Who makes the best boat for $300?

[Aric909]

Gentlemen,

Can you help me out? My 13 year old son wants to buy a gas-powered R/C speed boat. Originally he wanted a boat called a Dolphin? But we researched it and found that it wasn't as good as the add proclaimed. Now he's looking at the AquaCraft U-18 Miss Vegas Hydroplane RTR from Tower Hobbies. What are your opinions of this boat? Has anyone here owned one?

He's been tweaking and running T-Maxx trucks (we own 2) for a few years, but now he wants to spend his money on a boat.

Any help is appreciated.

[Rex R]

item to think of before getting stuck on any particular boat, find out ahead of time if there are any restrictions on what you are allowed to run at the pond of your choice. some ponds are restricted to electric only.

[Aric909]

Thanks, but I have m own lake.

[tim slocum]

Did you ask this question in the gas fast boats section of RC Groups? You'll probably get more of a response. Good luck.

[Aric909]

Thanks Tim. I am new to this forum. I'll try there.

[CG Bob]

The Aquacraft Miss Vegas is a good boat; IMO much better than the ProBoat Miss Elam and Formula hydros. Aquacraft recommends the use of O'Donnel 30% Nitro Boat fuel. Proboat IIRC recommends Blue Thunder 20%. Here are some of the pluses and minuses of both boats.
AquaCraft
+ Tuned pipe runs down port side of hull, allows full access to the radio box
+ Foam flotation is installed
+ Aquacraft radio is built by Futaba, and is on 75 MHz
+ Designed by Jerry Dunlap, well known racer and holder of many speed records
+ About $20 cheaper than the ProBoat offerings at my LHS
+ Adjustable prop skeg can be used to adjust the ride of the boat
+ Quick acting cowl latches secure cowl to hull
- Two screws hold radio box cover on, the tabs for the screws can break (A customer came into the LHS where I work wiht these tabs broken).

ProBoat
- Tuned pipe runs down center of boat over radio hatch, and must be removed to replace radio batteries or change radio crystals
- Proboat radio is on 27 MHz
- Radio box hatch is sealed with tape
+/- Prop skeg is fixed and cannot be adjusted
- Cowl is held on with two knurled thimbscrews, which can take about a minute to tighten or remove - possibly causing a serious engine problem

I have run the early Proboat Miss Bud hydro, which the Miss Elam and Formula are based on. I was not really impressed with the ProBoat engineering on the hydro.