J3 Cub - Floats ??

[cyberwarrior101]

SO I have a 40 Size J3 Cub that I put on a set of Lanier Floats.. I went out today to fly her for the first time.. and well, those floats SUCK! Nosed over as soon as she started to move.. didnt get but 6 inches... so I'm asking the other Float Flyers - who makes a good set and what/where should I get them???

I've found a 40-60 size set here :
http://www.nitroplanes.com/fiberglas...ize-float.html

The One's I got are pretty much the same as this one:
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/floats.htm

I just dont get much boyancy at all.. the plane sinks low, even when not even running... Any ideas?

[sweetpea]

From what I was told...........

Those floats don't appear to be long enough. Your prop looks to be sitting ahead or at best even with the front of the floats.

[cyberwarrior101]

Yep, you are correct... after further inspection and a great article I found It seems that I'm a bit short here.. Long time flyer, new to the Float area.. so a little repair work this week and back to the lake

Thanks

[jssophusson]

with a 40 size plane hangar nine and sig make very nice floats. Have a set of each and they both work great. Just make sure your step is in the right location and the angle of the wing to the float is correct. Happy floatin!

[JimCasey]

It appears you mounted the floats too far aft.
Quick guidelines: Floats should be about 75% of the length of the fuselage.
The step of the float should be about 1/2-3/4 of an inch behind the balance point of the plane with the fuselage level.
On a Cub with its Clark Y airfoil, the bottom of the wing should be parallel with the top of the float.

Hit this website for setup tips and links to suppliers who make good floats:
www.smilesandwags.com/floats.html

[Dewayne Vaughn]

I've always put the step 1/8th inchbehind the center of balance, and set the wing at 3 degrees positive in relation to the floats.
what this will do for you is give you a very nice 'rise off water' takeoff without having to yank your bird free. When the airspeed is high enough, the plane will take off by itself with no danger that you've lifted off before you had enough airspeed. The landings will be smooth too. I found the info in an old RCM about twenty years ago and it made me look like a pro the very first time I tried it. I build enstead of arf, and the great planes floats are good.

Luck, Dewayne

[JimCasey]

Good tips, Dewayne.
With a flat-bottom airfoil with its rounded leading edge, the chord-line IS positive 2-3 degrees when the bottom flat part of the wing is parallel to the top of the floats.
GP floats are strong as a baseball bat, but they have always seemed bigger than they should be, and way heavier than necessary. I don't sell anything but I am a STRONG proponent of foam-core floats.
You mention the old RCM article: it's here:
http://flyinglindy.homestead.com/skisandfloats.html

[Dewayne Vaughn]

Thanks for the link to that article Jim,I lost my original magazine and was working from memory....
I saved it to file.

Luck, Dewayne

[DuncanChile]

I have the ARF .40 to .60 Fiberglass floats from Great Planes and they are great!! very good floats My plane flies very good with them!!