New at this so please bear with me

[Michael Lewis]

Hey guys thought I would touch base with you, my name is Michael, I grew up in Florida and spent most of my younger years at Lake X and other mercury test and racing facilities. While my farther raced the real boats, I got started into the r/c boats. My first boat was an avenger 80/90 rigger, which was nothing more than a barge. Built some old dumas boat, then later switched to fast electrics. I've had nitro, electric, and now getting into the gas engines, I currently have 90 nitro cat, 80 CMB V-hull, and a K&B 3.5 stock tunnel. I've built the Supersport gas mono and the gas cracker box from zippkits. I would appreciate any help or advice given as I delve I to the sport more. I would to start racing soon, will post pictures of my boats once I figure it out, not the best with technology lol also I'm currently in the mountains of WNC so service is terrible so bear with me. I appreciate it look forward to working with you guys.

 

[Jeff Barnes]

Welcome Michael find a club near you and check out a race club guys can steer you in the right direction the fall Nats are coming up there will be some good racing there Jeff

 

[Rod Fonda]

Welcome Michael,,As Jeff mentioned,a club is the best place to start,For a start,I would make sure you can start your boats consistantly and get them in the water within 2 minutes,as that's the time usually allocated before mill time and race start,,It can be a bit daunting at first,taking it all in, when you first start off racing,,learning to drive the course,,staying in your lane when other boats are near you or next to you,basically learning race etiquette,Having a good buddy or spotter next to you,to steer you away from dead boats floating around,as you don't want to run over anyone's boat,,just to give you an idea of what it's about,,cheers

 

[Michael Lewis]

Thanks Rod and Jeff, I used to run with a local group in Florida. At the time we were into fast electrics. We got together and raced about once a month but it has been a long time since I've been nose to nose going into a turn or down the straights for that matter. Have a local guy and his wife and son who race that I met at sowega. Talked to her the other day and she said he wanted to start a club here. I've got a 14 foot john boat with a 20 horse that would make a great retrieval boat. I definitely want to run with them to get some time on the water before I throw in and start racing. Will try to hit sowega next week talk to him about a local club. Appreciate your help guys...

 

[Rod Fonda]

Thanks Rod and Jeff, I used to run with a local group in Florida. At the time we were into fast electrics. We got together and raced about once a month but it has been a long time since I've been nose to nose going into a turn or down the straights for that matter. Have a local guy and his wife and son who race that I met at sowega. Talked to her the other day and she said he wanted to start a club here. I've got a 14 foot john boat with a 20 horse that would make a great retrieval boat. I definitely want to run with them to get some time on the water before I throw in and start racing. Will try to hit sowega next week talk to him about a local club. Appreciate your help guys...

Cheers Michael,,excuse me if I assumed you never raced or had some racing experience ,,I have been away from racing for a long time and recently got back into it,,my old rusty brain is struggling to keep up with my .45 hydro,,feels like it's doing 200mph haha,,,Sounds good that you may be getting a club together locally,,so you have the rescue boat already,,just have to set buoys,driver stand,some timing/lap counting gear,,good luck with it

 

[Wasted wages]

Don't forget insurance and a survey of the course,,,, A starting clock... PA system.... small generator and extension cords... safety netting or fence... frequency clips....fire extinguishers..

and on and on and on......

 

[Jeff Barnes]

Frequency clips I thought those days were long gone

 

[Wasted wages]

Some people use older radios ..so clips would still be needed ..

 

[Rod Fonda]

Don't forget insurance and a survey of the course,,,, A starting clock... PA system.... small generator and extension cords... safety netting or fence... frequency clips....fire extinguishers..

and on and on and on......

Ahh yes,,how could I forget all that,,and on and on ,,and Jeff,with all these old guys coming back to the hobby,with their old AM and FM radios,,might need the f board lol

 

[bzubee]

Tyler Garrard is near Ashville ,NC very experienced model boater in FE, Gas, and Nitro racing and setting records.

 

[Michael Lewis]

A

Ahh yes,,how could I forget all that,,and on and on ,,and Jeff,with all these old guys coming back to the hobby,with their old AM and FM radios,,might need the f board lol

Really f board,we quit using that at our flying field. I bet I've got 8 radios on my shelf.

 

[Rod Fonda]

A

Really f board,we quit using that at our flying field. I bet I've got 8 radios on my shelf.

I should've stated..old guys like me the still have their old radios and were out of the hobby for years ..I'm amazed my 20 and 30 year old radios still work fine lol,,I will definitely be needing a new tx and rx for a boat I'm working on,and maybe update my other boats eventually

 

[Michael Lewis]

Tyler Garrard is near Ashville ,NC very experienced model boater in FE, Gas, and Nitro racing and setting records.

Thanks bzubee, I'll check it out and Ashville is only about an hour away

 

[Michael Lewis]

I should've stated..old guys like me the still have their old radios and were out of the hobby for years ..I'm amazed my 20 and 30 year old radios still work fine lol,,I will definitely be needing a new tx and rx for a boat I'm working on,and maybe update my other boats eventually

OK Rod,our radios are old and so are some of our boats. What does that make us, maybe antiques ha-ha...

 

[Rod Fonda]

OK Rod,our radios are old and so are some of our boats. What does that make us, maybe antiques ha-ha...

Lol Michael,,you nailed it,,or aged like fine wine

 

[Wasted wages]

I've got some top of the line PCM radios that work just fine and offer much more features than some of the new radios today.
Why would I want to change every radio I own just for the sake of change ?

Hell, my phone I'm typing this message is almost 10 years old and does everything I want it to... Call me old if it makes you feel better about yourself... but, Sorry I don't follow fads or drink the Kool aid...

 

[bzubee]

Thanks bzubee, I'll check it out and Ashville is only about an hour away

Tyler's handle on here is Racemechanix

 

[Michael Lewis]

Appreciate the help bzubee. Will try to hook up with him and check out ashville when I get a chance...

 

[Michael Lewis]

I've got some top of the line PCM radios that work just fine and offer much more features than some of the new radios today.
Why would I want to change every radio I own just for the sake of change ?

Hell, my phone I'm typing this message is almost 10 years old and does everything I want it to... Call me old if it makes you feel better about yourself... but, Sorry I don't follow fads or drink the Kool aid...

I never said any thing about changing anything for the sake of changing. Rod and I were discussing f boards and how many clubs are getting away from that venue. Basically what i like about 2.4 is no f board,no radio impounded and not having to go to the board for a clip when I want to check out my boat or my planes. Plus less people having to work the board at meets. As far as following fads I don't. I simply do as I please... as far as the kool-aid goes mine comes in a martini glass with an extra olive. Old ways are fine for whoever enjoys it.... not trying to step on any toes, just discussing alternatives

 

[Rod Fonda]

I never said any thing about changing anything for the sake of changing. Rod and I were discussing f boards and how many clubs are getting away from that venue. Basically what i like about 2.4 is no f board,no radio impounded and not having to go to the board for a clip when I want to check out my boat or my planes. Plus less people having to work the board at meets. As far as following fads I don't. I simply do as I please... as far as the kool-aid goes mine comes in a martini glass with an extra olive. Old ways are fine for whoever enjoys it.... not trying to step on any toes, just discussing alternatives

Good Idea Michael,,lets all have a nice cool drink,I like olives too and not that kool aid stuff,,yuk lol It's often too easy to write/read context the wrong way and insult or feel insulted, often without intent , I do see Frank's point about what makes you feel better about yourself,,I too have a 7 year old phone,that I don't even use for the internet ,the small screen,lack of a real k/board and the app stuff , flakey probs and bugs does my head in,lol but,I learned to build my own pc,years ago and built a few,,loaded with both win xp and win 7 and I can maintain it and fix most probs,which happen very rarely.
And I definitely see your point Michael,and appreciate your expereince with flight and boats,,all the hassle with clip boards and/or radio impounds,,Hell,,I remember some guy's boat being out of control, because someone turned their radio on without thinking,and another time someone/s radio in the impound tent had been left on or accidentally switched on,,I will be learning to embrace the 2.4 system,with its many different options and adjustability,memory,as I can't find any FM 36Mhz receivers(old flight frequency used in Australia) for my old transmitter to get another boat running,,otherwise I would just use my old stuff lol and Yes,,we should all appreciate each others experiences.alternatives and suggestions