New to scale boats

[jchung]

Hi all, I am looking to purchase the Proboat Classic Runabout RTR version. This will be my first boat. Are there any mods I should do right away? I am going to be running this at the pond close to my house. Also, I would like to know if there is a significant difference in speed/handling when the batteries are close to depletion. Because then I would know it's time to drive it back. The LHS owner recommended a Zig Zag racer for use to retrieve the boat if the batts dies in the middle of the pond. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,
Jackson
:)

[CG Bob]

A general rule of thumb for batteries (Nicad & NiMh) is that 100mAH = 1 minute of run or charge time. A 1500 mAH battery should last about 15 minutes in that boat, and requirea a little more than 15 minutes to charge. A 3000 mAH pack will run the boat about 30 minutes. When the battery "dumps" or loses most of it's Amps, you'll notice a reduction in speed - head to the shore. I've built and run the Dumas Chris Craft Dual Cockpit Barrelback and consistently get 15 minute runs with a 1500 mAH pack. The Proboat Classic runabout is copy of the Chris Craft barrelback. IMO the Dumas kit is much better than the Proboat version - mainly becasue you have to build the boat. My barrelback has working lights, folding windshields and upholstered seats - all things that are near impossible to add to the Proboat RTR.