FEI LUN FT012 High Speed Brushless Racing Boat Review - [Mods, Running Video, Pros & Cons]

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for FEI LUN FT012 High Speed Brushless Racing Boat Review - [Mods, Running Video, Pros & Cons]

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Bill Gibson - 5 years ago

Dustin, why do your water cooling lines run differently than any other FT012 I’ve seen open?

Chad Holmes - 5 years ago

id already saw a review with rc saylors but love the boat and just ordered one. but wanted to listen to your review.

Mats Lundberg - 5 years ago

Can you run more then one boat at the same time? or do you need to change the transmitter for that? me and a few friends wants to race hehe

Mats Lundberg - 5 years ago

@Dustin Dunnill Thanks hope it works hehe :) just made a order for 2 hehe awsome videos btw keep it up!

Chico Little - 5 years ago

If anybody is interested here is a link for the same boat for $80 https://www.gearbest.com/rc-boats/pp_424980.html?wid=1433363 The link in the description is $92.

Rc Car guy - 5 years ago

As for the rudder. Seems to be very loose from the factory did you have any idea on how to get that tightened up

R Lee - 5 years ago

Can you give me the specs on the battery and a link to it. You said it was a 2700mAh. Thanks!

Garnica Rojas Lorenzo Ulises - 5 years ago

Un saludo de México le queda una batería de 2200 mah

carlace777 - 5 years ago

very good review

Trumpisacrybaby dictator Narcissis - 6 years ago

The Barbwire first generation is so much better

10. comment for FEI LUN FT012 High Speed Brushless Racing Boat Review - [Mods, Running Video, Pros & Cons]

Google User - 6 years ago

Comprehensive/informative review!!

Sideval Silvano - 6 years ago

Hello! The ft012 has the automatic foldback function, as in ft011? Ex: the battery has run out, then slows down, and you have about 2 minutes to bring it to the margin!

Dustin Dunnill - 6 years ago

Yes

FREEMAN RC GARAGE - 6 years ago

Very cool test run on this boat. I bet if you run a bead of petroleum jelly on that seal it may reduce leakage? But nonetheless very cool boat.

losermons - 6 years ago

Is there any chinese brand of this? Cuz i ordered 1 but not working.

nick svaluto - 6 years ago

Hi Dustin, you did a review on the feilun ft012 I have a traxxas easy peak charger I’m trying to utilize it closest traxxas lipo I can in a 3s is 25c 11.1v 5000 think that work if I got this boat?

nick svaluto - 6 years ago

Dustin Dunnill thanks unfortunately the smaller 2200 is only 2s according to traxxas site

junballs - 6 years ago

Good vid. Will this boat we any good on salt water. Will the outside components rust?

Alum1n1um Kn1ght - 6 years ago

Boi wheres throttle trim

Bogdan Bydek - 6 years ago

Another thing I have noticed is that in yours this first tube goes to the left inlet in speed controller ( looking from the front of boat). In other video Ive seen it goes to the right one. It looks like they have been connected randomly and it does not matter in what order they are connected

Dustin Dunnill - 6 years ago

+Bogdan Boruch lol... *Flowing

Bogdan Bydek - 6 years ago

After your review and few others Ive made a decision and got one :) Im looking forward to try it out :) Ive noticed one difference in mine. Yours have this clear tube (from cooling system) going straight to electronic speed controller and then another tube going out from speed controller to motor radiator. In mine it goes first to a motor radiator and then from motor radiator to speed controller. Ive watched few other reviews and some of them are like mine and some of them are lik yours. I wonder if thats making any difference. Is there a couple different versions of this model? Also mine has this two inlets in speed controller (where you connect tubes) in black colour. Yours are gold. Shame that I cant put pic in here

Ross Tinney - 7 years ago

Got mine from Hobby King.

20. comment for FEI LUN FT012 High Speed Brushless Racing Boat Review - [Mods, Running Video, Pros & Cons]

Adriano Salemi - 7 years ago

Hey Dustin,
When it's in low power mode, are you still able to flip it back over if it's overturned?

Dustin Dunnill - 7 years ago

+Adriano Salemi I don't think so

James Taylor - 7 years ago

great video now brought one myself due to your video

epyu 150 - 7 years ago

Can I play that boat on salt water? bechause I scared I will Broke the shaft or something.

epyu 150 - 7 years ago

is that boat save enaugh to put a 808 cam on above the case? or maybye not.

Gholpian Army RC - 7 years ago

Very good review. I bough one and am waiting for it now. I do have a question though, did you see the water cooling work? Like did you see water coming out the side? Because there is no pump I feel like it might not get to much water through and it might get clogged. Thank you for posting!

Philip’sOutdoors 24 - 6 years ago

The power inlet doesn’t fit either.

The Hun - 7 years ago

Gholpian Army RC mine broke in less than 1 minute. Seriously

Dustin Dunnill - 7 years ago

yes, the faster you drive the more water will shoot out since it is pushed from speed pressure. It will not clog unless the water is very gunky you drive it in but best to look for the water shooting out the side when you drive close once in a while.

Gerardo Torres - 7 years ago

Like always really nice video a lot information thank you very much four or the details plus the information is very value for me nice job

nick svaluto - 7 years ago

Hey Dustin I just bought this boat, how do think it will perform with GoPro hero 5 session? Also if I'm looking to do a higher capacity battery 2500mah is what you might suggest

Flibbertigibbet - 7 years ago

Dude that was some close calls with those poles lol nice boat.

andrew richey - 7 years ago

Just got my. Love this boat.

andrew richey - 7 years ago

Great Review !! Love the boat. thank you.

30. comment for FEI LUN FT012 High Speed Brushless Racing Boat Review - [Mods, Running Video, Pros & Cons]

Bob Btravlin - 7 years ago

Range of 150 to 200 ft. ? I hope you meant meters or at least yards. ??

HOLDEN3676 - 8 years ago

hi is this boat light and can it drive through salt water

Averagepabiker - 8 years ago

Yes you can drive it in salt water but I'm not sure if over time it would mess it up

Dustin Dunnill - 8 years ago

Hey all! Hope your enjoying the review. Gearbest whom provided this boat for review notified me they are having a "Big Summer Promotion Sale" which is ending this week. Please check it out and don't miss the deals here: http://goo.gl/U5nL8x

Brendan Gallivan - 8 years ago

Hello Dustin, awesome video! I was wondering if you knew the best way to seal this boat after you take it apart to add mods(cracks, with silicone sealant)? Thanks!

Dustin Dunnill - 8 years ago

yes, I would use marine white silicone.

Paul79UF - 8 years ago

Hi Dustin, is it obvious when the battery is running low and you need to bring it back?

I have a UDI Venom boat which the transmitter starts to beep when the battery is getting low.

I also have a lipo low voltage alarm that I use to check my R/C truck batteries. So I could use that in the boat.

Paul79UF - 8 years ago

Ok, great. thank you!

Dustin Dunnill - 8 years ago

+Paul79UF Yes, it goes into a low speed mode as seen in video

The Butterfly Effect - 8 years ago

I think you got this boat given to you to do a review. $60-$70 said no site ever for the FT012

Dustin Dunnill - 8 years ago

There are sales from time to time. I think this review was done when the price was lower or on sale.

Hassan Saleem - 8 years ago

This was an amazing amazing review. My first RC boat video and you convinced me on this thing :) Thanks so much for such rough and tough boating. Got a pretty good idea of what it is. But a few questions..

1) How long do you think is the motor life? (As I am a beginner and I would not like to change parts every six months :)
2) You didn't said anything about the heating up motor. was that satisfactory?
3) Which spare battery you recommend for this. Dimensions please?
4) Controller battery does last well? How often you have to replace / charge them?
5) Have also heard about bad ESC of this boat. What is ESC?

Please do reply. Waiting for response. Once again thank you very much for an excellent review!

Dustin Dunnill - 8 years ago

+Hassan Saleem Thanks Hassan, Honestly I have only driven it about 6 times since review and all is fine. Just re pack grease in drive shaft and let everything dry out after each day. I think I mentioned an Mah and size in video that may fit ..maybe 2500mah would be perfect but stock lipo has good run time and is fine. No bad ESC and battery in TX lasted fine for the 6 runs Iv'e done.. rechargables are advised in any R/C to save costs.

twrecks116 - 8 years ago

Great Video!! im used to seeing your Quad reviews,but this was Cool Also!! keep up the Great Work!! Happy New Year also!!

Dustin Dunnill - 8 years ago

Thanks. Hope to do more boats, cars and trucks in the future. Happy new year to you as well.

coaldust - 8 years ago

great video dustin, mine has just arrived, ive got a lot of 3s 2200 lipos so good to see i can use them in it, how often do you grease your shaft? dont worry im talking about the boat :)

coaldust - 8 years ago

+Dustin Dunnill Put 5 lipos through it today, what a blast, best not to use it untill the esc cut off kicks in as it runs the lipo to low, great fun for the price!

Dustin Dunnill - 8 years ago

Congrats! I have honestly not re greased even once since review but that's because I haven't had time to drive it :)

Faisal Blaihed - 8 years ago

This is gonna be my first boat

Dustin Dunnill - 8 years ago

Probably not unless you do sealing modifications so no water will get in at all.

Faisal Blaihed - 8 years ago

But is it ok to run it in salt water?

Oliver Vicars-Harris - 8 years ago

Hi Dustin and thanks for the great review - all super helpful and I'm definitely planning on ordering one of these as my first r/c boat :)

A question on the battery upgrade issue: I'm thinking of getting this 2700mAh replacement (link below) which is advertised as suitable for the FT012 boat but I'm concerned about the potential size problem after watching your review.

The standard 1800 battery seems to be: 105x33x20
This upgrade 2700 battery is specified as: 105x34x23

How does that compare to your 2700 bench battery that caused issues with sealing the compartment? From what I can tell the issue was with the depth which might be the same issue here with the extra 3mm, though it doesn't sound like much...

Many thanks,
Oliver

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272049207796?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Colton Musta - 6 years ago

I'm just gonna step in here and ask 2 years later, did it fit?

Oliver Vicars-Harris - 8 years ago

Great Dustin, that's 3mm thicker so hopefully I'll be ok with 23mm!

Dustin Dunnill - 8 years ago

Sorry for he delay. 26mm

Oliver Vicars-Harris - 8 years ago

A simpler way of asking the question: do you have the depth dimension of the 2700mAh bench battery used in your test? Many thanks!

Blane Hartleb - 9 years ago

Dustin....Thanks for taking the time to make this....I am getting one.

Get a life ? - 9 years ago

The water comes in when you revers

paulkazjack - 7 years ago

true comment.

propfella - 9 years ago

Where were the promised "Mods"? I sat through the entire thing waiting to hear about them, but sadly nothing. Just as a tip, please don't waffle on and wave the boat around. Oh, and keep the cheat sheet out of shot. :-) As for the running shots, the way the boat ran during the second session was also affected by the larger battery, not just the chop. After watching the way it behaved I'd be tempted to stick with the standard battery.

One final thing, there have been many reports re: the water leakage, according to a number of users it's due to a poor seal between the two halves of the hull. It may pay to check that. I recently had a similar problem with a much larger boat and to fix it I poured epoxy resin into the hull and by tilting the boat on edge I let it run around the inner seam. It worked like a charm.

A bead of silicone around the hatch seal also helps. Very little if any should come up the shaft, if anything the forward movement through the water should keep the tube clear.

Bill Flynn - 9 years ago

Good review. Mine came from H-King and I've run a variety of batteries through it. One run with a 4S it flipped and broke the tab that holds the top piece of the boat - losing the thing. It still runs great without the cover - just the main cover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apdVAluDcs4

George Kasparyan - 9 years ago

That is a awesome boat.

Josh Hansen - 9 years ago

ok ill try that thanks

Josh Hansen - 9 years ago

battery*

Josh Hansen - 9 years ago

+Dustin Dunnill it was the stock battery

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Was it the battery? You try different one?

Josh Hansen - 9 years ago

So i got the this boat and i drove it and it dove under the water and didnt come up for like 5 secents so i drove it back to shore and look and it was fine but when i tried to drive it again nothing happend so i dried it out then tried it again it worked fine so i was driving it and it just stoped working i fiandly got it back with a little boat and i let it sit for like 10 to 15 mins i un pluged the batter and pluged it back and and it worked again do you have any ideas why it keeps not work when im driveing it thanks josh

Josh Hansen - 9 years ago

+goldridder OK thanks

propfella - 9 years ago

+Josh Hansen It's a common problem with this boat. The receiver loses sync with the transmitter. I've been trying to figure out where the antenna is on this boat, if it's inside the hull I'd be tempted to relocate on the outer side of the hull. It'll improve reception distance too. Just a guess, but the problem could be the receiver getting interference from the ESC or even the servo. If you don't want to put an external antenna on the boat, try relocating the antenna inside the hull.

Bill Flynn - 9 years ago

+Josh Hansen Sometimes when you turn it off it will lose connection with the radio transmitter. With the boat powered up, turn off the transmitter for a few seconds and back on. Like DD says - try a different battery - get a spare and a tester because this thing eats batteries in less than 6 minutes. You'll pull it so low it will go bad quickly. I put a $1 Store timer on my transmitter set to 5 minutes.

goldridder - 9 years ago

+Josh Hansen Also, check cooling system and tubes for blockage, but DON'T take it apart if you don't know what you're doing... I'm NOT suggesting you do that - take it to a hobby shop and they;ll know best :)

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Maybe try a different battery.

ForFollowing UseOnlyIgnoreMe - 9 years ago

oops wrong accountant im Josh Hansen

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

50. comment for FEI LUN FT012 High Speed Brushless Racing Boat Review - [Mods, Running Video, Pros & Cons]

ForFollowing UseOnlyIgnoreMe - 9 years ago

i ordered one of these boats cant wait to get it!

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Cool! You'll like it

calzaggii22 - 9 years ago

Great review man! Going to buy myself one

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Thanks. Your gonna love it!

Josh Hansen - 9 years ago

Nice video dude Helped me a lot i think im gona get one!

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Thanks Josh. It's loads of fun and faast :)

Marcel Bufé - 9 years ago

Dude fantastic. I have seen so many average reviews on this boat. Best review and awesome boat, thanks for your time!

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Right on Mozzy. Glad you found it useful.

Daz Z - 9 years ago

good review i have one and its a blast,an excellent boat for beginners who dont have a rescue boat as it has self righting best to tape the hatch from water tho,the boat does look a little toy like compared to my bigger more expensive boats but who cares when it goes that quick..but worth getting a spare (or better) ESC and motor as they wont last long but you get what you pay for and there cheap on sites like hobbyking happy boating :)

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Thanks Josh, much appreciated! :)

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Thanks! :)

Josh Hansen - 9 years ago

+Khoa Vu (I-PLEEDAFIF) I agree

Daz Z - 9 years ago

Had mine a few weeks now still having fun with it,i ordered a metal rudder of banggood for a few pounds,may look into upgrading the servo..wont put anymore into it than that..maybe a better prop runs good on 2200mah 30c lipos any higher and its probably gunna cook the esc

I Pleedafif - 9 years ago

+Dustin Dunnill The most comprehensive and detailed video of the FT012 hands down.

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Right on Daz. Sealing it a bit better is still on my list. Great bang for the buck I think.

Dimitri Theophano - 9 years ago

They were purchased from various online stores and they simply did not work at all in water

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Sorry to hear that Dimitri. Try make some videos of the issues for the vendors and see if you can work something out.

Frog - 9 years ago

Bought 5 Feilun boats and none worked!!

Frog - 9 years ago

I bought them from various sources on Ebay and Amazon. They simply didn't work in or out of water. I'm experienced with RC and haven't had that problem with any of my 'toys'. Fortunately everyone gave me a refund. Then I bought an Atomik Barbwire which got stuck on a submerged tree limb on its maiden voyage. I found out it didn't have reverse and I couldn't retrieve it before it sank.

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Bummer! That is crazy! Where did you buy them from and what were the issues?

Mervyn Cheryl - 9 years ago

Thanks for the link bro...

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

No prob Mervyn.

Mervyn Cheryl - 9 years ago

Nice review!! Is it easy to source for spare parts if broken/wear out?
was thinking of getting the 009 version.

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Looks like they have every part here: http://m.gearbest.com/ft012-_gear/

Davis Price - 9 years ago

Just a question. What state do you live in? Also how long did it take to get to your house?

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Sorry. My brain was on empty. I'm in Hawaii and it took a couple weeks with free shipping from link in description :)

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Not sure I understand the second part of your question....?

KandJ Steward - 9 years ago

First boat review I've watched. Very good! Thank you Justin

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it!

Frank Barajas - 9 years ago

Very nice boat and fast too. It would be interesting to get a radar gun on it to see just how fast it can go. I started my RC electric experience in boats in the early 80's but I never had one go that fast. Gas was the only way for high speed but with all the mess and trouble it was not worth it. I use to use an electric boat just help to retrieve a stalled out gas boat, but with this one and it's ability to right itself, which is a HUGE plus factor along with the reasonable cost - this is a real winner.

Another great review. Makes me want to go get a red one, the black is cool looking though...

Dustin Dunnill - 9 years ago

Thanks Frank, it is very fast. I would say the 27mph rating on box is accurate if not a little safe.

R/C Tech has definitely come a long way since the 80's. I'd I'd my teenage competition R/C racing in the early 90's here on Maui in the truck, monster truck, and buggy classes. The self righting feature is awesome, it's a must in my book and as you can see in video works very well. It still amazes me how great the prices and quality are getting for RC as tech advances.

Good choice, I think red would be a nice pick too!

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