"RC boating is for old guys" she said.

[spacephrawg]

I mentioned to a friend that I do RC boating. She and I are in our mid 20's. She said, and I quote: "Isnt that an old-man's pastime?" I was taken aback, both because I happen to think RC boating is for all ages, and because I'm on of those rare young people who doesn't discriminate by age. However when I see photos of RC boat events or videos of guys with their boats at a lake, it's always guys who have at least 15 years on me, usually more.

Most of the time, when I see RC car enthusiasts on youtube, it's younger people. When it's planes, its every age group. For instance, there's these guys over on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/user/RCSuperPowers) They're obviously in their mid 30's or late 20's.

According to my friend, RC boating seems as much of an old guy's thing as model trains. I think she's full of crap but am wondering how in touch with reality I actually am on this one.

What are your thoughts?

[avidjeepr]

About a year ago, there was a age poll taken here. Here are the results. :rolleyes:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=821363&highlight=age+poll

[norgale]

R/Cing probably was a Older persons hobby mostly because of the cost of the r/c equipment. Young people didn't have the resources and maybe not the interest back in say the fifties where older people who were working and more or less established in life had some extra bucks to throw at an r/c model.
It's been in the last thirty years or so that the r/c equipment came into it's transistor phase and equipment became much smaller and cheaper and more readily available. This of course is due to the tremendous amount of money poured into the space program and research into computers ect.
People make a lot more money now than they did back in the 50's and so the younger people have been able to participate at a greater rate than ever before.
So is R/Cboating an old mans hobby? You bet it is and a middle aged mans hobby and a young mans hobby and more and more a ladies hobby. It's now cheap enough that almost anybody who wants to can have an r/c something around the house. Your friends thinking is a little behind the times and she needs to be reinformed. Shoot! Give her the Tx and let her run your boat. Bet she'll like it a lot. Pete

[toesup]

I mentioned to a friend that I do RC boating. She and I are in our mid 20's. She said, and I quote: "Isnt that an old-man's pastime?"

I suppose to a 20 year old someone in their 30's or 40's is considered to be 'Old'...
I prefer 'Mature'... ;)

[retoabcr]

Get her a 24" mono and have her make a jet boat with a 700 propelling it on 12 cells or lipos or a wooden airboat.

[Kmot]

I think she's full of crap but am wondering how in touch with reality I actually am on this one.

What are your thoughts?
She's full of crap alright. Definitely ignorant of the facts.

On the other hand, there is a bit of truth to it. Because in order to be able to afford the really nice model boats, you need bucks. More than the typical pimple faced teenager has.

So I suppose Ferrari's and Lamborghini's and Bugatti's etc are and old mans pastime as well. :p

[Cap'n Jack]

She's full of crap alright. Definitely ignorant of the facts.

On the other hand, there is a bit of truth to it. Because in order to be able to afford the really nice model boats, you need bucks. More than the typical pimple faced teenager has.

So I suppose Ferrari's and Lamborghini's and Bugatti's etc are and old mans pastime as well. :p

Not if your daddy is rich! Mine wasn't. :)

[spacephrawg]

I tried giving her a go at the controls - this is when I was still using the stick-type controller. I now prefer the pistol grip (if they made a stick-type controller that also had a wheel, I'd be all over it.) She couldnt make it work right. "It's really hard to steer this thing" she said. Ok, well like I said, I don't always like stick controllers either but they're not that bad. Maybe she should have another go sometime.

I've always loved model and real ships ever since i was in second grade. My interests were about in line with the rest of the kids up until then. Starting at toddler age going forward, it went like this: dinosaurs; trucks; construction vehicles; Ghostbusters; Ninja Turtles; space exploration; and then it went to sailing and powered ships. My friends' interests continued into various video games, sports, whatever other cartoon show was trendy at the time. While I sometimes deviated from ships, in the direction of aircraft, cars, tanks, and spacecraft (real and fictional), it always eventually came back to ships. Apparently I am out of touch with my contemporaries. The way I see it, they're dull and ships are cool. I really think they're missing out.

I'm relieved to see the age poll results. Do they refer to everyone on RCgroups or just the boaters? Regardless, if i show it to that friend of mine, I'll say it refers to us boaters.

About hanging out with older people, even as a little kid I never understood the stigma about it. I don't know as much about the world as they do and I can learn a lot from those more experienced, especially when it comes to this hobby.

Down with age-discrimination!

[fooman2008]

My other half. Has a two wheel drive R/C truck and a hovercraft 9pretty good in the snow and great on a good icy parking lot. She thinks I am a little flaky but since she has a rather expensive sewing machine she does not begrudge me my 4 wheel drive and helicopter, nor the impending plans for a sit down scale battle ship (18 feet)
Foo

[charlie eaton]

Phrawg, you must understand that most of us ''greyhairs' (those that still have hair) started in the hobby in our teens or before. We have been the backbone of the hobby industry since the 50's so yes the average age is up there and you are at the bottom of the scale. BUT cheer up in 30 years you'll be an old fart playing with toys just like us. :D

[avidjeepr]

I'm relieved to see the age poll results. Do they refer to everyone on RCgroups or just the boaters? Regardless, if i show it to that friend of mine, I'll say it refers to us boaters.



boaters, It was posted in the boat section.

[norgale]

Phrawg, you must understand that most of us ''greyhairs' (those that still have hair) started in the hobby in our teens or before. We have been the backbone of the hobby industry since the 50's so yes the average age is up there and you are at the bottom of the scale. BUT cheer up in 30 years you'll be an old fart playing with toys just like us. :D

Sage words from one who knows. "OLD FARTS RULE" Pete

[Habanero]

One of my first flying instructors was probably early 70's so there are exceptions but I read that one's reflexes start going downhill after 40 and also vision fades so older guys are just not as likely to be flying or lurching cars around a track.

[toesup]

Sage words from one who knows. "OLD FARTS RULE"

20 year old compared to a 40 year old:...

We have done all the fast and wild stuff.. now we know how to do it properly and take our time doing it.. :p:D;)

[tigerbay]

I think there is some truth.

The youngest of RC bods may want something 'fast' (how fast does it go Mr.?). And something to assemble and get up and running quicker.

Then as we go up te age scale there are those who have a bit more dosh, as has been stated, and also a bit more patience in wanting to build something maybe a bit more challenging. Probably more complex and faster perhaps. E.g. Jet RC aircraft, or ohter birds and helos that need a more experienced pilot. Or maybe fast electric or IC boats.

Then as has also been stated, we either loose eyesight, reflexes slow, or we find flying and avoiding a black back job more stressy than we used to want.

So model boats hits the spot for GOGs.

And yes there are still young model boaters.

[mxz70017]

RC Is not just for "The oldmen".As my Uncle Charlie Will contend..How about the little girl Shelby Uncle Charlie????This young lady All of about 6 years old.Took the controls a pistol grip Hi-Tec.As well as my Bluejacket lobster boat.Ran It Thru 8 packs at a club pond run!!!!I couldnt change the batteries fast enough an get It back In the water for her!!!Her older brother didnt want to touch It.This little lady was a veteran Rc boat captain by the afternoon!!!This was after I did some maiden runs with It..The boat at this time was brand new.She had more run time at the wheel then I did...An It was a pleasure watching her face an her smile. When she was doing It too.She also told me they where going on a boat cruise shorlty after this...I literally no lie at the end did not even have to watch her.She knew when It was slowing down.She told me Its time to come In for a battery change!!An would bring that boat In just as easy an slick as I can do now....I would love to see more younger Girls An Boys getting Into RC.I was 3 years old 40 some odd years ago!!!Flying a Control line models In my dads arms!!!Then got Into Rc planes an boats later on.Been modeling my whole life.Can not think of a better hobby!!

[keith S]

For the most part that used to be true that it is for the "old guys". When I got started in the mid 80's, I was only about 20 and the youngest person at the club for a long time. I used to tell everyone that I am there to help lower the average age. Now that I am in my 40's, I am still the youngster at times but there are more that are younger and comming up. To the younger folks, I am an "old fart". Most of the time you do see elder people doing this hobby whos kids are out of the house and they now have the time and $$ to enjoy the hobby.

[420TEE]

The title of this thread should end in "...and then the fight started..." :D :D

[der kapitan]

20 year old compared to a 40 year old:...

We have done all the fast and wild stuff.. now we know how to do it properly and take our time doing it.. :p:D;)
Gotta love that Toesup guy, I tell ya---. :D

[Vince Hoffmann]

Phrawg, you must understand that most of us ''greyhairs' (those that still have hair) started in the hobby in our teens or before. We have been the backbone of the hobby industry since the 50's so yes the average age is up there and you are at the bottom of the scale. BUT cheer up in 30 years you'll be an old fart playing with toys just like us. :D


Careful Charlie, you're showing your age! :eek: :D

[Hoghappy]

20 year old compared to a 40 year old:...

We have done all the fast and wild stuff.. now we know how to do it properly and take our time doing it.. :p:D;)

Speak for your self man! :p

[toesup]

Speak for your self man! :p

Ahhh something you put together in 10 minutes eh?..

:p:p:p

[tghsmith]

age and treachery will win over youth and enthusiasm every time!!!!

[fvasileios]

hi there guys....young and old both....
as i read everybody was a young modeller in the past....i believe that modelling is the most interesting hobby and for all ages....especially if older modellers teach their expierence to the younger so they can teach after years to the new modellers....its a chain...

i'm 23 and only for 2-3 years a modeller....i hope that i'll be able to advice young modellers in 20 years from now in this site by using the knowledge i'll take from older modellers now.......... :)

bill

[tugs]

Only been in the hobby for about 20 years, would have been 50 but we couldn't afford much extra in those days. [Designed a very nice tug from a catalog, but it never came to fruition...]

Today you can build a Springer for under $50 using spare parts, under $100 with new.

I take two Springers to the lake on most occasions but will offer the controls to younger ones when they show interest. One father was scared to death that junior would wreck it, and even more frightened that he'd be building one soon.

Springers are virtually indestructible, build a second one and share with a younger [or older] boater-to-be, that's the best way to "hook" a new hobbyist and a new friend.

That'll also flatten out the age curve on the next poll.

Show and share your interest and RC Groups with others and the hobby will grow accordingly. Maybe even more LHS business.

Happy Sailing, er.. Springering.

Tugs

[E-Challenged]

Do whatever you like regardless of what others think of it. I think that girls and women miss out on lot of interesting and fun things trying to do what is expected of them and "fit in". There are the Amelia Earharts and others whose interest take them "outside the box".

[hotjava]

This post is funny. I remember joining my first R/C Boat Club in my twenties. I was the youngest member. I think the next youngest was around 40.

Back then, the thought was running through my mind -- what am I doing with all these "old" guys!

Now, that I'm 40, it's even funnier!

[Habanero]

To me being in the presence of the "old guys" - learning from them, BS'ing with them is the best part of this hobby actually.