Radio Control Boat – Types of Hulls
The next substantial choice is which type of radio controlled boat hull to decide on. If your are setting up a scale project, your preference will obviously be determined by the full-size boat you would like to model. But sport, racing and sailing craft hull types display very different characteristics. In general, there are two hull classifications: monoplane and hydroplane.
MONOPLANES Monoplane hulls have one continuous surface in contact with the water. Monoplane hulls can be divided into 2 subcategories: deep-V’s and shallow-V’s.
Deep-V’s. A large amount monoplane hulls are deep-V’s. This typical design brings the keel to a sharp point well beneath the surface of the water. The bottom of the boat is at an angle upward steeply toward the hull’s sides, resulting in a radio controlled boat that knifes through the water with a relatively large wetted surface area. This type of hull is stable at all speeds and provides sharper steering reaction. The downside is that the extra hull surface that contacts the water causes drag that limits maximum speed. Still, with the right power system and correct tweaking, these radio controlled boats are quite fast especially for beginners.
Shallow-V’s are the faster of the two monoplane types because they function with a smaller amount surface area in contact with the water. The shallower keel v’s-angle produces a flatter bottom that causes less friction. The downside is that less contact with the water means a reduced amount of stability, so they are more tricky to control and require more precise trimming. Shallow-v’s are very widespread for entry-level racing, this type of radio controlled boat or the so-called Cracker boxes being the most common.
HYDROPLANES Hydroplanes possess more than 1 surface in contact with the water. They consist of tunnel hulls, catamarans, outriggers and stepped hydro’s.
Tunnel hulls are generally often related with full-size racing boats. They get their name from the raised center portion of the hull. 2 outer sections or sponsons sit in the water with a tunnel between them. As the boat gains velocity, air builds up in this tunnel and raises the boat higher out of the water. This reduces the surface area that contacts the water. This means less drag and higher speeds, while the relatively wide spacing of the sponsons maintains stability. This model provides a superior balance of speed and handling for beginners.
Catamarans (cats) work on the similar principle as tunnel hulls and differ only in profile . They have more steeply angled sponsons much like deep-v’s monos with a tunnel along the center. A catamaran tunnel tends to be taller and narrower than a tunnel hull’s, so it takes longer to preserve stability. These also, are a good beginner design.
Outriggers are at the summit of the performance ladder; their sponsons and main hull are separate pieces. This improves the airflow at high speeds, so outriggers are the fastest radio controlled boats; several even run at more than 90 miles per hour! The drawback is that they’re designed to work best at full throttle. At slow speeds, they sit too low in the water and do not handle well. Also, they are the least forgiving when it comes to setting the trim.
Stepped hydroplane hulls contain notches perpendicular to the center line that partition the wetted surface into 2 or more sections. These notches pick up the radio controlled boat up on step sooner, and that improves performance. At speed, these notches lower the wetted area, reducing drag. This hull type includes a diverse group, from straightforward deep-v’s with minor steps in the hull, to three-point hydro racers such as the full-size Miss Budweiser turbine-powered, unlimited hydroplane. At full speed, three-point hydro’s travel on two tiny areas of the forward sponsons and the centrally located propeller at the back.
Any way you look at it radio controlled boats are a wonderful way to spend a sunny afternoon. Take the time to enjoy the hobby and spend time with your family and friends.
Related posts:
3