DIY Network

Racing RC Boats From "Radio Control Hobbies" episode RCH-103

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Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D Figure E The DIY-sponsored Enforcer Gator gas-powered offshore racer.  WINDOWS MEDIA VIDEO A Miami Vice flashback? No, actually these racers are just about 4' in length. > >Click on the image above to download a video of the nitro-powered RC racers in action. > >

With assembly and customizing complete, you're ready to find some open water and do some real racing.


Important Safety Precautions

• Never operate RC boats around swimmers.
  
• Never operate RC boats around real boats.
  
• Never operate RC boats without some sort of retrieval system. Don't go in swimming to retrieve a boat in dangerous or frigid water.

• If you're operating your boat in an area where there are other RC boats in operation, check your radio frequency. Make certain that you're not operating on a frequency (figure A) that is already being used by another hobbyist.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Do a range check. To check your transmitter and radio controls and verify that they are operating correctly, have an assistant stand at a distance from the boat and turn on the radio transmitter. Make certain that the transmitter antenna is collapsed. While your assistant works the controls, make certain that the servos are receiving a signal and operating properly (figure B). If you get a good signal during your test, with the antenna collapsed, you're not likely to get into problems when your boat is on the water.

  Safety tip: Whenever operating any RC models, the radio transmitter should be the first thing switched on (prior to switching on any receivers) and the last thing switched off.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Waterproof the radio box. Before putting the boat in the water, place the plastic lid on the radio box and waterproof the seams with specialized radio-box sealing tape designed specifically for this purpose. Clean the plastic lid and box exterior with denatured alcohol or household cleaning fluid. Then use sealing tape to tape down the lid along the seams where it meets the box (figure C). Use a small piece of tape, partially folded over onto itself (figure D), to make a flap that covers the hole in the lid while still allowing access to the on/off switch.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Make certain that you have adequate fuel in the gas tank (figure E). An advantage of these boats is that they use regular gasoline. The gas is mixed in a 32:1 ratio with high-grade two-stroke oil (the same mixture that's used in commercial leaf-blowers).

RESOURCES :
Enforcer "Gator" gas-powered RC boat

The Enforcer "Gator" is a gas-powered, radio-controlled offshore racing boat, available from Warehouse Hobbies. This model was featured on episode 103 of DIY's Radio Control Hobbies workshop.

Warehouse Hobbies
Lake Placid, FL 33852
Phone: 863-699-1231 (tech)
Fax: 863-699-0360
Website: www.whobbies.com

Horizon Hobby

Horizon Hobby is a supplier of radio-controlled planes, cars, boats, etc.

Horizon Hobby
Website: www.horizonhobby.com

HobbyTown USA

HobbyTown USA (Registered Trademark) is a Nebraska corporation formed in 1985 by Merlin Hayes and Thomas Walla. HobbyTown began in 1980 with the purchase of a local business in Lincoln, Nebraska. The corporation was established for the sole purpose of sharing their dream with other people who wanted to own their own hobby store.

Today, HobbyTown USA is a nationally registered franchise, and the company is widely regarded as a leader in the retail hobby industry.

With the company motto of "Building Your Dream" and with more than 150 stores open, it is the largest retail hobby franchise in the world and is ranked in the top 2% of all franchises worldwide. More importantly, there are now hundreds of owners realizing their dream of being their own boss, and having fun while they do it.

For store location information, please click here.

HobbyTownUSA
Lincoln, NE 68516
Phone: 402-434-5050
Email: info@hobbytown.com
Website: www.hobbytown.com