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Beginner Airboat for My Wife

Old 01-02-2013, 03:59 PM
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BrettOssman
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Default Beginner Airboat for My Wife

My wife has hinted at getting an RC boat to run around our retention pond. Frankly, it may never go beyond that, so keep that in mind. She has mentioned airboats a couple of times. A little speed would probably be cool, but she would need to be able to keep it under control without a large learning curve.

I know nothing about boats. I'm learning helis myself.

Any suggestions?

Feel free to fire away with more questions, or if anyone can suggest a buyer's guide, that would be great to.
Old 01-02-2013, 04:15 PM
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Altered1
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

You need to decide if, what and how !

Do you want to build one, or buy one ? Glow, Electric or Gas ?

for ease of use and no messing around, something like a RTR Alligator tours Airboat : http://www.aquacraftmodels.com/boats...urs/index.html would probably do what she needs

or for a bit of time and excess bits, you can build your own. With a pre-existing RX/TX, servos and engine, I build my own body board airboat for less that $50


There is less to worry about with airboats over a water propped boat. Airboats are fairly easy to 'drive', and are very forgiving of mistakes. How far you want to go depends on your needs and wallet. Don't forget about safety, and think about recovery before you go out the first time as well


Old 01-02-2013, 04:26 PM
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flyinwalenda
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

I've always liked and had good luck with the Dumas Swamp Buggies but if course you have to build them and outfit them .
The Aquacraft RTR boats look decent.
As stated you need to decide on a starting place.
Old 01-02-2013, 06:35 PM
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BrettOssman
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

No fuss here. RTR and built. Who knows where it may go down the road, but apply the KISS principle for now.
Old 01-02-2013, 08:28 PM
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DJLaPalme
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

To keep it simple Aquacraft has a small electric airboat that is about as simple and trouble free as it gets. It is called the Aligator Tours Mini. It was not too fast, but should be easy to upgrade. Dennis
Old 01-02-2013, 08:30 PM
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Altered1
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

Then all you need to decide is what is the power source ?  Elec or glow ?  the alligator tours boat -  I linked above is glow powered, but there are some electric options out there. - the mini is electric

Best of luck, and post a vid !  we all love vids
Old 01-03-2013, 04:41 AM
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BrettOssman
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

Electric definitely. Wife likely won't mess with fuel. Looks like the Alligator Tours might be the best option, and from the vids I've seen, it isn't snail slow, so could be fun for her. If she ever wants it to go faster, I'll throw a brushless on there.

Thanks again folks.
Old 01-03-2013, 06:28 AM
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

........
Old 01-03-2013, 04:06 PM
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Wind Spirit
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

From what you say I would definitely go electric, the nitro one flips very easy. I dont have one but I have seen the videos. WS
ORIGINAL: BrettOssman

Electric definitely. Wife likely won't mess with fuel. Looks like the Alligator Tours might be the best option, and from the vids I've seen, it isn't snail slow, so could be fun for her. If she ever wants it to go faster, I'll throw a brushless on there.

Thanks again folks.
Old 01-03-2013, 04:13 PM
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Wind Spirit
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

Hobby King Swamp Dawg is one you could look at, $43. I think you would need the TX. WS
Old 01-03-2013, 04:13 PM
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

Give us a look, we have something for any budget. We have an affordable electric foam boat that runs and performs great.
http://rcairboats.net/page3.html

Old 01-04-2013, 09:35 PM
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Altered1
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife


ORIGINAL: Selph-Inflicted

Give us a look, we have something for any budget. We have an affordable electric foam boat that runs and performs great.
http://rcairboats.net/page3.html

+1

Old 01-05-2013, 11:59 AM
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife


ORIGINAL: Selph-Inflicted

Give us a look, we have something for any budget. We have an affordable electric foam boat that runs and performs great.
http://rcairboats.net/page3.html

They have a great handling flat bottom also if you do not want hydro


Old 01-05-2013, 12:03 PM
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BrettOssman
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

They look great, but my wife wants one that looks like an Everglades airboat, like the Aquacraft. By the way, as she re-emphasized to me, this will probably be more of a toy than a hobby.
Old 01-05-2013, 03:02 PM
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife


ORIGINAL: BrettOssman

They look great, but my wife wants one that looks like an Everglades airboat, like the Aquacraft. By the way, as she re-emphasized to me, this will probably be more of a toy than a hobby.
I have a nitro tour boat and had a mini tour boat my 5 year old grandson has a nitro .25 flatbottom
that i built and he said the mini was to slow if you upgrade to brushless and more power it would be fast but i dont know about handling

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Old 01-05-2013, 07:57 PM
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Selph-Inflicted
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

If you go with the small Alligator Tours and decide to upgrade the motor, you may be doing a lot of flipping. We have been working on a hull upgrade for the small Alligator Tours boat that allows one to bolt all the Alligator Tours motor pylons, cage assembly, as well as a larger radio box to accommodate multi battery packs and the Tours electronics and controls. This hull is 20" x 10" (across bottom).

What ever you choose....remember to keep it FUN!
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Old 01-05-2013, 08:09 PM
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71dartswinger
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

Nice boat Chris i am building Logan a new one the same size as the old one but built better will post pics as assembley goes. only thing done is draw out pattern on plywood. i got 2 4x8 sheets of 1/16
ply for $1.00 ea from work so the top/bottom will be no problem


Old 01-07-2013, 02:02 PM
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife


ORIGINAL: BrettOssman

They look great, but my wife wants one that looks like an Everglades airboat, like the Aquacraft. By the way, as she re-emphasized to me, this will probably be more of a toy than a hobby.

Look



http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...Boat_ARR_.html

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB7RUr94BfA[/youtube]
Old 01-07-2013, 05:08 PM
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71dartswinger
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

same hull as mini alligator tour boat
Old 01-07-2013, 07:04 PM
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

http://www.stevensaero.com/StevensAe...t-p-20119.html

Here is the build thread with videos.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1168759


Here is another electric. Good runner..

http://modelaero.com/Merchant5/merch...tegory_Code=AM
Old 01-20-2013, 02:48 PM
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yellowufo
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

The drifter is way cool i plan i getting this tuesday i only have sub c nimh so im not sure what motor to get any advice would help
Old 01-23-2013, 07:38 AM
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

.......
Old 01-23-2013, 11:45 AM
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yellowufo
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

Mikeup what is the stephens boat auw? ???
Old 01-23-2013, 02:10 PM
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

.....
Old 01-23-2013, 02:14 PM
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yellowufo
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Default RE: Beginner Airboat for My Wife

All up weight, fully built and loaded with all the runing gear the drifter is 16 to 18 oz as it runs auw.
Dident mean to hijack the thread. Sorry wif i imposed....

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