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The RC Airboat
From prop to servos, all the gear in air-driven boat, known now as the RC Airboat, comes directly from the world of the radio-controlled
airplane, with less maintenance and control problems, with the ability to run on most surfaces. The most common style is the
flat bottom, that allows the boat to be easily driven from water to land. Because of the abilities of the RC Airboat, they
are used by hobbyist, for sport running, racing and the challenge of the perfect build. They are also used in the commercial
world, by business owners, to chase ducks and geese during the winter months, from lakes and private ponds, so that they may
freeze over.
Parts of the RC Airboat, consist, of the hull, air propeller, radio controls, engine/motor and rudder/rudders. Though the
common style of hull is the flat bottom, other styles include, the tunnel hull, sport hydro, outrigger and the V bottom. The
Tunnel Hydro, has 2 sponsons that run the length of the boat. The principle of the tunnel, is when the boat starts the forward
movement, the force of the water against the sponsons gives the hull lift. Once completely on plane the boat runs with less
water drag, allowing faster speeds. The Sport Hydro is a 3 point hull, that has 2 short sponsons located towards the bow of
the boat, that lifts the front of the hull by the forward movement. The Outrigger Hydro is either a 3 or 4 point hull, having
2 sponsors that are connected by boom tubes to the tub, with either 1 or 2 smaller sponsons connect to the tub near the transom.
Once the outrigger is on plane, there is very little water drag, with very little air drag, allowing the boat to reach some
of the fastest speeds of a rc airboat.
 
Top of the line airboat organization. Meet great people, enjoy family fun, get 1st class information on RC Airboats. Members
have accsess to step by step building plans. The Ultimate family Sport, RC airboats.
A great place to find other RC Airboaters, builing information and other information from links of where to find to post
of how to's. Tips on building and getting the most from your engine.
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Many RC Airboats are started from RC Plane crashes. Often there comes a times, in the radio-control flyers life to say, I'm
ready for something that will not turn into a pile of broken balsa, from the first minor malfunction. You will find numerous
advantages with in the RC Airboat. They use the less expensive airplane engine, that does not require complicated water cooling
systems. They are much easer to start, than the high performance nitro engine. They do not require just one type of running
surface. They get their movement from the conventional airplane propeller. Only requires a 2 channel radio system. The boat
will not be destroyed in the event of engine failure.
Other advantages are the use of the common weed wacker 2-stroke gasoline engines. RC airboats that are powered by 2-stroke
gasoline engines do not require the use of expensive field starting gear. Chainsaw and blower engines also make for excellent
airboat engines. With today's technology 2-stroke gasoline engines produce more than enough power(25cc and 27cc, 3+HP) to
push the heaver boats across most surfaces.
Building materials are almost unlimited, when it comes to building the RC Airboat. RC Airboats have been built with success,
from coreplastic, Styrofoam, fiber-glass, balsa, birch and other plywood. Boats can be carved from left over insulation foam,
then coated with fiber-glass cloth and epoxy. Building with fiber-glass molds and plywood require knowledge of the material
being used. Depending on what you are planning to use your airboat for, many things that are laying around the house can be
used, for the build.
Since the Model AirBoat Association has started in 2004, the radio controlled airboat, has grown into a fun and exciting family
sport. Race events have been hosted in Fl. La. And Mo. The races are normally a week end event, where families and RC air
boaters gather to race rc airboats. Styles of races, The "Oval" heat race, consisting of 3 to 4 boats racing a 5
lap race. The rodeo races are races against the clock, with racers competing for the fastest time to complete 3 laps of the
figure "8" or "M" courses. The boats are classed according to their size of the engine/engines, nitro
engines are class "A" "B" and "C" gasoline engine classes are "G1" "G2"
and "G3". The average time to complete the races is approximately 2-½ minutes, with speeds of 20mph to 35mph. Even
though the speeds of the airboats are slower than what is seen with water prop boats, racing requires a challenging skill
level.
RC airboats are no longer just a fun boat, that was built due a mishap of a airplane crash, nor is it just a beginner boat.
RC Airboats have grown into a exciting family sport.
I will see you at the pond. Happy Airboating.
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