ORIGINAL: smithcreek
Wow, lots of gloom and doom predictions for a dinky little .10 size engine. Sure, every engine is dangerous, but this is only 2xs the size of the little .049 cox engines we played with when we were 8 years old. We didn't have ''experts'' around, we just read the directions on the box and went for it. Put it on the boat, start it, keep your fingers out of the way, point the boat away from you, let it go and have a blast. If it works it works, if not it won't be the end of the world.
Dinky little .10 size engine? It's not doom and gloom, it's reality. An absolute beginner, and based on what we've read from the OP, he is a beginner indeed, must understand that it isn't the engine, it's the prop. Someone really needs to show him the right way to handle even a "dinky little .10 size engine".
I have a nice scar from five stiches on my right index finger caused by a "dinky" little electric motor. Safety is the prime issue with any operation of these engines. Someone really needs to show him how to do this properly. Once that prop starts to rotate at about 2500 RPM it is virtually invisible and a beginner only reaches through the prop arc one time to both realize that he made a mistake and, again, ask for someone to take him to the emergency room.
CGr.