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Welcome to THE SOURCE for
Electric and Nitro Powered RC Boats and Sailboats, plus the parts
and accessories you need.
Getting Started in RC Boats -
from gettingstartedinrc.com
Types of Boats
The first step is to pick your
area of interest. From vintage racers, modern sport boats and
cutting-edge hydros to scale tugs, warships and fishing boats, to
sailboats and pleasure yachts, almost any type of craft can be made as
an RC model. The type of boat you choose and the function you want it to
perform will determine what you need.
Boat kits are available in various materials and in all stages of
completion, from raw plans to complete ready-to-run (RTR) boats. For
beginners, RTR kits are a good starting point. The hulls are formed
plastic (usually white) and don't require painting. RTR boats tend to be
sport boats rather than racers and emphasize simplicity and reliability
over all-out speed or meticulous scale detail. The idea behind these
designs is to make things easy for beginners: just drop them in the
water and enjoy!
Kits that require building may have plastic hulls, or they may be of
fiberglass and have a gelcoat finish. Painting and waterproofing are not
required with these, though you may have to apply decals. Plan on some
light assembly work; some parts may have to be glued, trimmed, sanded,
drilled, or screwed together. More advanced kits usually have wooden
hulls that have to be built and painted. These can be plank-on-frame,
mimicking full-size construction techniques, or they may employ die-cut
sheets for the hull surface. Both types work well but require more
effort to assemble, sand, prime and finish. Most kits come with a radio
box to protect the electronics from water.
Power Boats
Powerboats of various types make up the lion's share of RC craft. This
group can be divided into two classes: sport boats and racers. Sport
boats are designed—first and foremost—to be fun. Performance is
certainly important, but not at the expense of operator enjoyment.
Likewise, many sport boats have scale-like features, but authenticity
takes a back seat to function. Sport boats are probably the best choice
for inexperienced modelers, because they are designed with an eye toward
easy and reliable operation with a healthy dose of speed mixed in.
Racing Boats
Racing boats are more uncompromising and, therefore, more temperamental.
The priority in a racer is performance; appearance and ease of operation
are secondary. These boats are the fastest, but they are also the most
high-maintenance and the most demanding to drive.
Scale Boats
Scale boats are different in that their first priority is authenticity.
Performance is important, but only as a way to increase realism. The
objective with a scale boat is to make it look and perform like the
full-size version rather than to maximize speed or ease of operation.
Any full-size boat can serve as the inspiration for a scale project;
many of the most popular are historical craft, warships and commercial
vessels. These types of models tend to have some of the more creative
functional details—working lights, sounds, deck equipment, etc. If
artistry and precision detail appeal to you more than raw speed, this is
the type of model to build.
Sailboats
Sailboats use RC for control, but they are powered only by the wind
rather than an on-board drive system. They can be scale, sport, or
racing boats with the same characteristics as their powered
counterparts, but sailing is a different discipline and requires
different skills. If you're used to powered craft, be prepared to learn
a new set of rules, even if you're experienced.
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