| This is a beginner's guide to buying your first Radio | | | | - Low Running Costs (much cheaper in the long run) |
| Controlled Boat. WARNING: Please don't buy your | | | | - Quiet Electric Motor (can run where Nitro boats are |
| new RC Boat before you read this guide. | | | | not allowed) |
| OK let's get started with 3 imperative things you | | | | Disadvantages |
| need to consider before getting into the wonderful | | | | - Slower than Nitro Radio Controlled Boats |
| world of RC Boating. | | | | - Your running time is limited to your battery capacity |
| Where are you going run your boat? | | | | Nitro Radio Controlled Boats |
| OK the first thing you need to consider when | | | | Nitro Radio Controlled Boats are fast, load and |
| purchasing a Radio Controlled Boat is where you are | | | | exhilarating. They should come with a warning label |
| going to run it. This is a very important consideration | | | | stating that they are addictive, beware you've been |
| because it will help you determine what type of boat | | | | warned! Nitro RC model boats run off a specially |
| you should buy. | | | | blended fuel mixture of nitro, methanol and lubricating |
| RULE NUMBER 1 - Consider the surface area of the | | | | oil. They use real, miniature engines that are capable |
| water where your boat will run. | | | | of propelling them to speeds of around 25 to 35 mph |
| Large Areas; Ocean, Lakes or Rivers | | | | right out of the box. |
| If you live near a lake, a large river or even a calm | | | | Advantages |
| ocean bay then you are indeed fortunate. You can | | | | - Nitro powered RC boats can run for longer (a quick |
| really take your pick as to which type of boat you | | | | top up of fuel and you're back on the water) |
| want to start with. | | | | - Nitro RC Boats are faster than electric RC Boats |
| Your only real concern is whether wind is a factor in | | | | (and therefore some would say more fun) |
| creating waves or chop for your electric or nitro RC | | | | Disadvantages |
| Boat or whether you'll have enough wind power for | | | | - Can be expensive to set up |
| your radio controlled sail boat. | | | | - Fuel is more expensive than regular fuel / oil |
| TIP: Before you buy your RC Boat make sure you | | | | mixture |
| are allowed to run it. Speak to any necessary | | | | - Engines require regular tuning and maintenance |
| authorities and make sure there are no noise (or | | | | - Nitro boats are noisy! You will likely be restricted |
| other) restrictions that will affect you. | | | | from some areas due to the high noise levels. |
| Small Areas; Swimming Pools, Ponds or Small Rivers | | | | - Need a wide, open water area due to increased |
| If you don't have any large bodies of water close to | | | | speed |
| you, don't despair you can still get into RC Boats. | | | | Hull Design |
| There is more than likely a swimming pool, smallish | | | | There are basically two different hull designs on Radio |
| river, or even a small, man-made lake where you can | | | | Controlled Model Boats; |
| run your new boat. | | | | - Deep V (or Mono-hull) |
| In this case you are probably restricted to electric | | | | - Flat-Bottom Hulls (also called a Hydroplane hull or |
| radio controlled boats as they are slightly slower and | | | | sometimes a Catamaran Hull) |
| therefore much more maneuverable. | | | | RULE NUMBER 3 - Choose a hull design that |
| TIP: It's much better to have a heap of fun running | | | | complements your environment. |
| an electric RC Boat in a small area than it is being out | | | | Typically boats with Deep V hulls are easier to |
| of control and risking your expensive Nitro RC Boat. | | | | control than boats with Flat-Bottomed hulls, however |
| Electric or Nitro Power | | | | once you get used to racing your model boat then |
| Before you determine what sort of boat is best for | | | | you may choose to buy a more powerful boat with |
| you, consider your level of interest and your history | | | | a fast hydroplane hull. |
| of following through. | | | | TIP: If you're a beginner or the area where you are |
| RULE NUMBER 2 - Buy a boat that suits your level of | | | | going to run your RC Boat is choppy or has high |
| interest. | | | | winds then consider a boat with a Deep V hull, it will |
| How serious are you? | | | | be much easier to control. |
| So before you begin ask yourself how serious are | | | | General Tips |
| you. Is your garage or attic strewn with unused | | | | Know your battery life |
| hobby and sport equipment? If so it may be better | | | | It's not really very cool to run out of juice in the |
| to start off with a fun, electric boat and move up to | | | | middle of the lake or a fast flowing river. Get used to |
| a more serious nitro radio controlled boat when you | | | | your battery life while practicing close to the shore. |
| get into it a little bit more. That way you'll have a | | | | You won't regret it. |
| spare boat later if you do decide to pursue the | | | | Know your Radio Control System's range |
| hobby further and you don't risk an expensive boat | | | | Again stay near the shore when testing the limit of |
| sitting idle in your shed. | | | | your Radio Control system - don't head out to sea |
| Electric Radio Controlled Boats | | | | to see how far you can make your boat go. |
| Electric Radio Controlled Boats are fast, quite and | | | | Return to shore system |
| tonnes of fun. They run off powerful re-chargeable | | | | Some boats are equipped with a sophisticated |
| batteries similar to the ones in a mobile phone. A | | | | return-to-shore system that allows you to bring the |
| typical battery charge (and therefore running time) | | | | boat home if you run out of gas. You may want to |
| lasts around 10 - 15 minutes, smaller toy boats may | | | | consider one of these. |
| run for up to 45 minutes. Electric RC Boats have | | | | In conclusion, to make a wise, experienced decision |
| running speeds right out of the box of around 15 to | | | | on your first Radio Controlled Boat make sure you |
| 20 mph. | | | | buy a boat that suits the area where your boat will |
| Advantages | | | | run and that suits your level of interest. Also make |
| - Cheap to purchase (easy place to start to see if | | | | sure that your hull design matches your environment. |
| you like it) | | | | Follow these simple tips and you'll no doubt get |
| - Easy to maintain (no messing around with fuel and | | | | hooked on your new model boat. |
| tuning) | | | | All the best on the water and off. |