| Finally, the day you have been anticipating forever | | | | you are looking for as a quick refresher or in an |
| gets here. You have waited for what seems like | | | | emergency. In particular, the information about |
| forever to get out of the house, down to the | | | | engine tuning, the starting and stopping routines |
| water, and see what your new radio controlled | | | | and safeguards, should be readily available for |
| boat (RC boat) can really do. After all, what could | | | | review until it becomes second nature to you. |
| be better than to spend some quality time with | | | | Know Your Power Source |
| your friends and family, sitting around on the | | | | For all the RC boats, of course you have to have |
| waterfront on a warm day, and getting to play | | | | some form of battery for the power source. The |
| like a kid again while you enjoy your favorite | | | | power sources are the receiver packs, the main |
| hobby? | | | | battery pack, and the transmitter packs. Suffice it |
| Yes, this whole scenario seems like a dream, like | | | | to say that since you are dead in the water |
| a day too good to be true. But, it is played out | | | | without them, batteries are a most crucial part of |
| thousands of times every year. But, there can be | | | | the RC hobby. Even the RC nitro boats get into |
| some significant problems that will turn your | | | | the mix because they probably use 4 AA alkaline |
| dream into a nightmare if you are not careful. | | | | batteries for the receiver and servo power. Here |
| While your new RC boat is a toy, it is a grown-up | | | | is another tip: you will probably improve the overall |
| toy. To have a fun time and not let the day be | | | | performance and save some money for the long |
| ruined by trouble with your boat, there are some | | | | haul, by finding and using one of the 5-cell |
| things that you should keep in mind before you | | | | rechargeable battery packs. While it may not |
| even think about launching your boat. I have | | | | seem like much, the additional voltage power |
| drawn up a to-do list of things that you want to | | | | provided by that one extra cell can provide |
| make sure you remember, so that your free | | | | noticeably better reaction time and improve the |
| time can be spent enjoyably and trouble free, | | | | holding power of your servos. Since you do not |
| rather than just be another wasted day. | | | | have to just toss out your receiver pack when it |
| First Things First. Read the Directions and Any | | | | goes flat, you get the added bonus of being able |
| Manuals | | | | to reuse the pack and feel like you are |
| This has got to be the biggest and most | | | | contributing to the green, environmentally friendly |
| avoidable mistake that most people make, | | | | culture that is important to the next generation. |
| especially men. Guys, can I get a little honesty | | | | Be sure to not overlook the batteries in your |
| here? You usually assume that everything is | | | | transmitter. If you are going to make a mistake, |
| simple, and reading the directions is for everyone | | | | allow for error on the side of replacing or |
| else, not you. Am I right? You know I am. That is | | | | recharging your transmitter and receiver batteries |
| very common, particularly by the aforementioned | | | | too soon rather than too late. Since your |
| guys in the crowd. The manuals are skimmed if | | | | batteries can never have too much voltage, you |
| opened at all, and then the surprise act starts | | | | will be avoiding the embarrassment of a runaway. |
| when things start going wrong. | | | | As a caution, runaways on more powerful boats |
| Most every problem can be avoided by paying | | | | could even be dangerous. |
| attention to the directions published or known | | | | Keep track of the voltage in your receiver pack |
| trouble spots. After all, there is a reason they | | | | with a voltmeter. If you are using alkaline |
| name it an instruction manual. Within those seldom | | | | batteries, you can use a standard VOM. If you |
| read pages is a wealth of valuable information for | | | | have a receiver pack, you might want to look at |
| you. As an enthusiast and RC model user, you | | | | using an in-line voltmeter. They are readily |
| need to learn or refresh your knowledge about | | | | available and are a handy way to keep a current |
| such things as charging recommendations, if it is a | | | | status on your pack power levels. |
| battery-powered boat, or very specific directions | | | | Run, Run, Runaway |
| on how to start and tune a nitro boat engine. | | | | If you have never had runaway RC boat, count |
| Remember that your instruction manual is sure to | | | | your self as lucky. This is where your toy is more |
| discuss many if not most of the common | | | | than that all of a sudden. You have no control |
| mistakes that have been made in the past. You | | | | over what is going to happen, and you can only |
| are trying to save a ton of time, and potential | | | | watch and hope for the best. Unless you are in a |
| frustration later, so why not spend a few minutes | | | | full-size boat yourself, it will be next to impossible |
| now catching up on what the manufacturer has | | | | to chase down and retrieve your runaway boat. |
| detailed for you. | | | | This is why every nitro and gas boat should really |
| Here is a nifty little tip that works and is a simple | | | | have some sort of fail-safe device. The way such |
| thing to do! Keep a yellow, or whatever color, | | | | a device works is to return your throttle servo to |
| highlighter handy when you go through your | | | | the neutral or idle position if the signal is lost. This |
| manual. While your reading, use the highlighter to | | | | one extra safety precaution can and will prevent |
| mark up the places that you think have the | | | | your boat from becoming a missile of danger as it |
| important information that is either new to you, | | | | careens out of control towards other boats, |
| or that you want to be able to find easily at a | | | | watercraft, or even worse, people or animals in |
| later time. This way, you can quickly find what | | | | the water. |