Newbie needs help!

[cameraman.]

Hello

Last sunday I found myself walking around a local boating lake and I was immediately taken with the RC boats. I like the speed/racing designs and thought to myself that i would like to try and build my own but i need a bit of help as I know nothing about rc boats!!!!!!

Are there plans available to construct your own boats and is it possible to by the running hardware as a kit? or is there a build it yourself complete kit ?

hope you can help

thanks

mike

[Hoghappy]

Welcome cameraman. Did you approach or talk to the sailors? I'm sure they are willing to help with getting someone interested in the hobby. What part of the country are you located in? Here is a link to some of the clubs around for sail boats and other types of boats too. I'm sure others here will add to the list.

http://www.modelyacht.org/clublist.html

Capt. crash

[Prins Willem]

Cameraman, welcome to the legions of those bitten by the RC boat bug. There are less options in build fast electrics than scale models (I.E. the slow boats that get in the way :D ). On the flip side there are several good to excellent ready to run, alomst ready to run, and semi kits available. As an example a good and fairly popular boat kit is the Cracker Box from Vac-U-Boat http://www.vac-u-boat.com/. Buying a bare boat kit allows the builder to pick his own motor, esc, radio, and battery package.


Hoghappy is correct that you should approach the boaters you saw and talk with them. They will fill you in on what they are running in case you are interested in a little friendly racing. Everybody using the same class boat makes for fun and exciting competition. They can also tell you what the local hobby shop may have or can do for you. You don't say whether you have any other R/C experience, if not they can help you there too. There are also plenty of guys who hang out on this forum, when they should be in the shop working on models, who are more than willing to help. You should take a look at the FE boat forum and see what the FE guys are talking about. You may find some inspiration there too.

[retoabcr]

I bought the last i know of lazer kits is a El Lobo II wooden. This is a suggestion and that is get a 21" Scat Cat from Randy Naylor. You have to put the top on but that is part of the learning curve. You can use a brushed motor and lipos but you want to use lipos in saddle pack formation to get proper cg. Now if you want brushed motors, get a 12/3 or 13/3 wind and use .130 size cable and .130 teflon liner and stuffing tube size 7/32 but you have to sand teflon to get it to slide in 7/32 cause there is no brass stuffing tube around for that application and works great. Props, use a 632 octira or carbon fiber from Offshores size S31 which is a pitch of 6 so you have a 631 prop. Watercool the can and i use a 1" square fan to cool the endbell but solder it 1/2" from endbell and power for fan comes from the motor leads. Now alot of fe boaters use hood cooling but isn't very efficient. I just got thru with a Micro Scat Cat with a 05/540 motor. Now i haven't tried it out due to flooding.. Subject change. Also offshores has a small hull ( red hydro ) for $85.00 that can fill the job by using a small bl motor and advise from Steve V. on components. Lazer kits are almost part of the past, real loss for DIY people. These are suggestions only that might help you decide. Now to start out, it is recommended to go small and work up in $$$ so if disappointed, you won't be out a arm and leg $$$.