Radio Controlled Boats As a Hobby?
radio controlled model boats
Radio controlled boating can be a wonderful, rewarding hobby. You can get a very small model, or very large models. The boats are directed remotely from a hand held controller system that fine tunes boat movements out on the water.
If you have many options, and the bodies of water range in size, you have many more options in boats.
The two most common types of radio controlled boats are sport boats and racers. Sport boats are generally a good choice for beginning hobbyists. There are three main types of systems on these boats: electrical, gas, and nitro. Nitro is mostly reserved for racers. Electrical RC boats are quiet, and do not go as fast as nitro powered boats.
Toy grade models are electric and run on batteries and will work in the pool or pond. Larger electric boat models are considered serious pieces of machinery and typically can achieve speeds of 15 – 25 MPH. These come in all sizes from speed boats to cruisers to grand sail boats that ply the lake.
Gas boats run on petrol and thus will achieve higher speeds (35 – 50 MPH) than both electric and nitro boats. Gas boats primarily come in speed boat configurations as they are built to race. Radio Controlled Boats have a large range of prices depending on the size, power source, workmanship and complexity of design.
Nitro boats run on a different fuel source, nitro-methane. They will run longer than electric boats as well as substantially faster. These boats are the next step up from electric boats as they require more skill to handle. Performance and enjoyment are best in greater water surface area than electric boats.
Toy grade entry level boats typically run under $100 ready to go out of the box. Electric RC boats with substantial design and power will run anywhere from $150 – $400. Nitro and Gas power boats have sophisticated designs with performance and speed features built in and will run from $350 – $1,500.
RC boats are a great hobby for RC enthusiasts and marine enthusiasts alike. Radio Controlled boats couple the fun of outdoor water recreation with personal skill.
Check out the other guide about RC Plane!