The next important decision is which kind of radio controlled boat hull to decide on. If you’re planning a scale project, your choice will clearly be determined by the full-size vessel you want to model. But sport, racing and sailing boat hull types exhibit very special characteristics. In general, there are two hull classifications: monoplane and hydroplane.
MONOPLANES Monoplane hulls have one uninterrupted surface in contact with the water. Monoplane hulls can be separated into 2 subcategories: deep-V’s and shallow-V’s.
Deep-V’s. Largely monoplane hulls are deep-V’s. This conventional layout brings the keel to a sharp point well beneath the surface of the water. The bottom 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 relatively large wetted surface area. This kind of hull is stable at every speeds and provides sharper steering response. The downside is that the additional hull surface that contacts the water causes drag that restricts top speed. Still, with the right power system and accurate tuning, these radio controlled boats are plenty fast specially for the beginner.
Shallow-V’s are the faster of the two monoplane types because they run with less surface area in contact with the water. The shallower keel v’s-angle produces a flatter bottom that causes less drag. The downside is that a reduced amount of contact with the water means less stability, so they are more tricky to control and require more precise trimming. Shallow-vees are very common for entry-level racing, this type of radio controlled boat or the so-called Crackerboxes being the most common.
HYDROPLANES Hydroplanes have more than one surface in contact with the water. They consist of tunnel hulls, catamarans, outriggers and stepped hydros.
Tunnelhulls are most often associated with full-size racing boats. They get their name from the raised center section of the hull. 2 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 design provides a superior balance of speed and handling for the beginner.
Catamarans (cats) work on the same principle as tunnelhulls and differ only in shape . They have more steeply angled sponsons much like deep-vee monos with a tunnel along the center. A catamarns tunnel tends to be taller and narrower than a tunnelhull’s, so it takes longer to preserve stability. These also, are a good beginner model.
Outriggers are at the highest 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 stumbling block 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 centerline that divide the wetted surface into two or more sections. These notches pick up the radio controlled boat up on step quicker, and that improves performance. At speed, these notches lessen the wetted area, reducing drag. This hull type includes a varied group, from simple deep-vees with small 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 hydros travel on 2 small areas of the forward sponsons and the centrally located propeller at the rear.
Any way you look at it radio controlled boats are a great way to spend a sunny afternoon. Take the time to enjoy the activity and spend time with your family and friends.
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