Radio controlled models appeal to the kid in all of us, though serious hobbyists will make a distinction between hobby quality models and the toys of their youth.
If you live near a lake or river, then radio-controlled boats provide a fun way to hit the water.
You can race them competitively or just sail them for recreation.
Be careful to avoid bodies of water that have weeds in them, as these can get stuck in your rudder or propeller and slow down your radio-controlled boat.
Gas, Electric or Nitro? Broadly speaking, radio controlled boats fall into three types.
Electric boats are the cheapest, but also the slowest, and get slower as the battery power depletes.
Gas powered boats run on regular auto gas, and can reach speeds of up to 45 mph.
They are the most expensive type of remote controlled boat, but can run for up to 45 minutes on a single tank of gas.
Somewhere in between are nitro boats, which run on a blend of alcohol and oil especially designed for sport vehicles.
The boats themselves are usually cheaper than gas boats, but the fuel is more expensive, so they could prove to be a false economy.
Another disadvantage is that they are very noisy, and banned in some areas for that reason.
However, they have the advantage of being easy to operate and running on full power throughout the lifetime of a tank of fuel.
What Do I Need To Run a Remote Controlled Boat? Most remote controlled boats come as a complete kit, with batteries, fuel and a battery charger, though batteries and fuel will need to be purchased separately once the initial supply runs out.
Some nitro boats also require a starter kit.
This is usually supplied with the boat, but not always.
If you are buying your first remote controlled boat, you are better off looking for one that comes ready to run straight out of the box.