Future of RC's

Here’s a price Range of what you will pay for a entry level boat lets use a 21 mono as a example if you buy everything new

Speedmaster 21 w hardware = $375.09
CMb 21 beta Evo or Novarossi 21 =$ 430-500 range
Props =$30-40
Needle Valve $65-75ish
Pipe $$
Header $$
Collet $$
Miscellaneous radio box setup(servos, switch,servo mounts, rods,seals ect)ruffly $120 or more

Radio Transmitter and receiver new $$$
Fuel $$$
Glow igniter $$$
Starter and batteries $$

the money keeps adding your very close to $1k for a entry level 21 mono class where do you see that this hobby is cheap. Because it’s really not.

dollars are relative.. if you had extra dollars and LOVED RC boating.. what would you do with the dollars.

The expense is relative..

We can, every one of us, equate "expensive".. dam gas at 2.50 a gallon. or plugs.. dang.. 5 bucks each..... and so on and so forth.

I would NEVER spend 3 grand on a twin BUT.. I would EASILY spend that on a RC helicopter.. so whats it all mean...

I dont hunt or fish.. I do however have cars.. (to me.. they are not cheap.. they are expensive)

At the end of the day money will not stop most from playing boats. It might limit the quantity and the travel.. but stop them.. NA....

Grim

Grimracer said:

dollars are relative.. if you had extra dollars and LOVED RC boating.. what would you do with the dollars.

The expense is relative..

We can, every one of us, equate "expensive".. dam gas at 2.50 a gallon. or plugs.. dang.. 5 bucks each..... and so on and so forth.

I would NEVER spend 3 grand on a twin BUT.. I would EASILY spend that on a RC helicopter.. so whats it all mean...

I dont hunt or fish.. I do however have cars.. (to me.. they are not cheap.. they are expensive)

At the end of the day money will not stop most from playing boats. It might limit the quantity and the travel.. but stop them.. NA....

Grim[/QUOTE/]

Click to expand...

I disagree with you.

when I a guy that wants to get in the hobby don’t know jack about rc boats and lets say he wants to start in 21 mono that price tag will sometimes make people think twice about buying a boat.

not people like you and I that have been doing g this for a while. I played with helicopters and Turbine jets. At least when you crash with a boat you can always salvage something depending on what happenes to the heli or turbine jet it could be a total loss.

And I am cool with that.. hope you are well and have a great Christmas!

Grim

I don't see cost being the factor in younger generation getting into the hobby. Look at what they pay for gaming systems and games . I believe it's more of a raised antisocial problem.
Look around your neighborhood you don't see kids playing outside like when we grew up . Playgrounds and basketball courts are empty . They don't want to work for money either ,in the last ten years has any kids knocked on your door about shoveling snow for a couple dollars ?
I have no idea on how to fix this or even any suggestions.

It's crazy isn't it I grew up in the seventies and I don't care what any body says those definitely were the good old days

michael faszcza said:

I don't see cost being the factor in younger generation getting into the hobby. Look at what they pay for gaming systems and games . I believe it's more of a raised antisocial problem.
Look around your neighborhood you don't see kids playing outside like when we grew up . Playgrounds and basketball courts are empty . They don't want to work for money either ,in the last ten years has any kids knocked on your door about shoveling snow for a couple dollars ?
I have no idea on how to fix this or even any suggestions.

Click to expand...

Actually both you and the guys who say cost is an issue are correct.
Many people that are just starting out are having to deal with rent or mortgage and the associated utilities for the first time, new wife and maybe kids and don't have the money to buy a RTR boat or the materials and parts needed to build one. Worse yet,if they do have the money, they don't know what to buy or where to buy the things needed to get a boat race ready. Lastly, they don't know where to go to get help as we tend to be a secluded bunch that only comes out to play on given race days.
To your point, I do agree, many have gotten so used to communicating by text or email that talking to someone face to face is a skill many have forgotten or never learned. Having to actually be told something or ask a question is almost like being punished for many people. Then again, many feel all they need to know is going to be on the internet. I was actually told I could buy a RTR scale 7325 Pay'N Pak on line, brand new, by a (hate to say this) 20 something kid. When I showed him pictures of the full sized boat, both running and on the trailer, I was told they were CG and photo shopped. He didn't believe there could be such a thing as a piston powered hydroplane since all he had ever seen is the turbine boats, hence his CG/photo shop belief.

I remember a number of years (9-10) now.. I had/have been flying model rockets for... goodness.. 40 years now.. anyway..

I friend of mine was getting his son into rockets.. he was like we had a blast.. we made about 15 flights!..

I said.. man that was an expensive outing.. he was like, what............

made me think.. maybe I am living in the past and today.. launching 25 dollars in rocket engines is "relative" to ones understanding of the times and budget.. and maybe.. just maybe.. I needed to open my eyes to the fact that "PEOPLE WILL SPEND MONEY" on the stuff that entices them.

To me.. EVERY PERSON that wants a 20 mono WILL buy a 20 mono.. one way or the other.. Money wont stop them.. slow them.. yes.. stop them.. NA...

Wanting that 20 mono (any RC boat for that matter) and who that person is is the real issue... then have them step in to competition with one.. NOT EASY TO SOLVE all you can do is give them assess to the items and let THEM decide if its worth there time and money and to the new person (some of them.. not all) the embarrassment of losing in a race.


Grim

In my post I meant that people in my club were honest about any deviations from the stock rules and we all know about it. We probably will allow a slightly less stock setup to race. It's about having fun. P limited electrics are easy to tech. Gas engines are only slightly less so unless you want to see if the seals still have springs installed. Simply removing the cylinder will spot the important changes. The simplicity of the stock outboards also made tear downs fairly easy.

The reason the NAMBA gas classes allow some modifications is to eliminate the need for tear downs. A stroke check and measurement of the cooling jacket is all that's needed to determine the bore and stroke. Even so, I was surprised to find stroker cranks in engines at a national race. Teching MUST be done at nationals.

Lohring Miller

It’s funny, here is a conversation about lowering cost and in the for sale forum two hundred dollar pipes and carbs sell instantly.

Yep.... we are fooling our self if we think cost is the main issue.

Today's remember when.. is tomorrows "remember when".

Grim

I am brand new to this hobby. I am currently almost done with my gas scale hydro and have a 1/8 scale in the works. For me the cost is not the problem. It’s roughly about the same to build a boat as it is to buy an 1/8 scale buggy or truggy for off-road racing. Just a roller is almost $1000 if you don’t buy them you wont be competitive. The biggest problem I see is it’s hard to find information on how to build the boats and where to buy all the materials needed to complete one. I personally ran into a situation where I couldn’t find a cowling for my gas scale or 1/8 scale. RC boat Company isn’t making anything right now and if you don’t have any connections none will help you. I asked on this forum for help with my cowlings. The answer I got was RC Boat Company makes them. I replied they aren’t making anything tell at least March. That was the only reply I received. These are the things that are frustrating. I also thing the younger kids are used to having everything now. The on thing I have learned is this is not a know hobby. It going to take a few weeks to get anything you order. Just a new guys opinion.

And Steven gets the nod for the new guy view..

Supply is number one..
Help is up there too.. but we have "the google" and most will go there first....

I can say this..

If the supplier of the products said.. I offer a boat product but DANG this hobby is expensive....my thoughts are...

it does no good to tell the customer what is "expensive".. let them decide for themselves...

I do understand where Bob was coming from on his post however.. I hated to see the GTP class fall apart in the 90s.. The Chevrolet Intrepid was BY FAR the most incredible GTP car made.. but just a nose piece change was 10s of thousands of dollars. The astronomical costs ruined the class.. The good news however is RC boating WILL NEVER COME CLOSE to approaching that kind of money.. so.. its a mute point.. and.. it was the MFGs that has to weigh that money.. not the consumer.. they could never buy that car or the parts to it..

Grim

Grim

I agree everyone has there own view of what’s expensive and ultimately they will decide if the hobby is just to expensive for them to participate.
I think one of the things that keeps younger people from getting into this hobby is they want everything right now. We have a entire generation that is used to getting everything at the touch of a button. I think most don’t want put the time in that is required to participate in this hobby. Even if you buy a prebuilt hull you still have to install all the hardware,servos,motor etc and there really aren’t any directions telling you how to do all these things so you have to research or find someone that can point you in the right direction. Don’t get me wrong there are a few that will but I don’t think most will spend the time and energy that it will take to get a boat on the water.

For the youth not being involved cost is not the problem. Iphones are about $1,000, I pads are about the same. club sports can be $7,000-$35,000 a year. Child health insurance is $300-$900 a month. How many parents/aunts/uncles/grandparents are taking their kids to the lake? On the sour side of things a lot of arguing is going on as well but i haven't been to a race in years so thats just an opinion.

Thank you Steven. You confirmed the my first paragraph in post 27.
Having limited sources for parts and materials is a serious issue. I am curious, Steven, where did you get your gas boat's cowl?

I reached out to Bill Brandt and he found a gentleman in Texas that can and is willing make the cowling for me. Without his help I am not sure if would have been able to obtain a cowling at all. As you know Mark I am new and don’t know many people that can help me when I am in a pinch. I am going to run into the same issue for my 1/8 hydroplane.

Did you check cowling availability before you decided to build a scale?

Yes when I ordered my kit from ML Boat Works RC Boat Company was still making products. I should have ordered both at the same time but I waited tell the next payday to do so and by then they had posted they would be closed for 6 months. Just bad timing I guess.

I have always thought that RC boating was under promoted to the general public. I stumbled on it in 1980 after seeing some roostertails on a pond by the Meadowbrook parkway in NY . Who really knows about RC boating ? Now with boats being available plug and play in the last 20 years many have become interested but racing is another story . It seems races are promoted within those that know and have been racing for a while . There is no magazine in a hobby shop to educate people on boating , and hobby shops themselves are dwindling due to the internet . RC Airplanes have a large national organization that is very instrumental in finding and keeping sites to fly . . not sure what the answer is but this site and other pages more recently have been very helpful in keeping me fired up . Random thoughts .