ARTR RC Boats

ARTR saves you the hull work. Planking or moulding the hull, fitting the shaft and rudder, building the superstructure and painting the model are already done. What remains is installing and binding the radio gear, fitting the battery and speed controller, connecting the servo linkages and testing before the first run.

Who buys ARTR

Two groups. The first already owns transmitters, receivers and batteries from other models and would rather not pay again for equipment they have. The second wants control over the electronics rather than accepting whatever came in the box, whether for range, channel count, battery format or future upgrades.

What you will need to supply

• Transmitter and receiver
• Battery pack and a compatible charger
• In some cases a speed controller and servo

Every listing states exactly what is and is not included. Check the recommended battery type and voltage before buying, because fitting the wrong pack is the most common cause of disappointing performance.

Setting up

Allow an evening for installation and binding, then take a quiet first outing in shallow water to trim the boat and check for leaks. Sealants, adhesives and small tools for the job are in tools and accessories.

Other formats

If you would rather have everything supplied, see ready to run boats. If you want to build the hull yourself, see RC compatible kits, or the conversion-ready subjects in tug and trawler kits.

Common questions

Will my existing transmitter work?

Usually, provided it is on a compatible frequency and has enough channels. The listing states the requirement.

How many channels do I need?

Two covers throttle and steering on most scale boats. More are needed for working features such as lights, winches or sail control.

Is ARTR harder than it sounds?

No, but it is not zero work. If you have never installed radio gear, allow time and test everything before the boat touches water.