Electric RC boats
Electric rc boats make the perfect introduction to the hobby of radio control boating; they're cheaper to buy than a nitro model and much easier to run.
It's true that nitro models are favored by many boat modelers because of the faster speed but electric boats can be just as exciting, without having to buy the extra starting equipment that you need for a nitro boat.
Also, electric rc boats are available in smaller sizes than nitro ones making them ideal for smaller ponds. Of course, larger electric boats are also available and models with the more powerful motors can still reach speeds of up to around 30mph.
A nice sized electric boat for an 'entry level' one is around 24 - 30 inches long with a '550' size electric motor (this is the minimum size motor that you want in your boat).
These kind of boats are known as sport boats but can also be raced - the Traxxas Blast is a good example, or for something with a bit more punch then the twin motor Caribbean Cruiser is a very good choice, especially if you do intend having a go at club competitions.
The Caribbean Cruiser, though faster, is very stable and equally as suitable for a first time electric rc boat. It's shown below:
Or if you prefer something a bit more light-hearted then perhaps the novel Zig-Zag Racer would be a better choice - lots of fun for not much money!
The Zig Zag Racer can be seen in the picture below:
Electric rc boats can also include sailboats with a small electric motor, but we won't cover those on this page as there's no real difference to true sailboats - other than the motor - which you can read about here.
It's your personal preference as to whether you want to run a scale model (one that has been modeled from an actual boat) or a non-scale one, but you may find that wanting a scale model might limit you to buying a kit instead of a boat that comes RTR (Ready To Run).
RTR electric rc boats
An electric boat which comes RTR, such as those above, is definitely the best bet if you're not bothered about building a model, as these will get you onto the water as quickly as possible.
RTR models, as the name suggests, come with electric motor and rc gear fully installed and the body is pre-finished, although with some models you may just have to add the decals that are supplied with it.
Apart from batteries for the radio gear, the only thing you'll need to buy is a charger for the motor battery pack, although even that is often supplied with many RTR electric rc boats.
RTR electric rc boats are normally made from tough ABS plastic which is very tough and yet lightweight - the lighter the model is the better, as that means more speed for less power required.
The electric rc boats shown above are available from Red Rocket Hobby Shop.
Related pages
Boat hull design - see the various shapes and the best to go for.
Electric boat motors - explanations of different design motors.
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