Big Chill RC Pontoon boat 1:8 scale by Black Crow

Big Chill Pontoon boat 1:8 Scale 

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Are you new to Black Crow Prints? All the STL files are here free on Printables.com. A non printed parts list is below along with easy step by step assembly videos. Help is available, usually within 24hrs. You can contact me thru private message or comments on the makes and comments tab. File updates are always listed at the bottom of each description page. Ways you can help: Let me know when I make a mistake. Share your builds with friends on social media and subscribe to my YouTube channel. If you would like to help me provide these models free to others you can become a “My Club” member. No obligation implied and you will get no special treatment from me other than my appreciation. .. Now go build an adventure. 

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The Outboard motor is on a separate page-  https://www.printables.com/model/825674-18-scale-outboard-boat-motor-big-chill 

Boat Trailer- https://www.printables.com/model/862459-big-chill-pontoon-boat-trailer-18-scale-by-black-c 

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 Introducing Big Chill

The 3D printed pontoon boat with a big personality! This is the second boat by Black Crow Prints that breaks the rules of boat building. No structural gluing. No sealing. The structure is screwed together. The eight pontoon sections float individually. Water is allowed in and is encouraged to drain out. See waterproofing section. While this is not a speed boat it is very fast for a scaled pontoon boat. This boat has gone through several major prototype changes before reaching the current setup. The goal, Fun to build and fun to drive, powerful on the water, and looks good on a shelf. The motor-prop combo has been tested for best result. Using the suggested setup is strongly suggested. ( The D3542 1,000kv motor is the max KV for recommended prop. The 1450kv is too much. It will damage your battery)

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Professionals: …  and people that don’t listen. The motor plate and motor covers are designed to let you explore high speed possibilities with motors of your choosing. (540 six bolt, D3530, D3536, D3542, D3548)  I will eventually build a speed boat using an altered version of this outboard. I am open to suggestion. Unless you are a pro I strongly suggest sticking to the suggested motor and prop combo.

 The work load of the motor must hit the perfect percentage of the motor’s limit. The work is adjusted by the prop‘s power requirement at the motor’s performance RPM. In other words, if the prop is too small or low pitch the motor spins up and the motor's potential power is not used. If the prop is too big the motor can’t spin up to the RPM that produces the maximum performance output of the motor or worse damages the motor, ESC and battery. 

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INTRO VIDEO

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Assembly video 1

Assembly Video 2

Assembly Video 3

Assembly Video 4 

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Warning !!

The side rails in this model use puzzle joints to hold parts together. Poorly adjusted printers will need to use loose fitting parts found in requested parts. Parts 600, 601, 602, 603.  Or you could adjust your printer using this video. 

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Pontoon boat origin 

They say the first pontoon boat was invented in Minnesota back in 1952. A man welded metal barrels together, added a platform and motor. …I know better! … Back in 1919 my great grandfather having just lost his fishing boat in a poker game refused to miss out on the biggest fishing tournament of the century. Desperate, he strapped a boat motor to a floating dock. He got first prize after landing the largest catch anyone had ever seen. … Did he become famous for inventing the pontoon boat? No! … He was tossed in jail for stealing the Bar Harbor doc!! 

 - Stories like these are common on pontoon boats …. They are a poor man’s party boat, fishing boat, family boat, ski boat and with a little tent material, house boat. 

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Waterproofing 

It is important to note the battery could become submerged. The research that I have done notes that RC lipo batteries are waterproof. The front side of the steering servo is exposed to  water. The steering servos are advertised as waterproof. The ESC is slightly above the water and cag get splashed. ESC is waterproof. The Motor sits well above the water. The motor is resistant to fresh water. Some project even use these motors fully submerged in water with a reduced life expectancy due to bearing lubrication loss. Most receivers are NOT waterproof yet can and should be made waterproof with methods easily found on YouTube. While I have not had any water leak through my Prusa 3D printed parts. Some might want to do a bit of extra waterproofing by painting the hull. Paint should seal the layer lines. I personally would use a clear coat paint but a nice non 3D printed look might be nice too. For a smoother faster boat an epoxy can be used on the bottom water surface. No paint or epoxy was used on any of the boats in the intro videos. Future videos testing the effectiveness of using epoxy will be labeled as such. 

  Disclaimer - Although the research I have done says RC Lipo batteries are waterproof, Lipo Batteries can be dangerous. Build at your own risk. 

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Dimensions: (bigger than it looks in the videos)

Long 66cm (26inches)  Wide 30cm (11.75inches)  Tall 28cm (11inches) 

Run Weight: 2.9kg  (6.6lbs)

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Printer Settings: 

No supports needed. A very small number of supports are built into the part. 

0.4 nozzle ( Designed around a two layer 0.4mm wall) 

Layer height  0.2mm

Infill:

Pontoons, Furniture and Deck 5% 

Everything else 15-20%

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Filament: You need a filament that is strong and does not warp. I use Prusa, Inland PLA plus and eSun PLA plus. Avoid brittle filaments like Hatchbox. 

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Pontoon Filament Usage:

The eight pontoon sections use nearly a full roll of filament. 

Print pontoons 5% infill 

outer pontoons

Front 95g x2 = 190g

Center 120g x2 = 240g

Rear 115g x2 = 230g

inner pontoon 

Front 85g

Rear 115g

Total:  860g

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Parts Needed: 

links are US Amazon affiliate.  

Note: You will need a long shaft driver for M2 screws. Example: https://amzn.to/4aUdkhN (The screws are set deep in a hole)

Servo- Steering 25kg waterproof https://amzn.to/4cVPt2r 

Battery- 3S Hard Case 138 x 47 x 37 https://amzn.to/43SwZM8 

ESC- QUICRUN-WP-10BL60 Hobbywing https://amzn.to/3Ue7Qsj 

Bearings Two 10x15x4 (6700-2RS) https://amzn.to/4cPEnfx 

M3 eye bolt- (Optional for Trailer winching) https://amzn.to/3TViAui

More parts needed for Outboard Motor found in Outboard Motor Listing https://www.printables.com/model/825674-18-scale-outboard-boat-motor-big-chill 

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Screws: (screws are regular machine thread ) 

M2: 

4mm 3

6mm 12

8mm 26

10mm 30

12mm 1

16mm 10

20mm 26

M3: 

Nylock nut 1

Nut 1

6mm (Socket head) 2

6mm 16

8mm 51

10mm 50

12mm 7

14mm 2

16mm 6

M5: 

5 set screws 12-18mm long or cut screw or all thread 12-18mm long 

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Updates: 

May 3 2024 Added GoPro mount option at bottom of parts page. Two parts. Replace 63TopBinder with new GoProTopBinder. Slide GoPro mount on and hold with M2 x 4mm screw. 

May 6 2024 I accidently edited out the right side rail assembly in the videos and forgot to add the parts in the parts list. Assembly video 2 and 3 have been updated. Parts have been added. The prefix L or R is now used before parts 28,29 and 30. 

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License- Some file sharing platforms are taking files off sites and placing them on their sites without the knowledge of the designer. I am not OK with that. These models are updated here with the feedback given here. I intend to keep the home of this model here. This is the reason for the strict license of this model. I am not concerned with hobbyists sharing and remixing this model, Enjoy