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[bikerbabe]

hi there my name is mandy and i am very very new to model boat building, i fly remote control helicopters and fixed wing and would very much like to expand my knowledge into the world of boats as they facinate me. So i would be greatfull if there is anyone out there that could point me in the right direction of where to start as i dont have a clue at the moment. 

[Shipmate60]

Hi Mandy,
Unfortunately your question is a bit like how do I start flying?
What sort of craft interests you?
Performance with few details or slower with more detail, tugs, warships, submarines etc.
Kit or scratch build?

Sorry to not give an answer but you wont get the answers you want until you start asking the right questions.
Its the same in any hobby.
I am thinking of trying RC aircraft but need to know a bit more about it to ask the right questions.

Bob

[bikerbabe]

Thanks for your message but i dissagree with what you have to say my post was only designed just get some ideas from other people to see what they say so i can gather my own ideas after all it was how i got into racing motorbikes and into to model flying and now i fly a raptor 50 30 and 90.

so it begs me to say how can i ask the right questions in an area i dont know to much about thats why i joined the forum in the first plac.

[gondolier88]

Okay, first, some float, they are the ones that work. Some don't float, they are the ones that don't work, unless it's a submarine- but they shouldn't really be modelled c'cos you can't see them so whats the point in that...!

Second, some go fast and are meant to go slow, some go slow and are meant to go fast, some have propellors, some have jet engines, some have IC engines, some have steam engines.

Third, a lot are plastic (GRP), some are wooden and just a few clever sods have built some metal ones too.

Fourth, you need a sense of humour, a pond and boat and you will make many freinds on here.

Greg

PS- DickyD, as much as it pains me to say, is very knowlegeable, and I think what he means is that if you have any inclination towards any type of boat then let us know and we can point you in the right direction...

[Mark47]

A hard general question to answer but here is some food for thought.

If you want something easy to transport? Tugs, racing boats and smaller scale lifeboats are a good option. Lifeboats and tugs have a decent beam on them giving great stability (these can be highly detailed and cause a lot of interest from passers by). This will make them a good option if you don't what wave conditions you will have at the pond/loch/lake before you arrive for a sail, (nothing worse than turning up and not being able to have a days sail).

Warships give a great chance of high detail, but can be a little hard to transport (most modern ships are around 50+ inches) you could build something like a mine sweeper or coastal craft, which normally come in around 3-4 feet in length.

To develop building skills at little cost for introduction could be Revell's 1:72 scale flower class kit. This can be modified for RC.

Kit £50
2 channel 40mHz FM set £30-£50
Motor £5-£8
ESC £15-£20
Shaft £5-£7
Propeller £5-£8
Paints £10

It is all about personal preference Something big, fast, highly detailed, long running times, colour style of boat......the list goes on and on.

[tonyH]

OK, are you interested in the build or the sailing?

Please excuse me but I know nothing about RC planes but Raptors sound to be at the semi-scale speed end of the market and do you want a similar type of 'package' on the water.

OR do you want to spend more time on the build, in which case scale tugs/MTB's/fishing boats would tend to be the simpler kit or semi kit types to build. Graupner/Robbe/Deans kits could be the starting point for these. Simpler is the wrong word but some of the manufacturers build instructions leave a lot to be desired and the frustration could easily kill off interest in the whole hobby.

If you want the speed element you could often be limited to electric on the local pond and this generally means short running time while i/c can often be limited to offshore so even geography can come into the equation.

If you can sort out what your priorities are then, I'm sure, MBM can help.

Best of Luck

[knoby]

Hi mandy welcome to mbm.
judging by your other interests & the pic of that kwacker your a bit of a petrol head, so my advice would be to look at petrol/nitro boats as thats where your aircraft knowledge most overlaps with boats. however, as TonyH said ic boats are not welcome at too many lakes these days , so its worth checking out your local waters & clubs to see what u can run there. have a look here to see local clubs, although not all are listed;

http://www.modelboatlakes.co.nr/

you can probably find a second hand boat on the web, which wouldn't take too much work to get running, if u can set up & fly a raptor the boat will be easy enough with a little advice from here. Personally i think its important to get something on the water first, that allows you access to the clubs & to meet other boaters which in turn will increase your knowledge.

if ic isn't a viable option, then have a look at springer tugs on here.they are simple to build & there are unlimited ways to finish them. I would be cautious of getting involved in a large project first time, best to try something easy first & see if you like it.

Once the lakes start to thaw out , its best to get to a few meetings & find what holds your interest the most. scale boats tend to be electric driven & performance tend to be electric or ic, but most boat meeting only really cater for 1 type, so it will involve some travelling around.

don't forget you cant use 35mhz rc gear in boats but 2.4 ghz is fine
cheers Glenn
 

[bikerbabe]

Hi mandy welcome to mbm.
judging by your other interests & the pic of that kwacker your a bit of a petrol head, so my advice would be to look at petrol/nitro boats as thats where your aircraft knowledge most overlaps with boats. however, as TonyH said ic boats are not welcome at too many lakes these days , so its worth checking out your local waters & clubs to see what u can run there. have a look here to see local clubs, although not all are listed;

http://www.modelboatlakes.co.nr/

you can probably find a second hand boat on the web, which wouldn't take too much work to get running, if u can set up & fly a raptor the boat will be easy enough with a little advice from here. Personally i think its important to get something on the water first, that allows you access to the clubs & to meet other boaters which in turn will increase your knowledge.

if ic isn't a viable option, then have a look at springer tugs on here.they are simple to build & there are unlimited ways to finish them. I would be cautious of getting involved in a large project first time, best to try something easy first & see if you like it.

Once the lakes start to thaw out , its best to get to a few meetings & find what holds your interest the most. scale boats tend to be electric driven & performance tend to be electric or ic, but most boat meeting only really cater for 1 type, so it will involve some travelling around.

don't forget you cant use 35mhz rc gear in boats but 2.4 ghz is fine
cheers Glenn
 

hi thanks for your reply you are correct for a woman i am abit of a petrol head i am looking to start of somewhere in the world of boating small but nippy and quick if that makes sence and work my way up from there.

[tigertiger]

HI Mandy

Welcome aboard.

It sounds like you will be interested in the Power Race Leisure section.
Have a look around at the boats on there and see what grabs your fancy.

The big fast noisy boats are petrol driven. Look for postings with the words OMRA. These are offshore racing boat models with IC (internal combustion) engines. However most lakes in the UK will not allow you to use IC. There is a racing series in the UK
The alternative would be 'fast electric', and some of these are very fast. They come in different shapes and sizes. Monohulls, catamerans etc. Also racing events.

But have a cruise arond the site. There are other sections. Just look at the photos and see what you fancy.
There are warships, and torpedo boats (these can be quick).

There are working vessels, like fishing boats, cargo boats, and tugs. Some of these have steering competitions.

Then there are sailing boat. Some are racing yachts, others are historic.

Another thing you can do is find your local club. Put the question up here, 'where is my local club?'
Go and have a look see, and for most of the boats the owners may be willing to let you have a go. You only have to ask.

[boatmadman]

welcome to the madhouse, Mandy. As you have already found out, you will get a myriad of answers to any single question!

Sounds very much to me that a fast electric will be a good starting point for you, but a word of a warning...if you are tempted at any time to buy an RTR (ready to run), ask here first 'cos some of them are so bad it will put you off for ever!

Ian

[steamboatbob]

Hi there

well as it stands these days the petrol boats are getting overtaken by the electric ones, so if its flatout speed go brushless electric and watch out on the amps or go gas or nitro but a good allrounder would be a Deep V hull or a Catamaran like the proboat blackjack 26 electric or the Venom group King of shaves which is available in gas and electric but both are RTR

[bikerbabe]

I am still out there looking at what the world has to offer as far as model boats are concerned, but i have got some really strong staring points now. so i am feeling confident that it wont be long before i am taking my first steps out on the water so to speak .

[steamboatbob]

king of shaves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pzBwAIaypo

proboat blackjack 26
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow5oanTw3to

Aquacraft UL-1 Hydro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMJ1G9wkCHc&feature=related

[The Antipodean]

You could always try something like the Jetsprint boats, very "nippy' and quick.
They can operate in very shallow water and there is a wide variety of mods you can do to them.

http://www.modelflight.com.au/rc_model_boats/boats_rc_models_graupner_jetboat_jetsprint.htm

[steamboatbob]

UUM antipodean Graupner dont make them anymore they finished production a few years ago 

NQD do one the same but do not buy it or anthing of this brand they are cheep and VERY nasty

[bikerbabe]

thanks for the info lads was very usefull to me i have now have my very first little boat woohoo

[Bill D203]

thanks for the info lads was very usefull to me i have now have my very first little boat woohoo

Hello
Take a look at OMRA's web site. May be we are racing somewhere near you. Do come and say hello.
http://www.omra-uk.org/