Aussies have a fair share of weird and wacky entries in the Guinness Book of World Records. From the largest banana split, the tallest inflatable waterslide, the fastest time to solve a Rubik’s Cube, the longest economic expansion, to the largest simultaneous car tyre burnout. Yes, all are true blue and Australian-made. But one record that stands for almost half a century is the World Water Speed record, set by Sydneysider Ken Warby in his garage-built speedboat “the Spirit of Australia”, back in 1978. At 511.11 km/h, it’s still unattainable.
But you can come close, and not risk your life doing so. The fastest RC boat was clocked at 331 km/h just a few years back. Production models may not be up to that level (yet) but you can have a ton of fun with boats nearing 100k’s or more. Speeds like these may see you in RC boat racing competitions sooner than later. Or you might be more inclined to just enjoy propelling your boat through any body of water and at any speed that puts a smile on your face. Either way, there are dozens of RC boat models to choose from.
Ready-to-Run (RTR) or Build Your Own?
Most people get into the hobby with RTR kits, which include the boat hull, rudders, propellers, servos, radios, batteries, and chargers, or basically everything you need to get going straight out of the box. The majority of RTR kits are electric, but you will also find gas-powered boats and the ones with the highest top speeds.
If you’ve owned an RTR kit for quite some time, you’ll have the necessary skills and know-how to do basic maintenance and repairs. Many RC boaters then move on to building their own watercraft, sourcing parts from one or more RC brands, or building things entirely from scratch. The advantage here is the level of customisation, and giving the boat a personal touch that will make it stand out above the rest.
Budget-wise, RC boats are on the same playing field as other RC vehicles. Parts and models do start to climb steeply in price with higher skill sets, more speed, and outright control. A good thing is that there are a lot of players, and quite a few brands to choose from.
Types of RC Boats
RC boats resemble scale boats but differ in that they go for fun instead of realism. Not that there aren’t real-life replicas of exiting boats, but the focus is on having more kicks on the water. There are two basic designs – sailboats and speedboats.
Sailboats are a welcoming entry point into RC boating and developing your skipper skills. They’re wind-powered only but have separate servos that control the main and jib sails, and servos for the rudder for steering. Most are sold as RTR kits and have a high degree of realism and life-like scale. Kids and adults are often seen competing in regattas, with defined boat classes (based on sail area).
Speedboats are what most youngsters and the young at heart go for. There are varying hull designs that prove their worth in different bodies of water (like the terrain types for different RC trucks and cars) and are appropriate for different skill levels. Deep Vee monohulls are the monster truck equivalents on water, good over smooth or rough water, with a decent run of speed. And they’re easier to control, so a good choice for beginners.
Catamarans are faster but need somewhat smoother conditions to work at their best. They’re a good compromise between speed and stability, can maintain faster changes of direction, and are suited for most boaters, regardless of skill levels.
‘Hydroplanes’ are aptly named. They virtually fly over the water with the only points of contact being the trim tabs or rudders and the propeller. This allows for the least friction and the highest speeds. They do however perform better in calmer waters to maintain the needed stability.
What to Look for in RC Boats
Motors
Most RC boat models are electrically powered. Wherever you have the chance, go with newer brushless motors. They put out more power when paired with newer Lithium-Polymer batteries, have longer run times, and will last longer than dated brushed motors. They’re also built for speed, and you can get up to 100 km/h in beefier speedboats and the right batteries. Also, mind the electronic speed controller (ESC) that dictates the power the motor gets.
Higher skill levels and more technical know-how are needed to run nitro and gas-powered motors. And you’ll find these in bigger boats that also cost more. The upside is the power they put out, along with the sound. They’ll also last longer in the water and have higher top speeds, as compared to the faster acceleration times of electrically powered RC boats until these run out of juice.
Servos and Radios
How the boat is controlled is done by servo motors to change settings to the rudders, trims tabs, or even the angle of the propeller. More high-end boats have complicated electronics (that must also be waterproof and sealed) to allow for high-speed maneuvers. Straight-line speed is fine, but you still want the boat to be agile and carve through water with the flick of a finger.
Radios come in different guises and help control the boat from land. Here you’ll be looking at the range and multiple frequencies for better handling and input. Beginner kits have servos and radios readily packaged, while more experienced users have the choice of more upscale parts.
Batteries and Chargers
The choice of the battery determines how fast the boat can go, as well as run times. Hulls will often have multiple battery compartments to extend the fun and boats equipped with at least two or more batteries will be faster and last longer in the water. Lithium-polymer batteries are what most manufacturers recommend, along with compatible chargers for faster charging times.
Materials and Build
Boats need to be lightweight, yet durable enough to withstand the battering they take. Hull materials range from ABS plastic in the majority of RTR RC boats, to more durable fibreglass (which is easier to repair) and even carbon fibre in more expensive variants. Steering components are often metal, aluminium or treated steel, and will last. Parts need to be assembled to tight tolerances, and electronics sealed.
Final Word
Trucks and cars might dominate the RC world, but there’s a growing interest in RC boats. Buyers have a choice of different boat designs, each bringing their own flavour of fun and in different settings. There are several skill levels to choose from, and even cheaper and smaller-scale beginner kits have everything packaged to get you racing. If you want more speed and added control, parts are easily swapped out.
