The next substantial decision is which type of radio controlled boat hull to select. If your are planning a scale project, your choice will apparently be determined by the full-size vessel you desire to model. But sport, racing and sailing craft hull types present very unusual personality. 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 separated into 2 subcategories: deep-V’s and shallow-V’s.

Deep-V’s. The majority monoplane hulls are deep-V’s. This conventional design brings the keel to a sharp point well beneath the surface of the water. The underside of the boat is angled 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 type of hull is steady at every speeds and provides sharper steering response. The downside is that the added hull surface that contacts the water causes drag that limits top speed. Still, as well as the right power system and correct fine-tuning, these radio controlled boats are plenty fast specially for newbies.

Shallow-V’s are the faster of the two monoplane types since they function 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 a reduced amount of contact with the water means a reduced amount of stability, so they are more tricky to control and demand more precise trimming. Shallow-v’s are very common for entry-level racing, this type of radio controlled boat or the so-called Cracker boxes being the most common.

HYDROPLANES Hydroplanes include more than one 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 section of the hull. Two outer sections or sponsons sit in the water with a tunnel between them. As the boat gains momentum, 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 model provides a superior balance of speed and handling for beginners.

Catamarans (cats) work on the same principle as tunnel hulls and fluctuate only in shape . They have more steeply angled sponsons much like deep-v’s monos with a tunnel along the center. A cat’s 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; several even run at more than 90 mph! The obstacle is that they’re intended to work best at full throttle. At slow speeds, they sit too low in the water and do not handle well. Moreover, 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 2 or more sections. These notches get the radio controlled boat up on step faster, and that improves performance. At speed, these notches lower the wetted area, reducing drag. This hull type includes a varied group, from straightforward deep-v’s 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 small areas of the forward sponsons and the centrally located propeller at the stern.

Any way you look at it radio controlled boats are a marvelous way to spend a sunny afternoon. Take the time to enjoy the activity and spend time with your kids and friends.