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Thread: A Cheap Effective Rescue Boat

  1. #1
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    Default A Cheap Effective Rescue Boat

    I'm a newbie to the RC boat arena and just took delivery of my UL-1 a couple weks ago. Since I will be running the UL-1 alone at times, I'm interested in acquiring a cheap yet effective rescue boat. I've searched the forums and found the bonified RC rescue boat with the remote catch-loop and all but I'm convinced one doesn't need to spend $250-$300 on a rescue boat. I've found several make shift electric RC boats on UTube used for rescue boats. At this point I have decided to get a cheap electric boat off eBay and adapt it for rescue. My only concern is getting a boat too small to push/pull the UL-1. Has anyone had any experience with a rescue boat that was too small, just right, or .....?
    Thanks

  2. #2
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    - Diesel's Youtube
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    "It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves"

  3. #3
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    Nice job, thanks. :)

  4. #4
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    Default Retriever boat

    You might want to take a look at youtube video for the STL boaters. We have been using a Aquacraft Hammer electric. We take a level wind reel and attach the line to the transum of the Hammer head out to the distressed boat and make a 300 degree round theboat. Then reel in both of the boats. It is a system refined by the St Louis Thunderboaters. I could be of assistance if you are interested. We have a retrieval rate of 100% in St Louis and about 95% in Longview, Texas. The loss was due to going around a bouy line and getting the whole mess tied up. LOL
    Ted H. Wachter
    West Florida Model Boat Club
    East Texas RC Boaters

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Colby View Post
    Nice job, thanks. :)
    No prob, heres boat in action.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcU5gscReK0
    - Diesel's Youtube
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    "It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves"

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Diesel6401 View Post
    No prob, heres boat in action.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcU5gscReK0

    That works pretty good . How long is the rescue boat with the attachment on it ?.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by rchippie View Post
    That works pretty good . How long is the rescue boat with the attachment on it ?.
    It works great for me. It's about 4' long, you can hear a kind of gargal noise in the video. The prop isn't biting enough, I needed to add a little weight to get the prop in the water a little more. This was actually my first time using it on a flipped boat. I did a couple test runs and I was really happy it worked so good.
    - Diesel's Youtube
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    "It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves"

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Diesel6401 View Post
    It works great for me. It's about 4' long, you can hear a kind of gargal noise in the video. The prop isn't biting enough, I needed to add a little weight to get the prop in the water a little more. This was actually my first time using it on a flipped boat. I did a couple test runs and I was really happy it worked so good.
    I got my boogie board to make my rescue boat today . My buddy is selling me a cheap BL hydro boat for $20.00 . That will be molded into the boogie board to make my rescue boat . My ? is i was thinking i would make my rescue boat, so it would beable to rescue more that just my boat . My boat is 8 inches wide , so i was going to cut the channel about 9 inches wide. But i got to thinking not all boats are the same width . What size channel would be a good size ?
    Last edited by rchippie; 02-11-2010 at 06:07 PM.

  9. #9
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    Below are some pics of my Ferry rescue boat. I got the boat off eBay for $0.98 and put $4 worth of PVC and tube insulation. When things thaw out here in Colorado I'll give its maiden voyage.








  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Colby View Post
    I'm a newbie to the RC boat arena and just took delivery of my UL-1 a couple weks ago. Since I will be running the UL-1 alone at times, I'm interested in acquiring a cheap yet effective rescue boat. I've searched the forums and found the bonified RC rescue boat with the remote catch-loop and all but I'm convinced one doesn't need to spend $250-$300 on a rescue boat. I've found several make shift electric RC boats on UTube used for rescue boats. At this point I have decided to get a cheap electric boat off eBay and adapt it for rescue. My only concern is getting a boat too small to push/pull the UL-1. Has anyone had any experience with a rescue boat that was too small, just right, or .....?
    Thanks
    We use an Aquacraft Reef Racer ($79). Attach a small brass eye to the rear of the top hatch and attach a bait casting reel to the top of the transmitter handle. Attach the fishing line to the brass eye with a small swivel snap. Drive the RR out around the flipped boat and simply reel her in...no need to "drive" the RR back (saves battery as the kids will probably play with it when you are not using it). We replaced the stock battery with a six-cell 1500 mAh battery and we can run all day plus it has better performance.
    JMHO...

  11. #11
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    This video works great for me. Their is a noise that you can hear a kind of gargal noise.I think this was the first time using it on a flipped boat. They did a couple test runs and they waere really happy it worked so good.

  12. #12
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    re: "cheap yet effective rescue boat."

    Well, not cheap, but effective!

    Kody.jpg

  13. #13
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    About $3 in pvc and floation plus electronics which I had in spares drawer.

    2012-03-13 20.21.48.jpg

  14. #14
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    Good ingenuity oscarel. +1 on the McGiver machine.

  15. #15
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    Wish it was my idea, here's where I got it from http://www.jrcbd.com/showthread.php?t=60651

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

  16. #16
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    Mmm,spring project I thinks

  17. #17
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    I took a Reef Racer 2 and rebuilt as brushless...very inexpensive and reliable...

    http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=924852

    If you don't want to drill out the coupler buy the Aquacraft Tug Boat coupler; it's the perfect size for the 28mm motor shaft.
    Pete
    Attached Images Attached Images
    I let the dogs out...

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