Kevin,
Cool job on the boat. I hope it works for you.

R/C Boats "sound" like a good idea but I think Grampaw hit on some of the "challenges" to resolve.

1. you're working at a distance. depth perception is not very accurate, and it's difficult to place the boat relative to the plane.

2. If you hook the plane with the boat, you'll probably be off-center. the boat better have POWERFUL steering capability to be able to drag a crooked airplane in a straight line.

3. If the airplane is other than upright or is damaged, dragging it with the R/C boat can cause additional damage

4. Lost parts get REALLY lost.

We have fooled around with R/C boats for retrieval in the FLFLFL, and relegated them about ninth out of four choices in order of usefulness. They SOUND like a good idea, but making it work is so complicated it's just easier to drain the pond.

In order of percentage of events that the method will work: (my estimate-not scientific data)
1. Man-Carrying boat : 99%
2. Fishing pole to cast over the plane and pull it in: 30-40%
3. Long pole with a big hooked end: 10-15%
4. Radio-Controlled boat: 10% maybe

You can ALWAYS go for a boat-ride and get the plane, unless it's in a tree or "missing", and I have needed the boat to get to the tree.

Sometimes, you can cast out and snag one: we use a large torpedo float and a one-ounce egg weight, (no hook)and we can cast about 75 yards. Airplanes are very "Snaggable", and it is rare that the line slides off once we start to pull the plane (gently).

For the planes that quit while taxiing out or in, or if a deadstick can be landed pretty close, a long pole with a shepherd's crook is handy.

Last time we experimented with the R/C boat, we got the towline wrapped up in the prop and had to go get both the boat AND the plane.