Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Getting started in RC Boats


By C.J. Baker


If you are enamored with the excitement and the speed of racing but would rather not put yourself in danger, or just like gadgets and tinkering, then radio controlled boats may be a good hobby for you to pursue. With RC boats, you can speed over the water and get in on the fun of boat racing! If you're interested in radio controlled boats, keep reading; RC boats are a great hobby which has a lot to offer everyone.

Racing radio controlled boats can be very exciting, as can maintaining your boat and making modifications to it to improve its speed and maneuverability on the water. Alternately, you can choose a radio controlled boat right off of the shelf and get started racing right away.

If you're new to radio controlled boats, then you have several different options to consider. There are a few different types of energy supplies available to power your boat. The cheapest are battery powered boats; these have rechargeable battery packs which you can plug in to refuel. However, you should keep in mind that these boats tend to have less power than do other RC boats and it can take several hours to recharge " so you'll need extra battery packs for a day at the races.

A popular choice with intermediate and advanced RC boat racers is nitro power. These radio controlled boats can be powered with a fuel consisting of a nitro-methane mix, which gives them lots of power, especially if yours is a smaller boat. The downside is that this fuel is more expensive than other options, but of course unlike an electrical boat you don't have to wait for them to recharge " simply top up your tank and your back in the game!

Gasoline is also a fuel option for radio controlled boats. This isn't quite the same fuel as goes into your cars gas tank, but this is one of its ingredients. You'll probably need to experiment with different blends of gasoline and oil until you hit on the best formula to use in your radio controlled boat. These are usually the fastest RC boats, but are the loudest, largest and most expensive as well. However, using gas instead of nitro fuel will save you money in the long run.

For those just starting out however, it is important to see if you like the hobby before jumping off the deep end and buying a high-end racer. Start with a simple off the shelf electric model and see how you like it. If you are sure you want to get involved, perhaps go with something kit based so you can make your own modifications to the craft.

It may also be a good idea to join a RC boat racing clubs (there is at least one in almost every city). Talking to the other members can help you get a lot of useful tips " and some of the other members of the club might even let you take a turn at their controls to see how some of the higher end radio controlled boats work.



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