Remote controlled boat

[psubill78]

My little girls birthday is coming up -- and we'd like to get her a remote controlled boat. I've seen a few 'toys' but they all have horrible reviews.

Any suggestions on brand/models... I'm sure a bunch of you have them

Thanks
Bill

 

[gnephew511]

Traxxis is the way to go. How old is your daughter? Some of them require a bit of skill to operate.

 

[psubill78]

She's going to be 8...

 

[CV-23]

I have a twin engine electric Traxxis.....great deep V and I run it on the river. Jumps boat wakes fine. Not cheap but not big bucks. You can even boat in the street!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMi9CK_XKEQ

 

[Bucit]

Maybe too young but these are fun!

 

[Pyrojodge]

I love my traxxas villian ex, Maybe a little to much for an 8 year old though...

 

[JimFromMD]

Just one guy's opinion. Go electric instead of nitro for power. Yeah they may not be as fast as the nitro boats, but having played with a nitro boat, we had a lot of trouble keeping it running. Also depending on where you will operate it, retrieving it if (when) it stalls can be a pain in the butt. Electrics will slow down and give you heads up that you're almost done. If you do go nitro, make sure you get one with a ez start or drill starter. The ones with the lawnmower like pull coard starter were a pain. Also get a good rechargable glow plug ignitor to get your plug good and hot.

We have 3 Traxxas Revo nitro trucks and they are a blast. It's nice to be able to add more fuel and go again, vs charging... Now having had these trucks and more knowledge about Nitro RCs... the boat may be doable, but when we got it and were college age newbies to RC, the nitro boat was frustrating and ended up on ebay after a few months.

 

[Bucit]

I have a weed eater motor in mine with a big bore carb. It's been upside down many times. It runs about 40mph but not for a child. We sharpened the prop and it will take a finger off very easily.

 

[JimFromMD]

I have a weed eater motor in mine with a big bore carb. It's been upside down many times. It runs about 40mph but not for a child. We sharpened the prop and it will take a finger off very easily.

You have a weed eater motor in that little red one!? Please tell me you have a video of it in action.

 

[dvx216]

Kyosho makes a lot of different boats that are battery powered

 

[Pachanga Boy]

I love my proboat Fastech (discontinued), too fast for an 8 year old, but they do make some other models that would be suited better. I agree electric is the way to go, and with the new brushless motors and LIPO batterys they've really made Nitro a tough sell.

 

[Bucit]

You have a weed eater motor in that little red one!? Please tell me you have a video of it in action.

I need to see if I have a video if not I'll need to make one. The motor is also raw water cooled with a small diaphragm type water pump.