Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Model Boating => Topic started by: Rob459 on September 13, 2012, 08:23:54 pm
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Hi all
i am new to model boats and have read loads of really intresting posts, i was just wondering if electric is better than I/C and if so why?
Many thanks
Rob459
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That depends on who your asking. Personally i like electric as i dont like the sound of nitro engines. simple as that %%
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fair enough, so theres no real performance difference then?
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Depends on the electric involved and the I/C. Electric is certainly easier to start. Also easier to put away after use and doesn't need anything like as big a tool box. More places let you play with electric boats than I/C. Many I/C boaters find it handy to have an electric boat around to act as a rescue boat when the I/C stops out of reach and is not on the kind of water where it is certain to drift in for retrieval.
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Is one thing 'better' than another is not a question which can be answered without knowing what the ground rules are.. >>:-( !!!
I haven't been following the latest trends, but going purely by my prejudice, I would guess:
Performance - eg speed in a straight line - I suspect there's not so much in it nowadays. It used to be the case that IC was miles better than electric - now they're closer.
Duration at speed - I would guess that IC wins here
Duration at displacement speeds - perhaps electric wins here?
Noise - In practice, the big boys make much the same noise! But in terms of being banned from sailing, Electric wins, because a lot of lakes are now 'No IC' (even if the IC is slower and quieter)
Flexibility - Electrics can go backwards, and stop and start again
Mess - Electrics are cleaner
Cost - close, but I think electrics win, because they have less fuel cost...
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well as far as performance is concerned then electric fouls all over ic. The world speed records for fastest rc cars and boats are electric. Im very biased towards electric and probably not the guy to justify both, electric is efficient and the future , ic is old fashioned. But thats my oppinion.
The downside to electric is that to get the silly speeds on big you need to spend silly money sometimes, and when it comes to big its cheaper to use IC.
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I would guess that if you wanted to do an hour-long offshore race you might pick IC...?
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or tug boat pulling a a barge full of lipos
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The world speed records for fastest rc cars and boats are electric.
Done by boats and cars that have enough battery power to do one speed run... Besides the fastest model boat is IC.
It's most certainly a matter of personal choice, and it always will be. Personally, I've had just about every type of model there is going at some point in my life, including fast electric. Every single time I go back to owning faster and faster IC boats, because nothing else can produce such a shot of adrenaline as a screaming boat hurtling round the lake.
I had a pretty fast electric once, got bored of it after two runs and sold it. At the other end of the scale, I love pootling around with a slow scale boat or even better a submarine.
IC versus Electric is an argument that will never be settled... %)
The one piece of advise though is NEVER buy a mass produced ready to run boat, you will be disappointed.
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well i was going by the lehner world record for fastest SAW run at 140 mph. Dunno about the IC one I didnt know it was beaten.
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Wow thanks for all the advice lots to think about,
Am thinking I might go with electric but will ask for what's best for the boat i buy
Rob459
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well i was going by the lehner world record for fastest SAW run at 140 mph. Dunno about the IC one I didnt know it was beaten.
It was never beaten, it's just that tethered IC hydros are faster...
As for Rob, it'd be best for you to visit a local club that has IC boats, have a chat with the guys there and then consider your options. Whereabouts are you from?
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In west Somerset I can't find any clubs near me.
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In west Somerset I can't find any clubs near me.
Are you far from Ilfracombe ?
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Wow thanks for all the advice lots to think about,
Am thinking I might go with electric but will ask for what's best for the boat i buy
Rob459
Your best bet is:
1 - decide on what kind of model boating you want to do. Scale modeling, offshore racing, running a medium speed boat around a local pond, submarines... you name it.
2 - find out where you can do whatever it is you want most conveniently to your home.
3 - go there, look at what's being used, have a chat to anyone you can find. From that, work out what kind of boat to buy.
4 - come onto Mayhem and ask about that kind of boat. At that point you will be able to get the most out of the advice available here...
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about a hour away.
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rob it might be better for us to know which town your in or nearest to in somerset , then we may be able to point you in the best direction . jon
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Hi I'm in Minehead
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Maybe you could put that before United Kingdom ??? Mr Rob. %) %) %) %) :}