Joining in the radio controlled boat racing circuit is often the primary reason people get involved with radio controlled boats. After all, racing remote control boats is fast, exciting, and fun. If you’re thinking how to get started in this exciting area of the hobby, these tips may help.
First, you may want to consider joining a radio control boat hobby club or other similar organization. Most major cities have a chapter of some sort. Joining one will not only help you to find information on the races in your area, but you’ll also make some valuable contacts and get a bit of racing practice while you’re at it.
The first thing you should do after hearing about a race is to call for the details. If it’s a new venue for you or you’ve never been to that particular rc boat race in the past, you’ll need a complete copy of the rules as well as directions and start times. It’s important to note that racers are expected to do some of the work at the race. Responsibilities often include such things as time keeping and the like. You need to know what is to be expected of you before you head out on race day.
As you begin to prepare both you and your boat for the race, you have to keep several things in mind. The first thing to look after is the maintenance of your boat. More often than not, a racer or two will show up only to put their boat in the water and it won’t start. The condition of your boat is obviously, one key to winning.
To that end, you may want to make a checklist to help you remember what to do with your radio controlled boat every single time you take it out of the water. Once you’re done racing, strip it and make sure that the drive line is oiled. You’ll want to check your radio to ensure it is in good working condition. Each linkage and servo need to be cleaned an lubed. You should also check the bearing in the motor and lube those as well. If it is possible to reach the brushes, make certain you take a look at them. Do they move freely? If they’re damaged, you must replace them.
The hull is the next thing to look at. Don’t forget to look at the rudder as well. After doing all this be sure to carefully store your boat and don’t forget your batteries if you have an electric radio controlled boat. If you are running electric rc boats you may want to charge and discharge them before you store them for a long period of time. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions. Most RC boat racers like NiCad batteries better than dry cells for their transmitters. They seem to provide better range and less interference, but do your research carefully before you make the switch.
Keep in mind that before race day, you’ll need to go through the entire checklist again. Many racers have not only a pre-race check list but a post-race check list as well and you will continually add to both as your experience grows.
Other than boat condition you will find that experience and practice are also important to becoming a winner You simply cannot win rc boat races if you’re not willing to practice. Create a race course in your practice area by using buoys that you can purchase. Get a feel for speeding around each buoy at a different angle. Learn you your boat will respond to the controls. Remember that you’ll have other boats near you when racing, so understanding how to maneuver around them is essential. You may want to enlist the help of three or four friends to help you get ready for race day.
Watching your opponents at other races can help you to become familiar with their tactics. Just as professional sports players watch hours of footage of their opponents, watching your opponents will give you a feel for how they work with their boats. By observing the competition before race day you can better plan your strategy.
Finally, don’t expect to win your first radio controlled boat race. Keep in mind that as you race, you’ll learn key techniques that will help you in the future. It is important to treat these initial races as research expeditions for future races. Do these things and some day you’re sure to be crowned the champion.
