Radio Controlled Boats Aren't Toys

Whether they are cruising smoothly across the pond or kicking up rooster tails in their wake as they shoot from shore to shore, radio controlled boats can provide hours of outdoor entertainment.

Although they are smaller than 'real boats',radio controlled boats aren't toys! Hobby-grade radio controlled boats have many more features than toy-grade boats...they have fast moving parts and hot battery packs...so care has to be taken when operating them!

Here are some simple guidelines to make sure you are enjoying your new hobby, and ensuring that you and everyone around you is safe from accidental harm.

• Children should always be supervised when operating hobby-grade radio controlled boats.

• Never operate your radio controlled boat alone - always have a partner with you. You should have someone there with you as a spotter to watch for any unsafe condition that could arise.

• Even though you may plan on standing on the shore or at poolside, you should have (and use) life vests, and at least one of you should be able to swim. You never know when your radio controlled boat might need to be rescued from the middle of the lake, pond, or even your swimming pool...your battery may die, it might go out of range, or it might just quit running!

• You should always treat anything with moving parts with great respect...keep your hands, fingers, hair, and loose clothing away from all of the moving parts - props, clutch bells, or blades for example.

• Your boat is Very HOT...literally! Exhaust pipes, clutch bells, engine heads, battery packs and other parts can all be extremely hot and can cause serious burns. Be aware!

Protect yourself and those around you, as well as your, by using common sense, good judgment and following safe guidelines for use of radio controlled vehicles on lakes, rivers, ponds, and swimming pools.

You should never operate your boat near any people or animals that are in the water. Radio controlled boats can act very unpredictably occasionally, and a brief loss of control could be catastrophic.

You should spend as much time as possible keeping your radio controlled boat in good working order.

• By this I mean that you should inspect your hull for any potential cracks, holes, or other damage. Not only could damage to the underside of your hull allow water leakage, there is a huge potential hazard to your electronics! If you have any doubt about the condition of your hull, you are best off waiting until you can properly repair any damage before you put your boat in the water.

• When launching or retrieving your boat out of the water, you need to be cautious as well. Make sure that when you are launching your boat, you are doing so in water deep enough that your prop will not come in contact with any rocks or other items that may be on the lakebed. You also want to make sure that the water is deep enough so that the rudder doesn’t get hung up as well. Remember that when you are launching or retrieving your boat, do that in an area where you have solid footing..,beware of algae-covered rocks.

• It is imperative that anyone in the pit area MUST wear shoes. Sandals or open-toed shoes of any kind are NOT acceptable. I hate thinking about the possible injuries...

So, let's avoid potential problems, be safe, and have FUN!