RC boat accessories
- the essential field items
There are a few rc boat accessories that you'll need to take to the pond, and nitro rc boats require more than electric ones do purely because of the motor.
The range of rc accessories for boats available (as well as for all other rc models) is vast, so this page will only introduce you to the essential 'field equipment' that you'll need to take with you to the pond.
Of course, if you're boating at a club you'll more than likely be able to borrow the necessary items from fellow boaters, but as you get more involved with the hobby it's inevitable that you'll need to build up your own collection of accessories, so you don't have to rely on anyone being at the pond with you.
Nitro RC boat accessories
The presence of the glow plug motor in any rc model necessitates the use of certain accessories, the crucial ones are...
- Glow plug igniter
- Glow plug wrench
- Spare glow plugs
- Fuel bottle
- Fuel pump
- Starting system
These essential nitro rc boat accessories are illustrated below:
| A glow plug igniter is necessary to initially heat up the filament of the glow plug to red hot, so that the fuel/air mixture inside the combustion chamber of the engine is ignited. Once running, the igniter is removed and the heat within the engine keeps the plug glowing. Glow plug igniters are 1.5V and should be charged before each boating session. A flat igniter won't heat up a plug! |  |
| A glow plug wrench is definitely an essential nitro rc boat accessory! Glow plugs have a habit of burning out and do need to be replaced periodically. Without a wrench you're not going to be able to remove the glow plug from the engine cylinder head, and replace it with a new one. |  |
| Spare glow plugs are necessary for when the one in the engine fails on you, which it will sooner or later! A broken down glow plug is about the biggest cause of non-starting nitro engines, and it takes just a few seconds to change a plug - so long as you didn't forget your glow plug wrench! Consult your boat's engine manual for the correct glow plug recommendations. |  |
| Fuel is, needless to say, essential! Choosing a good quality fuel is important - lesser quality fuels can have an adverse effect on your boat's performance. Follow manufacturer guidelines for selecting an appropriate fuel for your engine, both oil content and nitro methane content can vary depending on performance requirements.
See fuel & fuel related accessories. |
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| A fuel pump can either be mechanical or electrical. A mechanical one is obviously cheaper and just as effective. Along with a pump, a small plastic squeezy bottle with a fine nozzle is also a good idea, in case you need to inject fuel directly into the carburetor if you're having problems priming the engine. |  |
| Some kind of starting system is a crucial rc boat accessory, if the engine doesn't have a recoil pullstart feature. The one shown is a fairly typical example, and comes with all the necessary bits to convert your engine to accept this method of starting. |  |
Browse more nitro rc boat accessories.
Other non-essential but desirable rc boat accessories to take with you to the pond include extra propellers for when you run aground, and a selection of tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers - you never know when something is going to work loose!
A very convenient way of buying all of the essential accessories is in some kind of starter pack, such as the one shown to the right. This usually works out cheaper than buying each accessory separately, and some packs will include a 500cc bottle of fuel too.
Electric RC boat accessories
One of the advantages of electric rc boats is that they don't need anything to start them; so long as the motor batteries are charged then you just flick the switch and away you go, unlike nitro rc boats that require at least the basic accessories listed above.
However, the essential item that you will need is a battery charger for the motor battery pack.
If a charger doesn't come with your boat, then they can be purchased in many different shapes and sizes, ranging from simple 'trickle' (slow) chargers to multi-function, microprocessor controlled chargers/dischargers.
You can buy battery chargers for rc boats that are designed to run from a 12V car battery, either directly or via the cigarette lighter socket. These chargers are called field chargers, simply because they are designed to be used 'in the field' ie wherever you're running your rc boat.
Buying a second motor battery pack for your electric rc boat is an excellent idea. Even fast-chargers can take 40 minutes to charge a pack, so having another pack means that you can continue running your rc boat while the first pack is charging.
When buying chargers and extra battery packs, always check that they are compatible with your boat's motor, this is obviously very important!
Browse more nitro rc boat accessories.
Related pages
Nitro RC boats - an overview of nitro boats.
Electric RC boats - an overview of electric RTR boats.
Nitro RC boat motors - different types of motor used on rc boats.
RC nitro fuel - an overview of nitro (glow) fuel for rc engines.
