Advice for my sons first boat

[Dubs chops]

Hi Gang. I am looking at getting my son a boat for his 7th birthday. I am trying to decide on something like an impulse 9, impulse 17, or stepping up to something like a atomik barbwire, If I got the barbwire could I just bind it to one of my tx's and set the throttle endpoint to like 50% ? I think the scale aspect would be a little more fun than just raw speed for him at first. I have lipo's and chargers and tx's already so I am not against brushless but am wondering if they would overheat putt putting them around. we will use them at the lake when camping and a big local pond. then there is the question 9" or 17" or 24"

thanks for any input.

[Doby]

Barbwire...its self-righting.

[larryrose11]

I was going to suggest anything self righting.
Another small, self-righting boat is the Mini Cat Racing Mini Eco. It handles amazingly well. My kids loved the way my larger Eco hull handled.

[Make-a-Wake]

My sons first was the aquacraft Mini Mono, great boat, i think its about 16-17" and it runs very well, fast and turns on a dime.

[Pheyd]

Another vote for the Barbwire. I love mine, just make sure to use tape (the rubber seals aren't 100% on the hatch). I wouldn't bother with putting in a different receiver to set the throttle lower. It only goes 25 mph. Keep it stock and simple, he will have a blast.

[johnl6676]

Another vote for the Barbed Wire. We have a lot of fun with them between heats at the pond great boat for kids no need to cut down the power they run them up on the beach often with no problems. As said in the above post also self righting as well. Great boat for the money.

[Dubs chops]

Really, You guys don't think something a little slower would be more fun for him starting off? When I said scale earlier I know that scale speed to me is fun once the thrill of WOT everywhere finally wears off. I like driving things that feel and handle just like the real thing only slowed down some. Thats why I was thinking limiting the throttle endpoints some.

[Pheyd]

I remember when I was 7. WOT wont wear off for a couple years :P

Half the fun of the BarbWire is WOT jumping off waves, trying to get the thing to turtle and dive, then watching it self-right and continue on.

It's a great basher. I'd just pick it up from my LHS with some hatch tape and an extra battery (or 2). If the budget allows, also consider a x432 metal prop upgrade.

[Dubs chops]

What does the prop help with?

also will the atomik take the 2200 3s packs I use for my wraith and scalers?

[Make-a-Wake]

If you go with the barbwire just grab a couple of ten dollar 2s lipos from hobbyking so it wont be so fast..........go 3s later

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...Lipo_Pack.html

[Pheyd]

What does the prop help with?

also will the atomik take the 2200 3s packs I use for my wraith and scalers?

The metal prop provides slightly better performance and response because it will not flex like the stock plastic prop. Also it will last longer providing you don't hit anything.

The 2200 mah batts should fit. I use 2100mah and wouldn't go much bigger. Adds too much weight.

[johnl6676]

If you use a battery too large the self righting will be affected. Use the stock ones. You won't be sorry. What kid doesn't want the boat to be fast. Slow it down too much he will be bored and lose interest. Also let him beat you once and awhile it keeps up their interest. The barbed wire is the best choice by far as I said before the kids can't wait till our heat is over and they all go out bashing. You want to see something cool we have 5 kids from 14 down to 5 all out at the same time. They have a lot of fun. I started my son at the age of 7 with a swamp buggy and now he is 48 and still trying to catch me. The swamp buggy got him hooked and it was never fast enough.

[siberianhusky]

Not a boat suggestion but - lowing the throttle end point to reduce speed is not the way to go, use a smaller prop and let the esc run at full throttle.
Part throttle running tends to heat things up.
Other option is a battery with fewer cells.
Cheers

[Fella1340]

Just run 2s in the Barb wire and just clip the factory propeller (reduce diameter)a little to slow it down more. As he gets better put the regular prop on, eventually increase to 3s. It's a tough little boat. You could buy the above mentioned metal prop and get a good 3s battery and dad could have fun to. The self righting is almost a must to keep a young kids attention. I made that mistake at first with my son. He lost interest because it flipped all the time. Great boat for starting out!!!

[Dubs chops]

THanks gang. I took everyones advice and ordered the barbwire yesterday. I got it rtr for $114 from 11main with a $20 off coupon. Figured at that price I couldn't lose. thanks for all the advice and suggestions all.