Remote/radio controlled boats

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Remote/radio controlled boats

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20 May 2012 at 21:41 #34500
Sally Newcomb
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@sallynewcomb77281
I know nothing about model boats, radio or remote control boats, so need some help.

We have a very large pond and I am about to have a party and would love to have 2 or 3 radio or remote controlled boats to race round the pond. Ideally we'd hire the boats or buy them 2nd hand on Ebay. But I'm not against the idea of buying new if they arent too expensive. They dont have to be particularly fast. It's not a lake, just a big pond.

How straightforward is it to do this?

What is the difference between radio controlled and remote controlled?

Mobile phone signal is very poor in the area, so would we struggle to pick up a frequency?

How long will they keep going after charging?

What do I look for and where do I look?

Thanks in advance

Sally
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20 May 2012 at 21:41 #2131
Sally Newcomb
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@sallynewcomb77281
20 May 2012 at 22:13 #34501
shipwright
Participant
@shipwright
Hello Sally,

My first thought is that you might be able to get some help from a local (to you) model boat club. Is this to be a "one off" display or do you want to sail boats on your pond on a regular basis ?

Don't worry about radio frequency – the boats are normally controlled line of sight from a handheld radio transmitter. In principle, you could control a model boat by using transmission method other than radio (eg light) but in practice radio is the norm.

How long will they run for without recharging ? Difficult to say because this depends on many factors – but 1 hour is quite practical.

What is the approximate size of your pond and how deep is it? Also is it reasonably "weed free" (propellers tend to get tangled up in weed).

Ian
20 May 2012 at 22:26 #34503
Sally Newcomb
Participant
@sallynewcomb77281
Hi Ian

Thanks for your reply. It's for a one off birthday party, (unless I get hooked!), hence not wanting to spend too much.

Re weeds – we're pulling the weeds up, so there won't be many.

Size, um approx 5m x 20m I'd say.

Thanks

Sally
20 May 2012 at 23:07 #34507
shipwright
Participant
@shipwright
Sally,

I did a quick search for model boat clubs and this link gives a list :

**LINK**

If it is only a "one off" event there seems little point in purchasing model boat(s) – much better to persuade some keen model boaters to help you by sailing their boats on your pond.

Ian
21 May 2012 at 18:41 #34528
Len Ochiltree
Participant
@lenochiltree67043
Hi Sally,

You could use the party to raise funds for the RNLI.

Where are you based?.

Len.
21 May 2012 at 22:40 #34535
Sally Newcomb
Participant
@sallynewcomb77281
I'm more than happy to make a donation, but it is a private birthday party, so I cant really ask for money.

HR2 postcode

Thanks

Sally
23 May 2012 at 17:40 #34562
Len Ochiltree
Participant
@lenochiltree67043
HR 2 Post Code? the post office does not know that one. I was only asking so that any one in your area may be able to help. Country, County, and Town would help.

Len.
23 May 2012 at 18:48 #34565
Sally Newcomb
Participant
@sallynewcomb77281
Ooh sorry. Didn't mean to be awkward. Hoarwithy, Herefordshire. Half way between Hereford and Ross on wye. UK
23 May 2012 at 23:31 #34567
Telstar
Participant
@telstar
Hi Sally

Maybe an email to the secretary of Gloucester model boat club would give results

**LINK**

Tom
27 February 2013 at 11:09 #39419
Andy 456 1
Participant
@andy4561
Radio Control (RC) boats are a hobby fans young and old to enjoy boating. Sailboats, motorboats and warships are just some of the many designs of fans enjoy RC boats. These boats are powered by electric motors, gasoline engines and even wind power. However, despite all these differences, RC boats fiberglass or plastic, it all starts with a boat mold.

Regards.

Andy.
27 February 2013 at 16:58 #39431
Malcolm Frary
Participant
@malcolmfrary95515
Ready to sail "racers" can be had cheaply, and some perform well, but racing around usually means a short run time, 10 minutes being typical. More sedate boats do run much longer, but anybody who has senn "tug football" will realise that tugs are not that sedate.

"Proper" hobby grade radios have to be built to a level of quality to get their performance, and cost accordingly. Toy ones are built down to a price, and perform accordingly. Model quality gives plenty of control channels, so lots of boats can be operated at the same time, toy ones less so. A cheap radio migh hog the entire ban where up to a dozen hobby radios can work together.

The lack of a mobile phone signal is a blessing – the boat controllers provide their own signal, the lack of mobile cover means less chance of interference.

There may be some suitable candidates here – http://www.howesmodels.co.uk/RadioControl/viewProducts.php?SubCatID=114
28 February 2013 at 13:06 #39441
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
How did the party go, Sally?
Dave M
28 February 2013 at 13:09 #39442
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Dave

I bet that you have some good parties around that pool of yours.

Paul
28 February 2013 at 13:24 #39445
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
You'd lose the bet, dude.

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 28/02/2013 13:24:32
28 February 2013 at 13:39 #39446
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
What…..are the parties that bad? you need to borrow some of Colins 'nurses' Ashley assures me that they will liven proceedings.
28 February 2013 at 16:14 #39448
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
No – it's the pool which is the problem.

It's all in your imagination, Paul. There is no pool – unless you count the 7' x 7' hole in the ground currently occupied by two large mirror carp (bought innocently as "ghost koi" some 20 years ago).

Now go and take a Tramadol and have a lie down until it passes. At the very least don't let Ashley wind you up about Colin's fictional "nurses"………….they just pop round to make his Complan every evening.

Dr Dave
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