RC Boats

Our RC range is for people who want a working boat with the look of a real vessel. Scale tugs, trawlers, launches and sailing yachts sit alongside faster brushless racing hulls, for ponds, lakes and sheltered water.

Three ways to buy, depending on how much you want to do

• RTR, ready to run. Arrives assembled and fitted out with the transmitter supplied. Add a charged battery and go.
• ARTR, almost ready to run. Arrives built and finished, but you supply and fit the radio gear and battery. The route to take if you already own equipment.
• RC compatible. Kits designed with the hull volume, access and running gear allowance for a motor and electronics, which you build and fit yourself.

If you want the most popular models across all three formats, start with best selling RC boats.

Check what is included before ordering

Batteries and chargers in particular are often not supplied, and transmitter specifications vary between models. This is the single most common reason a new boat cannot be run on the day it arrives. Every listing states what is in the box.

Scale running versus speed

These are different hobbies sharing a transmitter. A scale tug or trawler is about slow, convincing movement and looking right on the water, and rewards a steady hand. A brushless racing hull is about acceleration and handling, needs more open water and gets through batteries faster. Decide which you are buying before you choose a model.

Building rather than buying

If you want to build the hull yourself, our model ship kits include tug, trawler, fishing and passenger boat subjects designed for conversion. Tools, adhesives and sealants for construction and maintenance are stocked separately.

Common questions

Can I convert a static model boat to RC?

Only if it was designed for it. Cutting into a finished static hull rarely works well, because there is no allowance for a shaft, rudder or sealed access. Start with an RC compatible kit instead.

What do I need beyond the boat?

At minimum a battery, a suitable charger, and on ARTR models a transmitter and receiver. A spare propeller and a second battery are worth adding to a first order.

Where can I run one?

Calm, sheltered water. Local model boat clubs are the easiest route to a suitable pond and to help with setup.