Remote Control Boat – Kind of Hulls
The next great choice is which type of radio controlled boat hull to decide on. If you’re setting up a scale project, your selection will clearly be determined by the full-size vessel you want to model. But sport, racing and sailing craft hull types present very special characteristics. In general, there are two hull classifications: monoplane and hydroplane.
MONOPLANES Monoplane hulls contain one continuous surface in contact with the water. Monoplane hulls can be divided into 2 subcategories: deep-V’s and shallow-V’s.
Deep-V’s. Generally monoplane hulls are deep-V’s. This typical layout brings the keel to a sharp point well below the surface of the water. The bottom of the boat is at an angle upward steeply toward the hull’s sides, resulting in a radio controlled boat that knifes through the water with a comparatively large wetted surface area. This style of hull is stable at all speeds and provides sharper steering reaction. The downside is that the extra hull surface that contacts the water causes drag that restricts maximum speed. Still, as well as the right power system and proper tuning, these radio controlled boats are quite fast especially for newbies.
Shallow-V’s are the faster of the two monoplane types since they run with less surface area in contact with the water. The shallower keel vee-angle produces a flatter bottom that causes less drag. The downside is that not as much of contact with the water means a reduced amount of stability, so they are more challenging to control and require more defined trimming. Shallow-v’s are very standard for entry-level racing, this type of radio controlled boat or the so-called Cracker boxes being the most common.
HYDROPLANES Hydroplanes maintain more than 1 surface in contact with the water. They include tunnel hulls, catamarans, outriggers and stepped hydro’s.
Tunnel hulls are generally often connected with full-size racing boats. They get their name from the raised center portion of the hull. Two outer sections or sponsons sit in the water with a tunnel between them. As the boat gains speed, air builds up in this tunnel and raises the boat higher out of the water. This reduces the surface area that contacts the water. This means less drag and higher speeds, while the relatively wide spacing of the sponsons maintains stability. This design provides a excellent balance of speed and handling for beginners.
Catamarans (cats) work on the same principle as tunnel hulls and differ only in shape . They have more steeply angled sponsons much like deep-vee monos with a tunnel along the center. A catamaran tunnel tends to be taller and narrower than a tunnel hull’s, so it takes longer to preserve stability. These also, are a good beginner model.
Outriggers are at the uppermost of the performance ladder; their sponsons and main hull are separate pieces. This improves the airflow at high speeds, so outriggers are the fastest radio controlled boats; a number of even run at more than 90mph! The problem is that they are designed to work best at full throttle. At slow speeds, they sit too low in the water and do not handle well. Also, they are the least forgiving when it comes to setting the trim.
Stepped hydroplane hulls contain notches perpendicular to the center line that divide the wetted surface into two or more sections. These notches get the radio controlled boat up on step sooner, and that improves performance. At speed, these notches reduce the wetted area, reducing drag. This hull type includes a diverse group, from plain deep-vees with little steps in the hull, to three-point hydro racers such as the full-size Miss Budweiser turbine-powered, unlimited hydroplane. At full speed, three-point hydro’s travel on two tiny areas of the forward sponsons and the centrally situated propeller at the rear.
Any way you look at it radio controlled boats are a super way to spend a sunny afternoon. Take the time to enjoy the hobby and spend time with your family and friends.