Thanks for all the inputs. I've done some RF work so I get where you are coming from. From my standpoint, I agree the older/ low freq would be ideal but as Im playing with cars, planes and now boats, Im trying to slowly consolidate and use what I have around. Its interesting what retiredat38 and hydro geek mentioned about the spectrum reciever mods (extra antenna at right angle and the SW fix). I saw Spektrum used to make a marine reciever but wasnt sure if they dropped it in liu of making either the land or air recievers more adept at handling the issues of water control.
As far as range is concerned, Im usually within 100-200 yards as they get small and I hate having to go and rescue items far out in a kayak or blow up boat - thus my current purchase of a used toy tugboat that I want to mod to have a "crane" mounted that I can use to extend and drop a line to catch a wayward sailboat - trying to find a cheap linear actuator and my dx6e to control. I was thinking to tape the antenna to the underside of the deck but now am wondering if I run a hole through the deck and tie it to a non-metallic vertical piece.
I hope I have reached the 10 posts - will try uploading the pics for comments - again, just getting into the boating realm (have a steerix toy catamaran, another older sailboat about half the height of the northwind, as well as a couple modded electric speedboats - and a pretty funky nitro powered air speed boat I picked up at auction. Just dabbblind in the nitro area but its a pretty interesting boat. Will probably post in whatever group would be best for others to see - uses an air prop up top but has the hull of a race boat - similar-ish to a miss bud type of boat versus a swamp boat.