RC boats FAQ
- some 'getting started' questions
RC boats are a popular sector of the radio control hobby, and they don't require a vast amount of experience to run them. Beginner entry level 'sport' boats are the ideal introduction to rc boating and they're very widely available.
Finding a suitable body of water on which to run your boat is usually not difficult, and running an rc boat around a pond is a lot of fun!
If you're thinking about buying an rc boat, here are a few questions that you might be pondering...
- Do I buy nitro or electric?
- What kind of boat should I buy?
- How fast does an rc boat go?
- How hard is an rc boat to operate?
- So I won't need lessons then?
- Should I join a club?
- How can I find a local rc boat club?
- Can rc boats be upgraded?
- Where can I buy a good boat?
Browse a good selection of popular rc boats here, if you're looking to buy.
"Do I buy a nitro or electric RC boat?"
Well, this largely depends on two factors, your personal preference and your budget.
If this is going to be your very first rc boat, we'd recommend buying electric. This is because they're cheaper to buy than their nitro equivalent and, more importantly, cheaper to run and require less maintenance.
Nitro rc boats need a minimum number of field equipment items, which you can read about here, to get the motor running. With an electric rc boat though, the only thing you really need is a charger for the motor battery pack and possibly a second battery pack so that you can be running your boat while the other battery charges.
Of course, you may want to run a nitro boat instead of electric. It's true that they offer more excitement and exhilaration because of the faster speeds, but if you're not bothered about how the boat is powered and just want a simple and cheaper introduction to rc boating, then electric is the way to go.
"What kind of RC boat should I buy?"
For a first time rc boat, whether nitro or electric, you should go for what is called a 'sport' boat. These are all similar in shape, based around the stereotypical 'cabin cruiser' or speedboat style of craft.
A sport boat is designed for ease of use over anything else and will more than likely be of a 'deep-vee' or 'semi deep-vee hull' design which makes the boat very stable and easier to control on choppy waters. As you gain more experience, you can move on to shallower hull racing boats, hydroplanes or flat-bottomed style 'airboats'.
The best kind of kit to go for is the 'RTR'. This stands for Ready To Run and comes complete with motor and radio gear fully installed and set up. All you need to do is buy the radio control batteries and accessories (if nitro) and away you go!
"How fast does an RC boat go?"
This obviously depends on the boat, but an electric model fitted with a '550' size motor will manage speeds of around 15mph. A bigger '700' size motor will push the same boat along at speeds of up to 20mph, maybe a bit more.
A nitro sport boat fitted with a '16' (.16cu.in.) engine will manage speeds of around 30mph, so you can see that nitro boats are considerably faster than electric ones.
Of course, fully race-tuned models designed for competition racing can get up to speeds in excess of 50mph! These machines though are better left alone until you've really got the hang of it and want to get more serious.
"How hard is an RC boat to operate?"
Not hard at all really! Like an rc car, you only have two channels to worry about (steering and speed) unlike an rc airplane that may have 3 or 4 (or more!) channels.
Also, there are very few obstacles on a pond (maybe the odd duck that you need to watch for, or other rc boats), so you can happily blast your boat around without having too much to worry about.
An rc sailboat can be slightly harder to master, as you need to learn how to use the wind effectively while controlling the sails. But if you prefer the thought of sailboats, then you'll quickly get the hang of it after a morning at the pond.
"So I won't need lessons then?"
Not really. Just find your local pond or lake and give it a go! But before you do, make sure that the operation of rc boats is permitted on that piece of water and that you won't be breaking any local laws by operating your model. This is very important - you could end up with a hefty fine if using your boat breaches any such laws or regulations.
Another very important factor is the public presence. Believe it or not, not everybody likes rc models tearing around the place; to some unearthly beings, such things are seen as a complete nuisance. So, before you blast your boat across the water, be very aware of who's around you and whether you'll be annoying anyone close by or not. A bit of consideration goes a long way and helps us all!
"Should I join a club?"
That's up to you and how serious you want to get. If you have a local rc boat club then we'd recommend going along to their pond and chatting with some members. Joining a club is a great way of gaining knowledge and meeting lots of enthusiastic people too, as well as sharing your love of the hobby.
Also, you might want to enter some local races and competitions. In this case, joining an rc boat club is definitely the best way of doing this.
"How can I find a local RC boat club?"
This website has an rc boat club directory with national and international listings, which you can find here. RC boat clubs don't seem to be as numerous as rc car or airplane clubs though, so you might have to travel a bit to find one.
Another good source of clubs is the International Model Power Boat Association (USA).
"Can RC boats be upgraded?"
Generally speaking yes, but of course it depends on the model that you have.
Upgrading an electric boat usually means putting a bigger motor in, using a higher voltage battery pack (check for compatibility first!) and changing the prop; there's not really too much else you can do with an electric model.
A nitro boat can be upgraded also with a larger engine, or by upgrading parts of the existing engine and fitting a 'tuned pipe' for maximum engine performance. A tuned pipe is far less restrictive on the engine, hence more power.
The thing to remember is that you probably won't need to upgrade your boat, unless you're entering club competitions.
"Where can I buy a good boat?"
If you've got a local hobby store, pop along there and ask for advice; they'll be very happy to help, especially if you flash some cash.
If you're happy buying online, I can thoroughly recommend Red Rocket Hobbies for a fine selection of quality brand name rc boats and watercraft.
Browse a good selection of popular rc boats here, if you're looking to buy.
