Gas RC Boats

Intermediate Level: When it comes to RC Boats, the Gas RC Boats are the biggest of them all.

You should expect to pay more for these boats upfront, but in the long run, you'll find that they require much less maintenance and the rewards of controlling one of these "big boys" on the water makes it all worthwhile.

These are not toys and should never be operated in water where there are swimmers. Recommended minimum age is 18 and older.

The average top speed for a Gasoline RC Boat is over 40 mph!

The hulls are made of reinforced fiberglass and the majority of the designs are variations of the V-Hull, although Warehouse Hobbies does make a Sting Ray style too (shown further down).

Here is a video link promoting the Aquacraft V24 One Design. It may take a minute to download before it plays but it's worth the wait and it will give you a very good introduction to the basic functions plus a thrilling demonstration of the boat in action:

Click here to see the Aquacraft V24 in action!

The simplicity of gas rc boats is apparent once you take it to the pond for the first time. All you really need to do is put fully charged batteries in the transmitter and receiver, test your servos, seal the on-board box, gas it up, pull start your engine, and put it in the water!

Basic maintenance does require keeping the drive shaft well lubricated with marine grease. Some gas RC boats, like the Enforcer from Warehouse Hobbies include a Zerk fitting on the drive shaft so you can easily take a small grease gun and put a few shots of grease in it. This is a really clean and easy way to get the job done.

Here's a picture of my own Super G Enforcer:

Click here to read a review with details and video about the Enforcer!

The gasoline needs to be pre-mixed with AMSOil 100-1 two-cycle oil at a ratio of 32:1. This equates to four ounces of pre-mix oil to one gallon of gasoline. Some specs suggest a leaner mixture but from years of testing by Warehouse Hobbies they have found, and recommend, that this particular brand and mix ratio is superior in performance and reduces parts wear.

Warehouse Hobbies also makes a Sting Ray style Gas RC Boat. This design is based on the style of racing boats from the 60's and 70's. Smooth water is required for best performance.

The guys at Bonzi Sports have taken this to a whole new level. One look at their gas RC boats and you'll know why they never sleep!

Their boats range in length from 50 to 84 inches and the hulls and decks can be custom airbrushed to your specific design. Here are some pictures of their Apache 84.

This boat includes two Quickdraw twin counter-rotating engines with electronic ignitions for easy starting. You can also upgrade to even more powerful engines that provide speeds up to 75 mph!

click here to return to RC Boats Index page