What is best for the hobby?

[TomMoorehouse]

Intlwaters goal is to promote our hobby. I am concerned about some posts that do not do this. Recently we have had a lot of posts that could scare away new boaters. I know for a fact they have. I recently got an email that said:

"stopped into a LHS I used to hang out in. They asked if I would talk with a new boater about equipment. Long story short version after talking with the guy he told me he had gone to I'waters to find some infor about nitro boating and saw all of the negative posts on nitro availablity and its required equipment ie. engines glow plugs ect. I know the regulars like to discuss this type of stuff but it does chase away newcomers for the nitro division. Negative posts of this sort just do not help the nitro division grow with new commers. It can also hurt the RTR faction of new boaters since most boaters getting into RTR have high aspirations of eventually moving into other classes."

This worries me. What do you guys think?

 

[ek kustomz]

This should be a rather interesting thread. I have to agree that some of the things that we speak of on this board are somewhat discouraging. However i feel that one would be more prone to get in and get out for good if they enter the hobby without any perspective of what this hobby cost. The lakc of being prepared to spend the ammount of money that w do may leave them with a severly sour taste. If they know what is in store for them before they start then they are more prone to make an educated decision, to say pick nitro, gas or, fe... I think that perhaps an informative thread about the cost of the sport could be available???

Zach

 

[nitrotwin]

I have to agree, but isn't everything said here true for the most part? Call it like you see it. Maybe a seperate P/R site would work rtr oriented, I also agree w/ the above post no surprises!!

 

[SayMikey]

I have to agree, but isn't everything said here true for the most part? Call it like you see it. Maybe a seperate P/R site would work? I also agree w/ the above post no surprises!!

Most guys entering the RTR arena should stick to lower nitro looks like we all will till it gets better. I have told guys entering the hobby about RTR not about $5.00 glow plugs.Id hate to see a new guy step away over negative comments but see no solution to seeing the topic of the week. We are all concerned of skyrocketing prices but you got to pay to play and the more you play the more you pay. Mike

 

[toyotatruckin]

well if your looking for info on boating why not leave the bad with the good so "new" people get the full picture of whats going on before they spend their money--dont butter coat things to get people in the hobby cause if they do spend their money and find out the bad later that one guy and all 10 of his friends will never look back again.

 

[piper_chuck]

As with any hobby, people who have been doing it for a while can be very devoted and spend lots of time and money on it. Put a beginning photographer in a photography forum and they will be quickly intimidated by the experts. The same goes for many other hobbies.

While it is true that gas boats may be simpler and in some ways, cost less to operate, it does get a bit tiresome when people who have made the decision to run gas instead of nitro to continually try to convince people who still run nitro that they are foolish to do so. We're all out to have fun, can't we just get along?

On the plane side of the hobby beginners are usually put under one or more instructors to learn to fly. How about something similar for boats? Identify the people who have the skills, and the personality, to help newcomers learn the ropes.

Some things we could do to help out include:

• Encourage newcomers to introduce themselves. This way people will know the skill level of newcomers to the forum.
  
• Remember that not everyone wants to, or can, spend thousands of $ on this hobby.
  
• Remind ourselves that it's possible for people to have fun without running 70% nitro and blowing a plug every run.
  
• Find ways to lower costs. Why do we need to run high nitro fuel and $450 engines?
  
• I've mentioned stock classes on the nitro side and all sorts of experts have poo pooed the idea. Meanwhile, on the gas side they're adding stock classes. Maybe there's a lesson to be learned?
  
• Start a beginners forum where people who aren't as experienced might feel a bit more comfortable asking questions.
  

 

[Sean Bowf]

I think it is important for folks to know/see the bad with the good. I would hate for someone to buy a boat, and not know what other expenses/problems they may have coming.

But I agree...some times there are too many chicken littles running around here (The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!).

The thread on the cost of nitro got me...had me worried. On the 2nd of July, I was passing through Wichita KS, so I stopped in to the local hobby shop I normally visit there to see what was up with cost of nitro fuel. Guess what?? It cost less than $22 a gallon for the 40% nitro I run. I dont think the price had changed at all... From what I was told, some fuel manufacturers use Chinese Nitro, some use US nitro...if your hobby shop carries a brand that uses US nitro...the price did not change (unless they are gouging). But remember, "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!"

What to change?? I dont know... I have seen some individual posts that could probably use deleting...but I think the threads here in general are good...informative...and probably needed for the most part...at least most of them...heh

Run, play, learn, have fun...

Sean

 

[toyotatruckin]

sean nitro still the same price here, Think 50% is right about 23 a gal. not old stock gets they get new supply when needed and no price hikes-----

 

[gooycheese]

I think if all you mention are the pro's , then when the con's come into play someone is going to be surprised. I would much rather know the good with the bad. I talk with different people everytime i run my boats testing, they want the info on the hobby. I say you will need $500-$1000 and that could be more and fuel and plugs and starting equipment........................ There is alot to running a "race boat". I try and be as honest as possible, don't want to mislead the potential new racer. An example I use is my wife thinks my boats are like $300, she doesn't know I spent $200 on fuel and $250 on plugs this year........................ These examples need to be explained to new boaters (If you intend to race more than 1 race you need to spend some cash)

Paul

p.s. This is just my thoughts.

 

[misshydro]

It's better to warn a person who might want to get into nitro boating. Or otherwise if they deside to get a boat,they will get that sticker shock form all the exspences to run a nitro boat and get upset that we didnt warn them about it and walk away mad from boating completely.Saw that happend too. It's like buyers beware. When I got into nitro R/C boating in 06, I didnt know how costly having a nitro would be.But FE isnt cheap eather,to me more costly then nitro boat .

 

[dizzy dean]

perspective, most newbies(me) don't understand that the majority of the people on here have been around for years. i don't think any of you went out your first time knowing you would be

spending this much $$$. we don't have to spend alot to have fun. nothing is cheap when you move up the ladder. maybe this person just needed someone to show them the ropes. a good honest

mentor is what they needed. not all lhs are into boats, mine calls me or one of the other guys. we try not to sugar coat anything. face it, takes money to go fast.

tim dean(s.c.)

just get out and meet new people and have a goodtime!!!!!

 

[Chris Wood]

i would rather have a newby be able to read all of this talk about pricing fuel plugs ect than for them to go out buy a bunch of boats and equip.. then figure out that they need fuel to only find out is is 40 plus a gall after they burned up the first 2 gallon they bought with the boat. and are out of plugs..

sometimes the facts are not always our friends.

chris

 

[Wesleys Custom RC]

Personally, i think you need an "intro to boating" thing on the front page with some helpfull and truthfull info on how to discern the information and opinions on the following pages. For instance, this is some of the best group of guys i have ever met and they are generally very helpfull but you still have to screen the good advice with the sometimes questionable advice. Also tell them that these guys are "competitors" and as such their conversations get a little "colorfull" at times. If they can't handle that then they really don't need to be here.

 

[moparbarn]

we really in a lot of ways are discussing apples & oranges here, imho. rtr boats run much lower/cheaper nitro, are much easier on plugs (don't need 1 every heat or 2), and are cheaper to purchase, initially. my "play" boats (12mm k&b ob's & top speed 1's or dumas hot shots) run on 30% car fuel i add castor to, run weeks on a glow plug, & a tank of fuel (8 oz.) lasts 15 min. on the other hand, my race boats are just that, race boats. they run higher/more expensive nitro, are MUCH harder on plugs, & break more often, due to their higher state of tune. walt should chime in, he has started to organize a "newbie" program at his club's new pond, to help exactly this issue. being sure the newbie's understand what they want/need & being realistic with them will help. them jumping in the 'deep end' first, without any idea, would prolly run most off. the ones that survive, are RACERS, not just someone that wants a fun "toy". nothing wrong with either group, we need them both, just need to let them know what their options are. doesn't have to cost $50 to go run a boat for an afternoon........ just my .02 worth.

 

[waltr]

Gang,

It's a tough call. I have to agree with Robin for the apples and oranges thing.

Although the new guys need the truth, they need the truth about they're RTRs, not info on twins. It doesn't cost you a dozen plugs a day and 2 gallons of 65% to run a Vegas. Some if the recent posts were the sky is falling,nitro is dead and also the post about what if CMB dies got a little carried away.. Such negativity just isn't needed if you expect to draw additional members. And if you switch to gas, this isn't the place to brag about it making an attempt to sway people to the gas side. There's room for both and I enjoy both myself. They both have their up sides, So, if you'd rather run just gas, good for you, there's always Jims for bragging.

Looking down on the nitro guys doesn't help things around here at all.

And no, I haven't introduced the new racers to IW yet. Eventually I will, but the time just isn't right until they learn the difference between the cost of running an RTR in locals vs the cost running an F Hydro at the Nats. I'm very honest with the costs so there's no surprises

I see the majority will just stay as a weekly club racer with controlled costs just like the buggies they race inside in the winter, but hopefully some will spread their wings and come to the points races. Time will tell.

We do need those consistant weeklys for newbies to start somewhere and local races are the perfect place to start and learn.

I wish I had that opportunity when I started. When I went to my 1st race, I've never gone around a buoy before until then.

I was lucky, as were the other boats, to stay clear of traffic. It wasn't pretty and VERY scary.

We're still a very small group and growing and it's all very new to these guys, so the last thing I want to do is scare them away.

Baby steps first before you can run.

 

[camaroboy383]

have to agree with yota,,,, dont think it should be buttered up just to get new comers.... they should know the up's and the down's of all rc boating,,,,,, for instance like waltr said,,, rtr is gonna be easier on the wallet compared to a race boat......i beleive it should be out in the open so the decision is there's to make....but to make it all short and sweet,,,,, man you would probably never see the guy agian when he figured it out on his own....id be twice as mad if i had to find out on my own,,,, rather than knowing the facts before hand....there is always a upside and a downside to all hobbies.....thats just the way it is,,,,,,no sense trying to hide the downsides,,,,cause there gonna figure it out eventually....it actually is disturbing that people would want to withhold vital information just to plug the hobby.......

just my 2 cents

alden

 

[misshydro]

But theres a thing called the fast boat fever. When us newbies see a racer boat.So we buy these RTR's and find out the dissapointing factor,how slow these boat are. So we want to do some mods to get them to go better and faster. Some would ditch there stock motors a hotter motor likeO.S,CMB or Nova motors. But beware some of these motors are just for racing! not for sport/play around. I'm finding that out now with my 1/12 proboat converionCMB.21RS Redhead Oberto hydro. It's fast but it a pain to keep it in tune too,it loves to load up easly maybe because you have to keep them running flatout=halling butts. even some of there RTRs can be a pain too. In 06 when I got into thr nitro boating,I saw a ton of Miss buds RTR's out there on the market,But as time goes on and reading alot of threads these guys where buying them had the I got to have it fever too.Some having troubles finding that sweet spot on the high speed needels and after maybe lease then 6 times and still cant get them to run wright they get upset and drop out of the nitro boating and ends up selling there boats. I saw that happends way to many times. So we have websights like this one and RCU ,Jims and so on to get info and help with ower boat.They even have threads to make them better&faster Most of you guys are very helpfull and theres the others that rips on the RTR's calling them junk.But hay some of us cant aford the other high price boats&motors,most of us are on a tight bugget. even some buy used boats and motors and parts.or even chinese boats&motors too. Now with the fuel/high price gas your going to see less people getting into the nitro or even see less boat racers show up because of the high gas prices.I'm running 33% and its 8.00 aquart too. We should take a poll and see how many racers and newbie/sportboats we have and that should tell us what we have......... Oh with high nitro=wearing parts out fast like pistion&cyclenders set at arent cheap eather on most motors,that also scare people way too. Plus on some boat websight you got posts about nitro shortages that doesnt help eather=that would also scare guys out of nitro too.

 

[Dan Hydro]

Like Waltr said,

need to learn how to walk before you can run.

When I first started 6 years ago I bought my first boat, a Hotshot 45 with engine at a yard sale and ran it like it was for 2 years using 10% nitro.

I than decided to go with a Vegas, than added a sprint cat, an SSP 21 from Phil, an Aeromarine 7liter sport Hydro and now a Blast Cat 40.

Heck I'm even building and FF18 something I had never done before.

I upgraded my fuel from 10 to 35% (thats what I wanted) and I'm not going any higher. There is no need for us to tell the new guy to use 60% if there is no requirement for him to use it.

I had a pretty good idea of the cost involved with this hobby regardless if you want to run nitro, gas or FE and I have both fuel source now.

I have yet to find a cheap hobby, actually I don't believe that such thing exists.

My good buddy Terry went to his first sanctionned race last weekend in Houlton, Maine USA and he ran in 3 classes, he finished 3rd (Gas Cat), 2nd (SSP21) and 1st(Gas Sport Hydro), he loved it so much that now we are looking at where we can go to race again.

I started walking first and now I'm pretty close to the pack.

Dan.

 

[Ron Olson]

There is no way to sugar coat this, sorry but this isn't a cheap hobby/sport. Even if you buy a $300.00 RTR boat you still need batteries, fuel, glow ignitor and spare parts.

Yes, fuel prices and glow plug costs are going up but what isn't these days? If you go back years and look at many costs, some have actually gone down or stayed the same even through inflation. Grab an old issue of RCBM and take a look.

More than likely that person was shopping for a RTR as that's what most hobby shops carry as there really aren't that many stores that handle a lot of kits or parts for boats unless you're one of the lucky ones.

When I raced buggies and trucks things got really outrageous. In order to race on a weekly basis. I was constantly buying tires, replacing broken parts and motors then buying the lastest, greatest piece of equipment or a new truck every 6 months to stay competitive in order to win a flexible trophy. Boats are a lot cheaper in the long run.

 

[maddog]

Since this is my first real season racing boats and all I'm racing is sport tunnel I consider myself a newbie, First of all I went through the gambit of r/c Airplane ( crashed to often and to time consuming to build then crash, Cars ( 1 hour of funn then three hours of clean up. Boats (wipe dry add after run oil and be done) Boats are great and yes can be expensive just like any other hobby Most people are aware of that and I think , like mentioned before an addition to this site for newcomers that gives then an idea of classes and cost would be a great help. One thing I have found in this hobby is that all of the people are more than willing to help with any problems. And for that I love boating. I think that for the most part this site is the place for newcomers to learn and do research on the hobby. SO KEEP UP THIS GREAT SITE!!