R/C Boating tips

By Rich Ballantine

Always read the engine and radio instructions first.

When you get to a lake where there are other RC boaters you might want check to see if anybody has your frequence or channel

Grease the flex cable every time the boat has had a full day of running

Check all nuts and bolts

Make sure you have good batteries AA for the radio gear

When fueling your model watch tank level so to keep from over flowing the tank

Before you start the engine make sure the radio is on ,do this by moving the steering wheel and watch the rudder and throttle movement do a range check 65-75 foot with antenna down watch for jumpy rudder

When starting your engine the first thing you want to do is to choke the engine .you are going to do this by placing your finger over the carburetor pull engine over slowly ,now to keep from flooding the engine every two pulls check your finger for gas or stop when you hear engine pop after this start pulling

Before you hit the water you want to "clean the engine out"a few taps on the throttle will do

Look both ways before launching model and if you have anyone helping you launch be sure they know what is going on ,remember the tune pipe is hot and will burn you and the prop will cut you and hurt you badly AND NEVER RUN where there are people in the water or swimming you could seriously injure them

When you first hit the water keep it close so if it quits its not out in the middle of the lake

After you have had some warm up laps its time to put the pedal to the metal ,always stay with in your line of sight don't try to see how far you can go before you lose it

When running with other boaters don't try to get close to them, when you both get in the groove they will get close enough without even trying

If you flip your boat do not swim after it .this can be a major mistake for the simple fact of drowning ,get some kind of retrieval device like a boat or a fishing pole and tennis ball rig

When running with other boaters and you flip you want get in the habit of yelling "dead boat" this lets anyone else on the water know that there is a boat not moving and is dead in the water this might keep them from hitting your boat ,also if you have a rescue boat get all other rc boats off the lake when your in the rescue boat .

If you get water in the engine or radio

You want to dump all excess water out the boat ,open radio box if there is water in it .If there is air it out or dry with paper towels ,check over receiver to see if any water might have went in , servos same thing ,if they do take them apart dry them off after they have dried put all back together

If the engine gets wet you want take the spark plug out and while holding the boat upside down turn the engine over you do this to keep from making a mess ,do this until water is out of the engine ,after you have done this might be a good idea to check the gas tank for water

Setting the carburetor

High end needle 1 & 1/2 and low end needle 1 & 1/2 this a good starting point .

To lean the carburetor turn the needle in ,to richen the carburetor turn the needle out

Finding a place to run

Prefect rc boat lake would be one you can walk all the way around
and away from places where noise is a factor ,dry tune pipes are very loud

Check with your h.o.a "home owners association"
some communities have these and they do not like loud toys on there lakes,...... i like loud toys

Local rc boat clubs are nice

Other things you might need

Rubber boots
Hat
Sunglasses
Suntan lotion
Fishing pole with a tennis ball rigged to the end
Rescue boat
Tools 8-32 ,6-32 Allen wenches ,spark plug wench
Cooler with cold beverages