Remote Control Hobby Shop

The sun is shining, the air is warm, and the lake is calling.  Not quite the right time of year for swimming, you may want to opt for enjoying another hobby where you can still enjoy the lake but not plunge into the still cold waters like remote control boats.

Remote control (RC) boats may seem like a fairly new hobby, but in fact they have been around for a very long time. Mechanical and electrical engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla demonstrated a remote control boat before a crowd in New York in 1898.  Seemingly responding to commands from the crowd, Tesla’s boat was actually being controlled by Tesla himself via radio waves. Since that time, the advances in design and technology of remote control boats has been extensive and the hobby has become very popular among a wide variety of enthusiasts. Hobbyists have designed the tiniest of boats to almost life size, and everything in between.

Please note that RC can also be an acronym for Radio Controlled.  “Remote Control” involves use of wires connected from the controller to the item, and “Radio Control” does not, but the two terms have become interchangeable to laymen. Here we refer to the wireless connection.

The most popular style of RC boat by far is the speedboat. These tiny replicas have been known to reach speeds of up to 120 mph, but generally the commercial models average 45 mph.  Not only are these boats fast, they are technologically supreme.  Fiberglass bodies, high quality propellers, cutting-edge hardware and sleek, sophisticated designs have brought these little racers to the forefront of hobby interest. Racing groups are found in many places along with expos and contests.

Scale boats are another division of the RC boat hobby.  These particular boats are exact replicas of real boats made to scale, generally 1/12.  The uniqueness lies in the details of these particular boats; the smallest of details captured so that size is really the only identifiable difference.  Cruise ships, barges, tugboats and the like are all popular items in this category.

There are many, many different styles of RC boats available in price ranges from $10 to thousands of dollars, truly making it a hobby to be enjoyed by anyone.  Boats are sold in stores and specialty shops, as well as online, and can be purchased assembled and ready to go, or in parts ready to be built.

Of course in addition to boats, there is also a wide variety of other RC vehicles inlcuding planes, helicopters and cars. Its all fun as well as a very rewarding hobby for the collector and enthusiast. So enjoy!

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