How To Use Your Nitro or Gas Radio Controlled Boats in a Crowd

So there you are, on the side of the lake or pond, with your radio controlled boat (your toy) in your hands. Even if it is powered by nitro or gas, it is a toy; maybe grown up, but a toy nonetheless. You may be thinking that anything goes, that it is playtime and you have no real rules that you need to follow with your radio controlled boats.  In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.

There are several basic rules of the water that you need to stay aware of if your playtime is to be memorable, rather than forgetful. One of the first things you need to remember may sound counter intuitive. Here is the rule: Do not attempt to start your RC boat while it is in the water!

Why? Well, first off, there may be rough waters or waves from other users that make holding your radio controlled boats difficult as you are pulling the starter. That will only make your starting activities all the more difficult. No problem you say, because you have a hand starter? This could still be a problem if you and/or your boat are in the water. You are primed to drop the hand starter into the drink. And, then where would you be?

These situations are exactly why I say to start your RC boat out of the water. You can hold your boat hull very firmly when you are on dry ground. Of course, once you have the engine fired off, you need to get it in the water with haste. You should know that the nitro boat heads are smaller than your other radio controlled toys, the cars and trucks. And, the nitros are cooled by water. Any extended running time out of the water can result in serious overheating of the motor.

Here is a special caution to pay heed to when starting your radio controlled boats out of the water. Your boat may not have a prop shaft clutch. So, there is danger beneath the hull and when you transport your boat you could sustain serious injury. The propeller spins at several thousand rpms and is even though it is not large, if can inflict damage.  Even if there is a clutch, the prop may be spinning, so be careful at all times.

For boats, the easiest way to shut your engine off is also the safest. You can use the radio controller. What you do is suffocate the engine by closing off the carburetor, and then trimming the idle speed back until the motor shuts off. Quick...painless...safe!