Remote/radio controlled boats

[Sally NewcombParticipant @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

[Sally NewcombParticipant @sallynewcomb77281]

[shipwrightParticipant @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

[Sally NewcombParticipant @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

[shipwrightParticipant @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

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

Hi Sally,

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

Where are you based?.

Len.

[Sally NewcombParticipant @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

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @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.

[Sally NewcombParticipant @sallynewcomb77281]

Ooh sorry. Didn't mean to be awkward. Hoarwithy, Herefordshire. Half way between Hereford and Ross on wye. UK

[TelstarParticipant @telstar]

Hi Sally

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

**LINK**

Tom

[Andy 456 1Participant @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.

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @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

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

How did the party go, Sally?
Dave M

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Dave

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

Paul

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

You'd lose the bet, dude.

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 28/02/2013 13:24:32

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

What…..are the parties that bad? you need to borrow some of Colins 'nurses' Ashley assures me that they will liven proceedings.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @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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