If you could order a new boat any way, how would you order it?

[Jeepers]

bare hull with hardware NOT installed, and unpainted.

I have bought hulls from people that were pre built and they cant seem to use a square when doing the strut, rudder.

[bwells]

Hull and hardware for me and I see it is way ahead @ 61.9%

[graill]

Bare hull only. No manufacturer makes all the hardware i would want in one place nor are they able to make the deals i can find around the planet, why pick a kit if your going to remove/replace/adjust whats already there, after all, most of the manufacturers claim to be experts, i havent seen any kits worth buying, but i know what to look for, and mass marketing isnt it, for myself anyway.

The disconnect/quality between a skilled "advisor" and the mass produced, finished product a company puts out is vast, thats fact. My advice to knowledgeable folks is to buy bare hulls from quality builders of reputation.

The same goes for hardware/parts, not any one compay or mom and pop business will have everything you want or need, so in the end you will shop around for hardware/parts anyway. Name and reputation. Reputation being quality and honesty.

If your not into building and want the RTR experience go with names that are proven, not hyped. Wait until the product is out for a while. The folks that originally design and sell a boat often are not happy with the mass production after release as the boat a manufacturer shows to the businessman as a first run copy is not the same one they mass produce quality wise and they need to ring a few bells with the mass producer before they do finally meet standards, this will save the Kit builder or RTR hobbiest having to return things in most cases.

Was that to long an answer? Grin. Have a happy Turkey day.

[NativePaul]

I make most of my boats too, but I hate painting, or rather I hate all the sanding that goes with painting. There are a couple of hulls with nice paintjobs that I would probably buy if they were available as un-molested painted hulls, namely the Segad and the Genesis cats, I will vote for painted hull only. normally I will use a mix of home made, friend made and bought hardware, but if it all looks decent and suitable at a good price a separate hardware kit can be appealing, I bought the full Zipp hardware package for my JAE.21FE for example.

[BakedMopar]

For me the part I enjoy most about this hobby is building frOm a bare hull. You can pay attention to every detail and do it to suite your needs. That's also because I have way more time than money.

[siberianhusky]

Bare hull only, I want my boat to look different than everybody else' how many boring Geico cats are there! The first one looks neat then yawn another one!
I like to select all my own hardware piece by piece, I haven't been to impressed with the quality of most of the cheap chinese hardware I've seen (and bought), It works but the fit and finish isn't the greatest. Wobbly rudders, cheap set screws, the brazing on flex shafts not nicely ground round etc.
You see very few rtr boats with quality motors, Nue, Castle or Leopard, Some places offer some really bizarre kv motors,
"Motor: 3674 (540XL) 2726KV in-runner with aluminum water cooled motor mount"
this one is from Astec in a 32" DF copy they even say 3-4s in the add! Thats not a 4s motor!
"Motor: water cooled 2772KV 3674 (540xl) brush-less in-runner with aluminum motor mount "
Thats their 32" apparition cat.
Most seem to try to baffle the newbie with fancy sounding stuff that you never see in a real race boat. Look at GFreak for instance, water cooled lipos?
One place offered an "enhanced carburettor" for an electric boat?!?!
The only RTRs that seem to be well tested and thought out seem to come from companies like Aquacraft and ProBoat, you pay more but are not replacing everything asap!
If somebody offered a "kit" with a bare hull and name brand hardware package I'd think about it, makes it easier if I all came in one package, one order and you have everything. Never seen it offered so I went with bare hull only.
Kinetec comes closest but still don't like some of the hardware.

[carlcisneros]

After the holidays are over when I can get a boat (the Mrs. shot me down on this one till then),
It will be hull an unmounted stingers and rudder for me. :-)

Carl

[AndyKunz]

I misunderstood the meaning of the thread. I took it as "what means would you prefer to use to place your order" vs. "in what configuration would you prefer to order." I prefer a bare hull, because I have yet to find anybody who builds the stuff into the hull the way I want it done. So by bare, I mean "empty shell, not motor mount brackets or anything besides a solid transom."

As for my original reason to check out the thread, I prefer to hold the boat in my hands at a hobby shop, go over it completely, and then walk out with it under my arm.

Andy

[Flying Scotsman]

Bare hull for me, as I love the options for hardware etc. but some of the new RTR boats are another option...never thought I would state that about RTR boats.

Douggie

[FighterCat57]

I misunderstood the meaning of the thread. I took it as "what means would you prefer to use to place your order" vs. "in what configuration would you prefer to order." I prefer a bare hull, because I have yet to find anybody who builds the stuff into the hull the way I want it done. So by bare, I mean "empty shell, not motor mount brackets or anything besides a solid transom."

As for my original reason to check out the thread, I prefer to hold the boat in my hands at a hobby shop, go over it completely, and then walk out with it under my arm.

Andy

That's the part I miss about being able to buy things locally. The Internet has taken the in person look and feel and turned it into a 2" fuzzy jpeg. It sucks and is empowering a market of inferior products... because... "it cheeper".

OK, so back to comparing apples to oranges. I really wanted to find a moderately priced hull and hardware kit, pre-packaged and ready to go. I couldn't find them. Anywhere. The customer service at some of these hull mfr's is useless if any at all.

So, I've been working with a manufacturer and now am going to offer moderately priced hull/hardware kits. Not for a profit, but as a hobby for the betterment of the FE Boating Community. Starting off with the Genesis as the "FighterCat Daytona" and the new mold style Apparition/EKOS as the "FighterCat River". Since the factory paint is cheap lacquer and peels off the hull, the hulls are all coming over bare and the hardware is coming in a bulk order. Specially built hardware like 3/16 stingers and water cooled in sponson motor mounts are in production and expected to be available mid-late December. Mold changes are in the works for next years models and any recommendations are welcome.

Oh, so my answer... Hull only or Hull and Hardware.

And for my first FE, I would have loved an RTR or ARR that actually ran without the smoke and the horrific customer support...

[steveo]

if i had my choice i would order a hull RTW ( ready to win)

[FighterCat57]

if i had my choice i would order a hull RTW ( ready to win)

That's an awesome idea. If I had some race winning build specs, I could have a model made to match.

[AndyKunz]

Or you could just lie about it. I know one guy who used to (still does?) work that way.

Andy

[FighterCat57]

Or you could just lie about it. I know one guy who used to (still does?) work that way.

Andy

Ew. Stay away from that.

[CornelP]

Somehow I think that a RTW should also come with a driver... :p