First FE = Proboat Brushless 26 for noobie?

[syncronized77]

Hey guys,

Most of my hobbying has been on land and in air. I own a few brushless E-maxx's and E-revos...but I just recently got into boating, and now I'm hooked. And yes my wife hates it LOL

My first and only boat being a brushless CEN Waveshark...but after watching everyone's videos on here...I definitely need to upgrade to a "real" FE.

Is a Proboat Brushless 26 a good starter boat for an FE? Though, I really like the look of the hydros...

Comments, suggestions, etc...

[Eodman]

lots of good boats out there. I would look for a wider hull as a RTR. the new traxxas titan is supposed to be stable and can be run fast or slower to learn on.

pro boat and aquacraft have new cats coming RTR but who knows when probabably next spring in any real quantity! although the traxxas titan is available to the masses yet either!

the sv27 is agreat boat but can very fryustrating to learn to drive first time out! lots of time flipping till you get the hang of it!

like i said lots of choices lots of good boats just look for a wider one to learn on!

[BHChieftain]

I'm partial to monos...

My son and I got started with a Proboat Fastech, which has been a great boat. The layout is great, easy to modify, and the motor and ESC are high quality. And it runs really stable. I also like the fiberglass hull and fixed driveline w/ offset rudder (I don't like steerable drives).

Only downside is that the hatch is impossible to seal watertight. It runs bone dry, but if it *were* to capsize, it will take on water quick...

Other weak point on the boat is the rear strut bracket, which tends to crack after 20 runs or so. Easy to make a stronger replacement, however (it is just a simple L bracket).

If you want to push the limit on speed, then I'd look at the supervee 27 which as mentioned above is less stable (count on flipping it), but you can easily make it watertight... just have your retrive boat ready.

Chief

[JMSCARD]

I'd go sv27 too... Just because it's fast and fun, and easy to maintain... Comes with a radio you can use for other future boats too... Heck I am using a tactic 2.4ghz on my twin neu 2215 MHz 54" drambuie on ice cat... Also you can actually get a sv27 too... And some of the local hobby stores may actually carry parts for them... Not that it matters much because Steve here at ose can get you stuff nearly as quick as you running down the street.. :)

[Eodman]

you know i always forget about the fasttech - my son has 1 and it is a riot to drive!

[Mick..BJ26..BL]

I started with a BJ 26, great boat but probly not for the first. Theres a couple things you have to do straight up.. mainly go for a FULLERS offshore cat hardware set up which offers MUCH easier drivability. There very reliable but Id go for a deep V first up.. IMO. :-)

[Eodman]

with the number of fast RTR boats that are or will be available you should be able to pick one out and run it and not have to upgrade anything to really have fun. once you have the basics down you can then start changing hardware! but to get your feet wet the hardware that they come with is fine.

[JMSCARD]

with the number of fast RTR boats that are or will be available you should be able to pick one out and run it and not have to upgrade anything to really have fun. once you have the basics down you can then start changing hardware! but to get your feet wet the hardware that they come with is fine.

I agree the current crop of RTR boats are great....... and the BJ26 Brushless was my VERY first boat.... I kept the original hardware on it the whole time and still do... I run a x442 on 5s (not stock esc) and it rips.... mid 40's and even with stock hardware it does fine... especially for a first boat....

[Darin Jordan]

If you guys liked the BJ26 as a first boat... you are going to LOVE the Geico! When I was testing it, I had a friend, who had never driven an RC boat before, drive it in some pretty rough conditions and he had a blast. It's longer and wider than the BJ26, and doesn't have the handling issues. It's a bit more $$$, but it's a lot more boat.

[syncronized77]

Well I pulled the trigger on it...my first FE being a BJ26. I've read up on a couple of threads in this forum and there's some good tips and tricks on getting the BJ26 to handle properly. I just hope my land rc driving skills translate to boating LOL

[SweetZ28]

Also depends if you want to run one battery pack because the shockwave 26 and widowmaker go pretty fast on one battery pack as all the others need two packs...just something to think about.