What's a decent retrieval boat?

[Shaun78]

There's a bunch on eBay for around 60 bucks......r they any good? Comes compel with nicad battery. One was a 32 in cat about that size with twin 390's rtr for 55 shipped.

[sailr]

most of those are a total piece of junk with radios that have little or no range. I'd steer clear of them.

[egneg]

I use a modded CEN wave shark that runs on a SC700. I attached a eye hook to the back and drag an 8 foot line attached to a float w/a grappling hook. I circle the stranded boat a couple of times and haul it in.

[marko500]

I had an Aquqcraft Atlantic tug with a pvc push rig. It worked great but was big to lug around. Recently I picked up a Vac-U-Tow and use the line with a grappling hook. It's alot faster, easier to transport, and works great.

Mark

[Gary]

I bought an Apache cat from horrizon hobbies. It has fantastic turning ability and has reverse aswell and is very light too. I had a few setups but this is my best. I tie on a 8 foot fishing line with a tennis ball on the end, go out to the boat, circle it and pull her in evry time.

[roadrashracing]

If you want something cheap, check out the boat from harbor freight, you can get them on sale for $40 and works fine for me.

[monojeff]

What I'd the boats flipped the tennis ball still works to pull them in?

[siberianhusky]

We use a Mini Vee with a push cradle, Fishing rod with a small ball on the end, and a canoe for long range or multiple retrieves.
I've found that no single method works all the time.
Close to shore the fishing rod is quick and easy.

[marko500]

We use the fishing pole and tennis ball for close to shore. And we use the tug for further out rescues. I also agree that no single way is perfect. Always a good idea to have a backup plan.

Mark

[siberianhusky]

One of those Zig Zag racers would make a good recovery boat, I forgot about them, they come with a push bar thing for playing water polo, by the videos they actually look like a lot of fun!

[lectriglide]

1 - fishing pole
2 - Zig Zag 3

The push bar is pretty flimsy and flattens out when against a hull. It works good on a cat hull with some depth to it. Doesn't work well on my DF's, as the "pusher" gets caught in the stinger / prop and can't steer, goes in circles. I use the fishing line and plastic coke bottle drag method, or fishing line/reel attached to the push bar and circle the downed boat for other rescues.

[Shaun78]

I have a fishing pole with tennis ball but 2 times so far boats were wayout. Looking to spend under 100 on a resc,ue craft.