| If you have ever seen super high-speed racing boats | | | | time to time. Speed-wise, electric boats typically run |
| zooming across the surface of a lake and thought to | | | | between five and thirty miles an hour, while gas boats |
| yourself 'I want to do that," RC, or radio controlled | | | | run upwards of 65 plus miles per hour and nitro can |
| boats may be a great hobby for you to pick up. It is | | | | reach speeds above 100 miles per hour. |
| far safer than manned high speed boat racing, and | | | | When it comes to hull designs, there are quite a lot to |
| offers a far wider variety of customization and | | | | choose from. A good starting point for most beginning |
| engineering options for far less monetary outlay than | | | | radio controlled boaters would be the V hull (also |
| the million dollar corporate sponsored racing boats of | | | | known as a mono hull), which as the name might |
| legend. The sport of RC boat racing is not difficult to | | | | suggest has a hull in the shape of a V for greater |
| get started in, and at the lower levels of competition, it | | | | slicing through the water, or catamaran, which has two |
| is not all that expensive either. It can be a lot of fun, | | | | large sponsons that run along the length of the boat |
| and well worth the amount of time and money you | | | | and provide floatation and stability. Other types include |
| invest. RC boating is a great way to challenge both | | | | hydros, aka tunnel hulls, which use specifically placed |
| yourself and others. | | | | full length sponsons to create a cushion or tunnel of air |
| You challenge others by pitting your boat against theirs, | | | | that helps increase the speed of the boat and |
| and you challenge yourself by trying to create the | | | | outriggers, which come in 3 point, 4 point and multi point |
| very best boat you can, working against the elements, | | | | suspension varieties and all have partial boat length |
| waves and current, comparing different fuels and | | | | sponsons held out to the side of the craft. |
| many other factors, trying to create the very best | | | | When people are just starting out, they may be looking |
| boat that you can build. On the other hand, it only has | | | | for recommendations on the right model to choose. |
| to be as complicated as you want to make it, and it is | | | | The primarily gas powered Expresscraft brand comes |
| easy to simply buy a ready made boat, put it in the | | | | very highly recommended, although they are not the |
| water and go. There are many radio controlled boat | | | | cheapest. If you are unsure as to how involved you |
| associations all across the country which offer all sorts | | | | want to get in the world of radio controlled boat racing, |
| of competitions and races for many different engine | | | | a good idea would be to start out with a lower cost |
| types and boat classifications and it is easy to find one | | | | electric model easily found at any hobby shop and try |
| of these clubs near you and get involved. | | | | it out. If you decide you like it, you might look into the |
| When many people first get into the radio controlled | | | | Expresscraft brand, venom group boats and the |
| boats world they start off with electric powered boats | | | | Arrow Shark boats. Bear in mind that the last two are |
| as they tend to be the least expensive option. | | | | manufactured overseas and may be more difficult to |
| Whenever you get into a new hobby, it is always a | | | | get your hands on, but they are available on the |
| good idea to start out small to see if it is something | | | | internet and if you can find them they can make for |
| you want to continue on in a more dedicated fashion. | | | | excellent boats perfect for everyone ranging from |
| Electric powered RC boats run from $30 or less for | | | | people just starting out all the way up to those with |
| the very entry level boats to around $200 for higher | | | | years of professional experienced. Your best bet is to |
| end models, and they do not require you to buy and fill | | | | look for a gas powered V hull or catamaran with a |
| them with extra fuel. There is a wide range of | | | | good reputation. Of course, it never hurts to ask |
| manufacturers for electric powered radio controlled | | | | questions, and if you are shopping for your boat in |
| boats for any experience level and price range, and if | | | | person at a hobby store or other physical |
| you do a little research and ask around, you can easily | | | | establishment, see if you can find someone on the |
| find the right boat for you. | | | | staff who has experience with RC boats and can give |
| Once you get a little farther into the world of RC boat | | | | you some first hand reviews and recommendations. |
| racing, you will find a wide range of options for fuels | | | | Once you get farther into the world of RC boat racing, |
| and boat designs. Beyond electric, there are also | | | | you can begin to customize many different parts of |
| gasoline powered and nitro powered boats. All three | | | | the craft beyond just their physical form and fuel |
| of these options have their own set of pros and cons, | | | | systems. The key to any successful radio controlled |
| and each is suited for a different type of racer or | | | | boat is its electronic signal transmission system. The |
| hobbyist. For the weekend hobbyist, the best option is | | | | more powerful the signal, the greater the range of |
| probably a gas powered boat. Gas, or a gasoline and | | | | your boat. You can modify a boat's transmitters and |
| oil mixture is a cheaper fuel than nitro, and easy to | | | | receivers, as well as its receiver crystals. You can also |
| obtain. Gas boats are also some of the most | | | | customize all the different parts of your boat including |
| commonly used RC boats, meaning they are easy to | | | | its motion servos, propellers, and any other physical |
| find, modify, and add new components to. Gas boats | | | | design component for greater speed, agility, range and |
| will also give you the longest run times. Nitro methane, | | | | stability. The possibilities are nearly endless, limited only |
| also known as nitro, is a higher cost, higher end RC | | | | by your budget and your creativity. |
| boat fuel, though it does offer significantly better speed | | | | Radio controlled boats can be a fun way to spend a |
| and performance than that of electric boats. Many | | | | summer afternoon or an all consuming passion, but |
| competitors willing to drop some fairly serious money | | | | however far you choose to go, there is plenty of |
| on their hobby and into the straight run competitions | | | | information out there and other interested people |
| prefer this fuel for the high speeds that are achievable. | | | | eager to share it with you. If you are thinking of getting |
| Electric boats may be slower, but they are still the best | | | | involved in RC boating, you should check around to |
| for the occasional hobbyist or for someone who just | | | | see if there is a club or association near you. |
| wants to have fun with a radio controlled boat from | | | | |