Hello everybody...
I would like to buy a boat...you know the type that you just stick in the engine, radio equipement, add some fuel and go. I'm planing to play with it while out fishing in my fishing boat. I was thinking if all the inboard nitro boats have clutches or whatever you call them... like when the engine idles does the prop disengages or is the prop fixed to the engine? I thought it would be a hassle to grab the rc boat as it go by the side of my boat.
I'm planing to get the kyosho blue streak 800 GP...does it have that clutch thing? And has anyone have good experience with it? Any other suggestion for a nitro speed boat that uses .15-.21 engine... something like the blue streak. I got about $300 bucks for boat+engine - radio equipement i got some stuff left over from my planes.
Thanks for any help
Trung

I have only heard good things about the hobbico Nitro Hammer. It doesn't have a clutch but is only $220 at tower:http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXBTC3**&P=ML

The problem with using clutches is slippage and people who like to slow way down then speed up. When they are at idle, the motor doesn't get cooling water. Just slow the boat down to bring it alongside your full-sized then shut it down. Operate it like your real boat.

But can I install a clutch if a boat doesn't come with one like can I put one in the nitro hammer? And how slow does the boat go at idiling speed with no clutch?

The same way that you do with your full-sized boat. You can slow them down then shut it down to coast up to your boat.
There are 2 small boats made with a clutch but can't personally recommend them.

Well I can personally recomend 1 rtr boat made by TRAXXAS, the Nitro V it has a clutch and the boat is fast enough that you wont get boared with it anytime soon. I use mine as a recovery boat when I run my rigger the boat has an electric Return To Shore system so you can kill the engine and motor up to your boat or shore with the little electric motor . the best thing is that you take the boat out of the box and you are up and running in less than ten minutes. I hope this helps

I was thinking about the miss bud 1/12...any comments on this boat?
I'm aware that it doesn't have a clutch but I love the looks.
Can I buy a clutch system and install it in this boat...if thats possible

Do a search in here on the Miss Bud.

Get the Aquacraft nitro hammer. It will run circles around miss bud and the nitro V. When you get to the side of the real boat all you do is pull back on the trigger like you would to go to reverse, this will kill the engine and you can grab it out of the water. Its that easy.

Trung, a little off-topic but if you want to see some boat racing, this weekend there is a race right in your city. A pond right alongside the Highway, 401 (?). It started today and runs through Sunday. They are holding another one there on Sept. 12th. Walk around and talk to the racers. You never know, you might find a great deal on a boat at the race. You can learn a lot quickly too.

Thanks Ron... but its been raining all weekend here I don't think anyone is going to be out.
I don't think I'll be able to get one with a clutch...Ron, you told me about the rts system...are there any other boats with rts besides the nitro v. Oh ya does the engine on the nitro v have those recoil starter cuz at Tower it says it comes with EZ start, i dunno what that is.

One thing about us boaters, we're not afraid to get our boats wet! I've run at races where it rained all day up until trophy time. You've still got time to go yet.
The EZ start is an onboard starting system where you hook up a 6-cell R/C car pack to it. It's cranks the motor and ingites the glow plug. The RTS system is another motor that slowly brings the boat back to shore when you push back on the throttle. Traxxas is the only one that I know of that uses this. It does add a lot of weight to a boat that is underpowered with all of that gear in it.

Im not too familiar with marine engines but...for the nitro v can I get rid of the EZ start system and get a pull starter and hook it up to the engine? Just so I can get rid of some weight. Ohh just so Im clear... the EZ start and the rts both use separate motors and batteries?

Yes, the EZ start uses a 6-cell hand-held battery pack and the RTS system uses the reciever battery pack if I'm right. If the RTS and onboard starter were removed there would be a big performance gain from the weight loss. You might be able to use a Sullivan Tiger Drive in place of the OB system.

Trung you are right on the money about the nitro v by all means get the pull stat madel and after you get the motor broke in and running sweet remove the rts battery and motor. Traxxas has just made avalable A really hopped up motor in the nitro v and is a big improvement. but you have been given the best advice that you can get ,"go to the races every chance you can get and talk to the club members . they are people that can save you fom making many many mistakes, take it from a person that has learned the hard way.

Thanks everyone here for the comments and help... I still havent made up my mind on which boat yet but I will try to go to the boat races and get some more advice there and get to check out how the boats work and everything.