You can convert a nitro boat, it is not ideal, but it is not crazy either.
What coupling end did you use on your nitro flexshaft? If it was a collet type or a grub screw type you will be able to get a similar coupler for a motor and use the same shaft, if it is a square drive you are unlikely to find a motor coupler and will need a new flexshaft.
Craig's power system recomendation is a good one apart form the props. I endurance raced my 36" sprintcat on run 8s 5000-6600mAh, through a Suppo 200 ESC, with a Neu 1521 1200kv, to a detongued X440, this netted speeds in the low 50s which the boat is pertty stable at so I would say it is a setup suitable for kids of your ages, with a runtime of 5 minutes + mill +inlap. If yours is much heavier you may not be able to get away with a prop that small with reasonable slip, so you may need to step up to a 442 and get a bit less runtime with similar speed. For 6 lap sprinting I found an X646 to be the hot ticket, but at 3x the average current draw. I wouldnt sugest you buy the Neu I have, not because there is anyting wrong with it, but I bought mine when there were no budget 40mm motors on the market, nowadays Turnigy, Gool RC, Leopard, TP, HET and others all make decent budget options, and even if you have the money, you would be better of spending the price difference on a fresh hull. I have had great luck with my Suppo 200 but they dont rate them for 8s now so I couldn't recommend it for this application but it was rated to 8s and was the only budget option at the time, these days I would look to Castle, Flier or Swordfish, you will want over 150A rating.
I cut my rails down to about 1cm and put 4s in each sponson, but you don't have to, Jay Turner has raced his sucessfully with 6s2p on top of the tunnel and it handles fine.
Consider whether either you or your kids may want to race in the future, while 8s uses less amps for the same power so is good for fun running and the class I raced in the UK, in the USofA it would not fit a class, so I would suggest dropping down to 6s if racing is even a slight posibility down the line. Also many 8s capable ESCs are in the makers HV range and are much more expensive than regular 6s versions of the same amp rating.
It may work but I would heartily suggest that you upgrade that AM radio set to a name brand 2.4ghz set. It sounds like you will have your kids at the lakeside, and the last thing you want is a runaway boat. A 10lb boat at 50mph has more kinetic energy than a .44magnum.
Paul Upton-Taylor, Greased Weasel Racing.
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