Introduction & Types
You Can Navigate an R/C Boat!
Whether you crave action or relaxation, you'll enjoy radio-controlled boating. There's nothing quite as soothing as gliding your scale R/C sailboat across a pond, or for full-throttle excitement, you can race a gas- or electric-powered deep vee or hydro! Many of our model boats already come mostly pre-built. To start making waves, just add water!
Boat Design Made Easy
Sailboats:
A sailboat gets its power from the force of the wind. Large sails catch the wind and move the boat in the same manner as a full-size sailboat. R/C sailboats range in size from less than twenty inches in length to forty inches long with a mast that towers 73.6 inches (over 6 feet) above the water!
Scale Boats:
A scale boat is an actual replica of a full-size boat. The greater the skill of the builder, the more the model can resemble the original, with features like planked decks, chrome or brass deck fittings; even cloth flags and ladders.
Racing Boats:
There are three main types of racing hulls: three-point hydros, tunnel hulls, and V-hulls. The different types of hulls require different water conditions. Tunnel hulls and hydros run best on smooth water where they can "Get on step" and plane properly across the water. Hydros have a surface running propeller which, at full speed, is half in and half out of the water kicking up the characteristic "rooster tail" of water behind the boat. If your lake or pond has some chop to it, consider a deep vee hull. They have a submerged propeller and can slice through waves without much reduction in speed.
Airboats:
Oddly enough, an airboat is powered by an airplane engine and prop mounted high above the stern. Hull bottoms are flat (or nearly so); steering power may come from a water rudder, vanes on the fan, or both.
Tunnel Hulls:
Tunnel hulls are a variation of the three-point design. However, the sponsons extend the complete length of the hull similar to a catamaran. The effect is that the hull is partially supported by a cushion of air trapped beneath the boat. This helps the boat to move faster by requiring less hull for flotation.
Deep V-Hulls:
V-hulls, like the famous "Cigarette" off-shore racing boats, are mono hull boats and their hull is in the shape of a V - usually 150 degrees or less. They are noted for their ability to slice through rough, choppy water so that the speed of the boat is maintained.
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Airplanes