UL-1 Superior
use the order numbers in the replacement parts list that
follows. Replacement parts can be purchased from your
local hobby shop or by mail order. If you need assistance
locating a dealer to purchase parts, visit www.hobbico.com
and click on “Where to buy”. If you are missing parts, contact
Hobbico Product Support at:
Phone: 217-398-8970
Fax: 217-398-7721
E-mail: productsupport@hobbico.com
AQUB6227 ....Nose Canopy
AQUB6999 ....Hatch
AQUB6431 ....Exhaust Headers L&R
AQUB9300 ....Vertical Fins Yellow
AQUB9301 ....Vertical Fins Orange
AQUB9302 ....Vertical Fins Red
AQUB9303 ....Vertical Fins White
AQUB8650 ....Rearview Mirrors
AQUB7869 ....Cable Liner (.150" x 10")
AQUB7106 ....Boat Stand
AQUB6302 ....Decals
AQUB8729 ....Rudder Tiller Arm
AQUB7873 ....Flex Drive .150" Cable
AQUB9539 ....Hydro Turn Fin 2mm CNC Black
AQUB8730 ....Rudder Mounting Bracket
AQUB8731 ....Rudder Blade
AQUB6950 ....Strut Assembly
AQUB8780 ....Steering Rod Assembly
AQUB7895 ....Motor Mount
AQUB7896 ....Motor Screws
AQUB8781 ....Steering Servo Mount
AQUB9540 ....Water Cooling Jacket 36mm Dia.
AQUB9760 ....40 x 57/3 Lifter prop
AQUG7001 .... 36-56-2030 6-Pole Marine Motor
AQUM7011 .... 60-Amp WC/WP LiPo ESC
TACJ2400 ......Tactic TTX240 2.4 Transmitter
TACL2400 ......TR-324 Tactic 2.4 Receiver
™
Precision Prop Balancer
Precision Prop Balancer
To maximize performance — and minimize damage to
on-board electronics and parts —balance your props with
the GrimRacer Precision Prop Balancer. It’s easy to use.
Three thumb screws provide perfect level adjustment, and
a precise bubble level is built into the one-piece extruded
aluminum base. The balancer includes balancing shafts for
1/8" (3.2 mm), 3/16" (4.8 mm) and 1/4" (6.4 mm) bore prop
hubs. Propeller not included. AQUB9575
GrimRacer™ Pro Radio Box Tape
Like champion racer Michael “Grimracer”
Zaborowski, use this 3/4" wide, clear
electrical 3M tape to seal your boat’s
radio box water-tight. AQUB9514
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Hull Length: 28 in (711 mm)
Beam: 11 in (280 mm)
Height: 5.25 in (130 mm)
Ready-to-Run Weight: 4 lb (1814 g)
Requires: 2+ channel radio with one high-torque
standard servo and one mini servo,
.21 cu in (3.5 cc) outboard engine
™
Assemble a competition-class wood
tunnel hull in just 6-8 hours!
The kit form of this Mike “Grimracer” Zaborowski design took the fi rst of its 10 titles at the 2000 IMPBA Internats. Now,
you can enjoy the same title-taking performance (and top-drawer construction features) in an ARR. The built-up wood
sponsons and wood-over-foam center hull section are both warp-resistant, and fi nished in a high-gloss clearcoat.
GrimRacer performance hardware (from stainless steel pull-pull cables to the cowl thumbscrews) is evident throughout,
and the fuel tank (which holds 8 fl . oz.) was “Grim” designed specifi cally for .21 tunnel hulls. Wanna make racing against
you a “grim” prospect for your competitors? Then get yours now! AQUB0006
GrimRacer™ Speed Grease™ Cable Lube
This waterproof blue lubricant — with specially formulated,
“non sling” properties — reduces friction and wear on the
cable and direct drive systems in electric and nitro boats.
AQUB9500
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Take a romp through the swamp!
Length: 30 in (770 mm)
Beam: 11.25 in (285 mm)
Height: 14 in (355 mm)
Weight: 6 lb 5 oz (2.86 kg)
Includes: SuperTigre® G34 engine w/exhaust, Tactic™
bottle, electric starter, 12V battery, 12 “AA” batteries
When you see an airboat, isn’t your fi rst thought “Wow! Wouldn’t that be a blast to drive?” Well, now’s your (complete, readyto-run and easy to operate) chance to fi nd out. Living by a pond or lake isn’t required; you can run it on ice, snow or even
wet grass. Molded-in strakes on the painted fi berglass hull keep you in control, even at high speeds. Power comes from a
SuperTigre® G-34 airplane engine and an APC™ 9x6 pusher prop, which are safely enclosed in a realistic welded steel cage.
Huge fi berglass air rudders give you the power for both subtle course corrections and wide, sweeping skid turns. A 2-channel
Tactic™ radio for control rounds out a package that also includes a set up DVD, detailed driver and passenger seats and a
display/carrying stand. AQUB29**