RC Electric Boats

RC speed boats are available from Tower Hobbies® in a variety of styles. Most come in the ready-to-run (RTR) completion level, factory assembled and equipped with a properly matched electric power system and radio. That makes many of them suitable for first-time as well as experienced remote control boat modelers.

If you’re new to the RC speed boat hobby, you might wonder just how fast an electric radio control boat can go. The speed depends to a great extent on the type of RC boat and the skill of its pilot. Top speeds generally start at around 20 MPH and go up from there. Ready-to-run RC speed boats from Pro Boat® can hit over 40 MPH out of the box. With modifications, they can reach well into the 50-60 MPH range. Run times usually average about ten minutes before a battery recharge is required.

Of course, the true speed potential and run time of any RC boat varies depending on its size, hull design, power system, and even the water conditions on a given day. An RC speed boat will travel much faster on a glassy surface than one with lots of chop. Some racing boat models equipped with efficient brushless power systems and LiPo batteries have top speed capabilities that exceed a stunning 100 MPH!

RC speed boats can be safely controlled from a distance of approximately 300 feet. That’s important to keep in mind so you don’t find yourself having to retrieve a boat model that’s sped out of radio control range.

The fastest RC speed boats use brushless motors. These have more power and reach higher speeds than models with brushed motors, but they also require confident hands at the controls. You also need to consider whether going fast is more important than run time when choosing your electric RC speed boat. As a general rule, higher speeds mean shorter run times. Radio control speed boats moving at a brisk pace tend to use up power more quickly than slower ones. They have to be recharged more often to maintain their performance.

Using a motor, ESC, and battery combination that’s not properly matched can cause excessive heat and damage your RC boat. Always pay attention to the recommendations in the product manuals and on our web site. Since nearly all Tower Hobbies RC speed boats are ready to run (RTR), you can be confident that all of the components have been rigorously tested for compatibility and performance before they go into the box.

You can choose from several different hull types when shopping for an RC speed boat. Each type has distinctive looks and performance characteristics, so make your choice based on your own goals and desires.

The larger the hull, the more stable it will be in all water conditions. Hulls ranging from 20 to 30 inches long can achieve moderately high speeds but require a surface with nearly glass-like smoothness. Hulls exceeding 34 inches long are better able to handle more chop and uneven water conditions.

The most common RC speed boat hull is the mono hull. It consists of a single hull that’s usually formed in a deep or shallow “V” shape. Examples of this type available from Tower Hobbies include the 26” long Pro Boat Recoil® 2 and 36” long Sonicwake® V2. Mono hulls are easy to set up and offer excellent handling in rough water, at the sacrifice of some speed.

A catamaran or “cat” RC speed boat hull consists of two outer sponsons with a tunnel in the center. This design improves speed and handling and is also good in rough conditions. The 24” long Pro Boat Blackjack™ and 36” long Miss GEICO Zelos® are both examples of catamaran RC speed boats.

Hydroplane RC speed boats, such as the 30” long Pro Boat UL-19, are designed to go fast while making turns in a single direction. In radio control boat racing, it’s common to race in clockwise laps. A turn fin on the hydroplane’s right-hand sponson holds the inner right sponson tight to the water in right turns. The hydroplane hull increases speed but is less proficient in rough water.

Even if you’re not interested in racing them, RC speed boats can still be great fun. You can easily imagine yourself zipping through the Everglades at the controls of the 25” long Pro Boat Aerotrooper™ air boat. It’s also a blast to run on snow and ice.

The 30” long Horizon Harbor™ tug boat has removable arms that can be used to retrieve stalled racing boats up to 48 inches long, plus working dual water cannons. If there’s no lake or pond nearby, kick up spray in your swimming pool with the compact, 12” long Jet Jam®. You can race this one in water that’s only three feet deep!