The UK has an abundance of rivers, lakes and waterways, making it easy to see why remote control boating is a popular pastime right here at home. Plenty of Brits young and old are finding enjoyment from controlling their very own slice of nautical magic, without the costs and commitment associated with full-sized boats.
Brands like Leic are putting a stamp on modern RC boats designed for adults, while Rabing and Gizmo Vine have some great deals on entry-level boats the kids can get on board with too. Or maybe you want to get an edge in the angling world with a remote-controlled bait boat? Whichever you fancy, our picks from Amazon and eBay have got you covered.
Quick List - Top Remote Control Boats
Rabing
Speedy, High-Functioning RC Boat Designed for Adults and Children Over 12
WWSHIP
Workhorse Bait Boat That Can Handle 1.5 KG of Weight
Rabing
An RC Boat for Everyone That Boasts Two Rechargeable Batteries
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Table of Contents
From this simple buying guide, you'll come to know the different types of remote control boats and which functions and features set an unsinkable one apart from a floundering one. Hopefully, we'll be able to help you to choose the boat of your remote controlled dreams.
While most people would associate RC boating as a hobby in itself, there are also RC boats designed to aide anglers in catching the fish of the day. There are a few stark differences to understand in the style and construction of the boats that make this your first port of call.
Certainly the most common of RC boats is the recreational type. These boats typically benefit from a lightweight, streamline construction designed with speed in mind. They're very often moulded from full-sized speedboats, giving you a little hint of being in the hot seat of a fully-fledged water-shredding speedboat.
On the lower end of the scale, RC boats can be child-friendly with minimal cost and a lower top speed. These soft plastic boats pose little to no threat if they do happen to go a bit off-course and run aground in murky waters.
Recreational RC boats on the higher end are equipped with large, powerful motors, enabling some serious speeds to be achieved. They are built from a hardened plastic construction to enhance their performance, which is why they're geared toward adults or older kids – any room for error suddenly evaporates, though hopefully not with your boat!
As the name suggests, the sole purpose of these RC boats is to carry your bait to wherever the fish may be. They don't have a fishy sixth sense, unfortunately, so you'll still have to bring the fishing knowledge. Nevertheless, they can be irreplaceable pieces of kit for lake and river anglers wanting to reach the big biters.
A telling sign of a bait boat is the remote-controlled bucket situated on the back or top of the boat. With the press of a button, the bucket will casually flip back and release your line and bait, hopefully landing you a fish for its efforts.
Bait boats may not reach the same speeds as their recreational cousins but they boast a much longer range and drive time, thoughtfully suiting the passionate anglers who aren't going home 'til they land something big.
Every RC boat has a few comparable functions that separate the extreme from the not-so-extreme. Choosing the ideal RC boat may just come down to what kind of top speed, range and drive time it's capable of, ultimately ending with you owning a boat to be proud of.
While not very relatable to bait boats, the top speed is one of the defining functions of any recreational RC boat, where really, moving fast is its sole purpose. You will find a very large top speed gap from the entry-level RC boats to the higher-spec ones.
Entry-level boats will typically tap out at no more than 10 km/h. Although this doesn't sound like a ticket to thrill-land, it can still give you and your children hours of fun, being a great stepping stone into learning the RC boating ropes.
Once you leave the entry-level paddling pool, the top speed will jump rapidly. Boats start to leave the child-friendly domain when they reach top speeds of 30 km/h, though some models can attain a staggering 70 km/h. Previous experience is recommended with these fast boats to avoid the classic case of sinking before swimming.
The remote control range refers to the uninterrupted distance a boat will work from its controller. This range is directly linked to the battery power of the boat, the controller and their radio transmission.
Quite often, bait boats will have a very long range, thus allowing them to reach the unreachable parts of the lake where you think the fish will be biting. Even entry-level bait boats will have a range of 200 metres with some reaching up to 500 m, although you may need binoculars to keep track from that far back.
As for recreational boats where the need for speed outweighs the need for range, you will find the distance to be anywhere between 50 and 200 metres. It's worth remembering, however, that the range will lessen as the boat and controller batteries start to run out, and these figures refer to the very maximum range on a full charge.
The total drive time is a function that is determined by multiple aspects of an RC boat. This measurement of time is the culmination of the battery's size and power, the motor, and other functions like top speed and range. With every boat having a slightly different drive time, it's certainly something to keep an eye on.
As the drive time is not a necessary indicator of quality or power, it really comes down to what the manufacturer has put worth into. For instance, some entry-level recreational boats can have a substantial drive time of 50 minutes, while some of the most powerful boats will run out of juice in under 10 minutes flat.
On the other hand, bait boats will have a significant drive time associated with them. It's not uncommon to find them with up to 5-6 hours of drive time, making this function one of the most important for this type of boat. After all, every fisherman or woman knows it's all about commitment when time stretches on and patience is a virtue.
Rechargeable batteries are measured in mAh (milliamps per hour), the total of which will determine how long your boat will run for in one session. RC boat batteries are known to have a staggering capacity scope of anywhere between 400 and 4200 mAh.
Another measurement of battery size that will affect the overall spec of your RC boat is its voltage. Voltage refers to the total amount of electric potential a battery will hold, which varies tremendously from boat to boat, though some common sizes to look out for are 2.4 V, 3.6 V and 7.2 V.
Some brands have integrated two rechargeable batteries into their designs, allowing for a greater mAh capacity and a longer drive time – something worth looking out for if duration is key. On a final note, while RC boats function from rechargeable batteries, the controllers do not, so you may need to stock up on the AAs.
Radio interference used to be part and parcel of using any remote-controlled device, as through using the different radio transmissions of 27, 35 and 40 MHz, crosstalk or frequency interference was inevitable when edging toward other RC boats.
This crosstalk resulted in one controller trying to control multiple boats, giving rise to potential collisions and many unhappy RC boaters. Luckily, you can find modern designs with an upgraded 2.4 GHz transmission which enables up to six boats to function together in peace and harmony.
That said, some RC boats do still use the old MHz transmissions. This may not be an issue if you're planning to escape the crowds and find your own slice of RC-boating paradise, though boats with multiple MHz frequencies will allow you to get together with one or two friends if you fancy it.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rabing RC High Speed Boat 30 Km/H for Adults & Kids|H100 | ![]() | Speedy, High-Functioning RC Boat Designed for Adults and Children Over 12 | |
2 | WWSHIP Intelligent Fishing Bait Boat With 500 m Range | ![]() | Workhorse Bait Boat That Can Handle 1.5 KG of Weight | |
3 | Leic Dual Motor Control Boat | ![]() | A Stylised All-Black Catamaran Speedboat to Seek and Destroy | |
4 | Rabing Remote Control Boat With 2 Rechargeable Batteries | ![]() | An RC Boat for Everyone That Boasts Two Rechargeable Batteries | |
5 | Sowofa Large Remote Control Speedboat for Adults|SR80 | ![]() | The Cheetah of the Waters and an RC Thrill Seeker's Dream | |
6 | HSP Himoto Unbekannt RC Destroyer Duke Navy Warship | ![]() | A Mysterious Yet Detailed Navy Warship With Two Powerful Engines | |
7 | Elikliv Remote Control Bait Boat | ![]() | High-Powered Bait Boat With 5 Hours Drive Time and Night Vision | |
8 | JJRC FancyWhoop S6 RC Boat | ![]() | RC Speedboat With Two-Way Navigation Rudder for a Smoother Cruise | |
9 | Fliuuk Remote Control Boat for Pools and Lakes | ![]() | An Entry-Level Boat for Kids to Test Their RC Boating Waters With | |
10 | Gizmo Vine Remote Control Boat 2.4GHz | ![]() | Small and Light, this Speedboat Replica Is Super Child-Friendly |
The Rabing high-speed H100 has all the hallmarks that make for a great remote control boat. With an impressive range of 150 metres, a top speed of 30 km/h and the preferred 2.4 GHz radio frequency, this is a high-functioning piece of kit.
Being recommended for adults and children over 12 years old, it's also one that will allow teenagers to experience the rush of controlling a boat at high speeds without too much risk. Also included is a 180° capsize recovery system, which judging by the power, may come in handy!
With an extraordinary range of up to 500 metres, this bait boat from WWSHIP may need a GPS tracker fitted so it doesn't get lost out on the open water. Being much larger in design than the other bait boat on this list ensures it'll fare well against any wind and current, too.
Able to handle up to 1.5 kg of weight, this boat is a tough cookie that may even be able to reel the fish in for you. And to top it all off, there's a large battery capacity of 5,200 mAh and a drive time of 3 hours, so it's bound to become top of your fishing checklist from here on out.
Being all-black in design really adds an extra stamp of authority onto this catamaran speedboat. It's impressive in function too, as the dual-motor system aids the boat in reaching a top speed of 30km/h for up to 25 minutes.
This is impressive as the battery's capacity is on the smaller side at 650 mAh, making its use of energy very commendable indeed. Also, having a range of up to 100 metres and 2.4 GHz frequency makes for a fun-filled RC boating experience.
Recommended for kids aged 8 and over, this RC boat from Rabing is one to excite every member of the family. With a top speed of 25-30 km/h, even adults can have a lot of fun zipping about the local lakes and racing the kids.
Plus, knowing it uses the 2.4 GHz radio transmission only adds to its all-inclusive nature. It also comes with two rechargeable 500 mAh capacity batteries, giving you a total of 20 minutes drive time. Considering the price and top speed, this is a substantial amount of time.
Reaching hurtling speeds of 70km/h, the Vector SR80 is a super-fast super-speedboat that is set to test your RC capabilities. With a range of 100-200 metres, it's also destined to have you in the fast lane, racing laps around your RC boating friends and foes.
The defining difference, and what gives this boat its high-speed prowess, is its brushless motor. This is an electric motor that increases the torque-to-weight ratio, while also offering a more efficient energy output. But be ready to fork out the pounds, as it's considerably higher in price than the other boats on this list.
The anomaly of the list, this royal navy warship replica has incredible detail throughout its entire design. The craftsmanship is quite astonishing with all the attributes of a real navy warship coming together to create a ship of remarkable similarity.
Unfortunately, not a lot of information has been given by the manufacturer in terms of function. What we do know is that it has a drive time of 20 minutes and is very long at 78 cm in length. Still though, with many happy reviewers, you can safely assume this warship is set to impress.
With a staggering drive time of 5 hours and a range of 300 metres, this small but mighty bait boat will keep hunting long into the night. It also has a built-in LED night vision system to ensure you don't lose sight of it in the cover of night.
The large battery capacity and voltage have been put to good use, creating the aforementioned 5 hours of maximum drive time. The only downside is its small stature, allowing the potential for current and wind-chop to capsize the little guy.
Separating itself from the RC boating crowd, this catamaran-style vessel is unique in looks while also boasting some neat features. At its simplest, it's another perfect option for the kids with a top speed of 10km/h and a range of 50 metres.
The extra brownie points come from the inclusion of a second rechargeable battery, which gives the boat 40 minutes of total drive time. However, you will still have to swap the batteries mid-way, as it doesn't utilise a dual battery system.
Here's another entry-level boat for the whole family to enjoy, with a conservative top speed of 10km/h and a range of 50 metres. This err to the side of caution creates a safe learning environment for the kids to gain confidence and skills in the RC boating arena.
The 3.6V battery with 500 mAh is quite small, yet it still boasts a good amount of drive time at 30 minutes. Due to the slow top speed, it's actually able to drive for longer, making it even more ideal for the kids. The only hitch is that it still runs off the MHz frequency.
The Kartgol from Gizmo Vine is very much on the lower end of the entry-level scale. With an unknown top speed, this RC boat is heavily geared toward children giving it a go for the first time.
Unfortunately, it only has a minimal range of 10 metres and a drive time of 15 minutes, plus the battery capacity is ever so small at 80 mAh. It does, however, run through the 2.4 GHz radio transmission, giving rise to the kids being able to race and get into all kinds of RC-boating mischief.
No matter what part of the UK you reside in, the weather will always have the final say when planning a day of RC boating. That's why equipping yourself with quality waterproof gear will keep the RC times rolling through the eye of the storm and out the other side. Here are our wet-weather picks!
Remote control boating is a hobby that gets the whole family involved and having fun. It doesn't discriminate in who it infatuates, meaning even the grandparents can take the helm and try their luck at beating the energetic whipper snappers, showing off their grace with age! Hopefully, you've found the RC boat to suit your style from this article.
Author: Connor Macanally
No. 1: Rabing| RC High Speed Boat 30 Km/H for Adults & Kids|H100
No. 2: WWSHIP|Intelligent Fishing Bait Boat With 500 m Range
No. 3: Leic| Dual Motor Control Boat
No. 4: Rabing|Remote Control Boat With 2 Rechargeable Batteries
No. 5: Sowofa|Large Remote Control Speedboat for Adults|SR80
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