AquaCraft UL-1 Superior User Manual

WARNING:

• Never attempt to swim after a stalled R/C boat.

• 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.

www.aquacraftmodels.com

ITEMS INCLUDED

UL-1 Hull, Canopy, Cowl, Vertical Wings (Installed)
Transmitter, Manual, Boat Stand

WARRANTY

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: [phone]

9:00 am - 5:00 pm Central Time M-F

E-mail: [e-mail]

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.

FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS

UL-1 SUPERIOR SPECIFICATIONS:

Hull Length: 27" (685mm)
Overall Length: 29-1/4" (744mm)
Width: 14-1/4" (360mm)
Overall Height: 6-3/4" (170mm)
Weight (Less Batteries): 4lbs, 1oz
Weight RTR (with two 3200 LiPo): 4lbs, 14oz

MOTOR SPECIFICATIONS:

Diameter: 36mm
Length: 56mm
Shaft Length: 15mm
OA Length: 71mm
Shaft Size: 5mm
Weight: 212g including connectors
Input Voltage: 7-18.5V
Max. Constant Current: 50A
Max. Surge Current: 80A/fi ve seconds
No Load Current: 5.0A
kV Rating: 2030 rpm/V

ESC SPECIFICATIONS:

Length: 3.25" (83mm)
Width: 1.5" (38mm)
Height: 5/16" (17mm)
Weight: 3.8oz (109grams)
Wire Gauge: 14g
Battery Connectors: Male Ultra Deans Plugs (2)
Motor Connectors: 4mm gold plated bullet connectors (3)
Input Voltage: 12-14 NiMH

4 cells LiPo
8-20V input w/o BEC)

Output Current: 60A continuous maximum

(72A surge maximum)

Max Output Power: 720 watts
On-resistance: 0.003 ohms
Operating frequency: 8kHz
BEC: 5.2V/2A
Stutter Bump Voltage: 12V
Low Voltage Cutoff: 11.6V
Thermal Cutoff: 110°C
Timing Angle: 10°

UL-1 SUPERIOR FEATURES:

• 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.

• FPWP0337 FlightPower LiPo 7.4V 3300mAh 25C
EVO25-33002S Balance

• FPWP0350 FlightPower LiPo 7.4V 4900mAh 25C
EVO25-49002S Balance

• 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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