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[Robbp78]

Hi all,

I hope my questions arent too amatuerish but I really am a total newcomer to the world of model boats etc.  I am interested in joining the ranks by purchasing my first radio control model boat kit and am looking for your advice on what make/model would be a good starter boat.

I have been keen to get myself a boat for sometime.  Ive often been walking the dogs around a lake or taking a stroll with the missus and kids and stopped to watch some guy or another controlling their boat across the water.  Looks pretty cool and relaxing, and fun at the same time.  Im interested in speed boats in particular and done a bit of reading online but would appreciate all your expert advice on what route I need to take.  I understand there are electric and petrol/nitro types etc.  Which is the preferrred type?  Whats a good beginner boat that could still be modified to perform more powerfully as I get more accomplished?  What sort of prices am I looking at?  Do all good model shops stock the type of thing im looking for or do I need to order online?  Do they all come as kits to be put together or can you but ready assembled, or is that taking the fun out of it?  What are the ebay options?   

Sorry if this seems alot of questions.  I will post more if I can remember anything ive missed.

Before I go can I also say well done to whoevers site this is.  Its been a very good read, full of info.  Spent literally ages reading through the reports on all his diferent models trying to pick bits of advice.

Many thanks.

Rob.

[banjo]

 
A good 1st thing to do would be to search out a Model Boat Club in your area, go along to their water and see what they are "sailing".  Not much use building a IC boat if you got no where local to use it.

[boatmadman]

Hi,

Welcome aboard.

Re the trpe of speedboat - choice of electric or ic may depend on where you will be running it, some clubs/waters dont allow ic boats.

So, your location might help a little.

Ian

[banjo]

 

A good 2nd thing is to decide if building the boat or actually having it on the water is going to give most pleasure.  Again visit the local boat club and see what they are doing.
There is a lot of pleasure in small sailing boats without the expense of motors and speed controllers.
Again someone will let you "have a go"
Don't get too set on having a fast boat...
Take it from me  four or five times up and down the pond is very boring......
Sailing similar boats better than two of your mates is priceless!!

[Robbp78]

The local club to me have evenings for both electric and nitro boats it seems.  I have visited their website and they are having an annual boat show/open day competition in the middle of August.  I was planning to go along.

I was hoping for some advice on here first to prevent me going into the event blind.  A link to some of the boats available so I can get to grips with the jargon and spec on the different models would be appreciated.

Whats everyones preference?

[gribeauval]

The local club to me have evenings for both electric and nitro boats it seems.  I have visited their website and they are having an annual boat show/open day competition in the middle of August.  I was planning to go along.

I was hoping for some advice on here first to prevent me going into the event blind.  A link to some of the boats available so I can get to grips with the jargon and spec on the different models would be appreciated.

Whats everyones preference?

Never ask a question like that! 

We have nearly 2000 members on this site and you will get the same number of preferences!
By the way mine is for scale lifeboats!! 

Mike

[rem2007]

Hi Rob,

I was in a similiar position as you last summer and after joining my local club and chatting with members bought and built the RTTL Vosper kit from Model Slipway. I learned alot through the chaps on here and have since enjoyed many mornings out at our local pond.
Model Slipway also do a small kit which might be what your looking for.

 http://www.modelslipway.com/

The Club 500 will be relatively simple to build and with the helpful staff of Model Slipway and the members on this forum you should be speeding around your local pond in no time.
Hope this suggestion helps.

Robert

[Ghost in the shell]

rob, a good fast boat to start with would be something like the Graupner Salinas, its 2ft long, and about 10 inches wide, and is styled like one of these half million pound sunseekers. 

My first boat was a Robbe Najade.  too much vac form and vague instructions, however it goes well once its built, and its "starwars scale", in other words, those 3.75inch figures that you can buy in toys-R-us are pretty much in scale.  I wanted Lara Croft and Indianna Jones for mine, but Hans Solo and Aura Sing it ended up being.

Whats everyones preference?

mine is for scale working ships, hence 2x Graupner neptun's,  a modified  Sydney Star (which are a hoot to build as long as you use Robbe rudders), 2x tug boats (one of which is an RTR, the other I got ready built but is a kit) and an e-bay lash-up that went from supply ship to survey ship

[Robbp78]

Hi, sorry for not replying sooner.  I have been away on holidays for a week.  Whilst away I picked up a model boat magazine from WHSmith.  It was a good bit of seaside reading.  In it came free plans for a 1960s style speed boat The Sea Hornet.  Is this something I could follow and produce with balsa wood with your guidance here if I need to ask questions etc?  Or am I jumping the gun and be better off buying a kit?

Would I require any specialist equipment and tools for the task for making The Sea Hornet?

Cheers.

[rem2007]

Hi Rob

Hope you enjoyed your holidays. I subscribe to Model Boats and saw the plans for the Sea Hornet. It looks like a fairly straight forward build, however, as you say with your limited skills and abilities, and I believe others here would agree, keep it simple. That was my reason for suggesting the RTTL Vosper.
There are many levels and medium to be used within the hobby and still being a novice myself I would urge you to go the route of simplicity first. There are many kits out there designed for the beginner and while the Sea Hornet may appear simple, the medium of wood may pose some difficulties for you, unless of course your a carpenter by trade.
Have a look around at the different manufacturers sites and read some of the build threads on here and that should help narrow down your search.   

Any other queries don't hesitate to ask

Robert

[fullboat]

Hi Rob,
I'm new to this as well but have built one (almost scratch built )speed boat. This was built with a hull I was given and an old whipper snipper motor. A little head scratching was involved and a few dollars were wasted on the steep learning curve but it was worth it.
Ive moved on to a billings model now. Jumped in at the deep end (SMIT ROTTERDAM KIT)
Companies such as billings have different levels of skill required for their models so that can help in choosing one.
I have attached some pics of both models so everybody can have a good laugh especially at the speed boat . You will note the strange prop/rudder setup ,this was the result of me wanting to do it unassisted (because I'm arrogant and don't like feeling like a novice) Anyway LAUGH NOW folks I don't mind it was fun to build a it works.
Good Luck with whatever you decide to do

Andy

[SteamboatPhil]

Hi Rob wellcome, the trick is to take things slowly and work at your own pace, your first project may be small and simple, but you will get a great learning curve from it. Re the Sea Hornet in MB, there are other threads in the forum, in which a few building/ plan problems have come to light from other members, my advice leave this one alone for the moment and have a go in the future. Good luck, post pics when you can.
Fullboat, did you really put that big engine in that little boat? blimey !!!!!!!

[fullboat]

Sure did Steamboat but i really didn't spend much to start with though. I didn't want to spend hundreds on a boat to start . I just wanted to get my feet wet first if you know what I mean and I like to work things out for myself . I know now that the hull was designed for a nitro motor or whatever but how much would that have cost ? A little more than nothing which is what  the whipper snipper motor and hull cost.
Anyway what I leaned with trial and error ,such as how to make a radio/servo box waterproof under 600mm of water was invaluable . I never wanted to race it just have some fun in the pond which I did. 

Cheers Andy ::)

[Robbp78]

So shall I get the Club 500 or the Vosper?

Can they be modified if i ever decide to tamper with them in future..?

[rem2007]

Hi Rob,

I think the Club 500 would be the easier chioce for you to begin with and does not get into the detail of the Vosper kit. You could probably play with it as far as performance goes, however, keep in mind the size of motor to battery used and the propeller, Too much power and you'll have problems, just have a go and learn the ropes so to speak and then you can try and experiment.

Some get as much enjoyment in the modelling process as the sailing part, I like both, so enjoy yourself. Any questions mate just send a pm.