The current climate of R/C boating?

[Zach Vought]

Haven't been back for long, but I have been perusing the pages of the forum and a question has come to mind. What is the current reality of R/C boating??? I know when I was active in the hobby before things seemed mediocre at best. Doing research at that time, I noticed that it seemed to have declined from the year before. Now that I am back into the hobby, I have noticed that the decline has continued. Or at least it seems that way. The local pond that the guys in jax used to run at doesn't seem to be getting any action. Maybe they just moved. Just finished reading the cancellation notice for the Nitro Nats at Voodoo, that was relatively depressing. I'm sure that the economy has something to do with it. On the other hand, I have seen quite a few innovations since I came back. With the near non existence of some manufacturers any more, new ones have emerged and evolved and made so pretty impressive boats. I guess perhaps its a normal ebb and flood of the hobby? I hope to see that the hobby continues to grow, even if its a little at a time.

 

[anthony_marquart]

its been in steady decline since I have been doing this. One thing that really did a jump start on the hobby was the JAE.12 boat. People could use their car engines and go fast on the water.

 

[Zach Vought]

I have seen those boats. All of the JAE boats are priced really well in both flat kit and built forms. Not everyone has the skills or in my case patience to put a flat kit together. I still have a hammer head .12 I haven't put together lol. I am definitely concerned. I was just browsing the clubs section and saw nothing current really. It's a little disheartening.

 

[stan simpson iv]

Zach...if you are talking about Jax. Fl. we now run Sat./Sun. at a pond off of Atlantic blvd. and Kernan behind the Academy Sports Center. You are more than welcome to come and get wet...there are Gas/Nitro. Some times people show up with planes and heli's. We will be there all day both days this weekend,getting stuff ready for Melbourne next month.

 

[mark ham]

get in touch with Stan Simpson, they run at a lake on the east side of Jacksonville now, there are still a few members left in Jax., I will text him and let him know about your post.

 

[mark ham]

nevermind...

 

[Zach Vought]

Thanks guys. I was talking I general on this particular thread but did post something in the club section. Mr. Atwell replied to the post and told me about the pond over there. Thanks a bunch guys!

 

[David Santistevan]

My opinion is there is a couple of pressures on the hobby that have attributed to some of the decline. The biggest is the economy, the last five years have been difficult for most. Also I think that there is a lot more competition for those RC dollars. With micro helis, multi rotor and park flyers to name a few these are hobbys that people can get into inexpensively and the learning curve is very short. I don't think there is any one reason for the decline.

The people who love boats are and will remain in the hobby. I think as a group we need to do more to advertise and expose people to the hobby. One if the fallouts from the Internet is that model boat providers have consolidated and we no longer have representation on the hobby stores. We need to endevour to find ways to expose people to the hobby if we are to grow our numbers.

D

 

[Zach Vought]

Couldn't agree more David

 

[SayMikey]

Both our races had over 175 boats

Many choose to go to larger event's. I think while in general the number of locals decline the hard core guys keep on going. I dont see much growth in a hobby thats soo technical when younger generations get there kicks on videogames.

 

[TomMoorehouse]

People just don't have the money they used to have. To quote Bernie Sanders

"In the United States today, we have the most unequal distribution of wealth and income since the 1920s."

"Today, the six heirs to the Wal-Mart fortune own more wealth than the bottom 30 percent."

If you ask me I will say this is Reganomics at work. Destroying the middle class. Hard to spend money on a hobby when both parents are working just to keep a roof over the families head and food on the table.

Sorry to get all political.

 

[Zach Vought]

Have to agree with you there, Mikey

 

[Zach Vought]

Outside of politically induced economic reasons, what do you all think can be done to help the sport?

 

[bermudadude]

i for 1 say its a sign of the times. model boats in particular require 1 to be technical/mechanical minded to be competitive. its ALOT easier to go reasonably fast but when you show up at an event the true speed demons will cut u down like that gimpy legged zebra on the african plains .the younger guys gettin into the hobby seem WAAAY less technical minded than when i grew up. i mean ,some of the questions......and in gas its even worse. maybe its the education system in general(?)

that kinda chases anybody thats interested in "fair" competition to the gas world where the exact opposite that the gas classes where created for is happening. it seems in thier world money AND speed seem to be the "holy grail" and if u dont have either your not going to have a good time. because if the relatively cheap zenoah the "pros" show up with 10 boats and 30 engines to a race.

and these guys are waayy SERIOUS !!

now where does the weekend boater go now? he doesnt fit in

to top it all off theres the occasional odd rule change/addition . dont see it in the nitro really but the gas guys....its always sumtin.

then on the gas forums (and sumtimes others) theres always the arguing ,if a newbe wants info/motivation hes S.o.L and the morale and enthusiasm for the hobby suffers.

k&b crapping out gave a hit to the best entry level class. i thought gas would replace it but that turned into the "pro" class as i mentioned.

i sure wish it would get back to how it was,not as nostalgic but to make sure it survives.

...not so important to most but i personaly miss the straight tuned pipes without all the muffling....nuthing sounded better than F hydro back in the day with a few sets of twin .90 hollerin round the course....im old lol

 

[Zach Vought]

I have to say I have seen much of the above on other forums. I could also see the newcomer getting discouraged. It is expensive/laborious to go fast. That's with any sport really. If you don't have the knowledge, there is always cubic dollars lol. Gas has never really interested me. Seems too expensive. I know nitro isn't cheap but to make a gas rigger run like a nitro rigger, you're gonna spend some serious $$$. Have to agree. The expense is crucial and going to a race and getting your @$$ kicked sucks.

 

[Slideblues]

Tom hit the nail on the head for part of it, The other is the younger ones need instant gratification........

Ala internet, I phones, video games etc.

To take the time to build up something, test it, tune it, and then go after some speed,

They are on to other things.

Gene

 

[Tom Foley]

Obamacare ..kill the beast !!

 

[Zach Vought]

I agree Foley

 

[Zach Vought]

Whatever happens, I hate to see the sport degrade any more.

 

[Al Hobbs]

I think that we have lost some of the family atmosphere we used to have. Mom and Dad raced. The kids went to the races with Mom and Dad and when the kids were old enough,they started racing also. The kids learned how to fix engines, build boats, adjust struts, etc., with their Dad and other friends.

Let's look at why someone would not take his family to a race. Maybe Dad does not want his wife and kids hearing some of the language. Maybe thie kids are intimidated by some of the racers who are so determined to win that they don't think about how everyone else should be treated.

We do need to attract younger boaters. I think the way to do that is to give some respect to attracting families into the sport as well as middle aged men with a lot of money.

At many of the races I attend, I would not ask my wife or grandchildren to go and put up with the way some of us act.

We need to make our hobby good for everyone in the family. If Dad is racing boats, let's try to make his hobby attract new members from his family.

Al Hobbs