Radio-controlled boat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A radio-controlled boat is a small boat controlled remotely with radio control equipment.

Contents

[edit] Types

[edit] Sport

Sport boats are the most common type of boat amongst hobbyists.

[edit] Scale

Large scale model warships in San Diego
Enlarge
Large scale model warships in San Diego

Scale boats are replicas of full-size boats. They can be small enough to fit into your hand, or large, trailer-transported models weighing hundreds of pounds. More often than not they are a miniaturized version of a prototype, built using plans and/or photos, although there are variants of the hobby that utlize freelance designs. Another offshoot of this hobby is radio control submarines.

[edit] Racing

Radio controlled racing boats are designed for maximum speed and maneuverability. Various syles of racing include circuits of different shapes laid out on the water with bouys. Some enthusiasts race in the sea controlling their craft from a pursuing boat known as a "chase boat". These courses will usually be a few miles long and the competition is judged against the clock to find the fastest in class.

Within the various styles of racing there will be a number of classes depending upon engine size and type.

[edit] Sail

Sailboats use the power of wind in large sails to move. Typically sailing boats have two controls (commonly referred to as 'channels' in radio control), one for the rudder to steer the craft and one to control the sail by drawing the it in or letting it out.

Racing with model sail boats, Radio Sailing, is governed by the same ISAF (International Sailing Federation) Racing Rules of Sailing that are used for full sized crewed sailing boats (with the inclusion of Appendix E).

There are four international classes of radio sailing boats recognized by the ISAF-Radio Sailing Division: (from smallest to largest)

The IOM class rules specify a monohull of maximum length 1000 mm, with maximum draught 420 mm. There is a minimum weight of 4000 g, which makes home-building of competitive boats possible. The IOM has three one-design rigs. To keep costs down, hull materials are restricted to either wood or glassfiber, while masts and booms are restricted to either aluminium or wood.

  • International Marblehead (M)

Maximum length: 1290 mm Maximum draught: ca 700 mm Up to six rigs are allowed, the tallest being about 2200 mm.

  • International Ten Rater (10R)
  • International A Class (A)

The largest of the international radio sailing classes.

[edit] Power boats

Power boats are typically electric or internal combustion, (ignition engine or glow plug R/C engine based) and some are steam powered. (At one time some boats used engines working on the compression ignition principle. These were not diesels in the true sense of the word but the modelling fraternity frequently referred to them as such. A few enthusiasts still operate such engines.) The power is commonly used to rotate a submerged propeller, aircraft propeller or jet which in turn provide the thrust to move the craft. Typically power boats have two controls, rudder, outboard motor or stern drive and throttle control. Powered scale boats will often have additional remote controlled functions to improve realism, e.g. sounding fog horns, rotating radar antennae etc. Some of the more sophisticated powered racing boats may also have additional remote controlled functions. These may include remote mixture control allowing the driver to optimise the fuel/air mixture during a race. Another function occasionally implemented for racing boats using a surface piercing propellor is remote control of depth or angle of thrust.

[edit] Combat

A competitive offshoot of the radio control model warships hobby that involves the firing of projectiles, usually propelled by gas, at opposing ships to sink or damage them. Models are usually simplified to facilitate repair.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../r/a/d/Radio-controlled_boat.html"