RTR starter boat recommendations

[sactown]

I'm looking for advice from seasoned RC boat owners. Recently, my 9yr old son's toy quality rc boat has inspired me to get a hobbyist quality boat for myself. I recently purchased an electric rtr boat online that has two 380 motors, 2 surface style props packaged into a 29" cat hull. With a 7.2V, 2200 mAh Ni-cad battery, this boat maybe ran at 10mph at best. The retailer claimed up to 25mph, but I should have been skeptical seeing I paid only $40 for the entire kit.

Cutting to the chase.............

I want a well packaged, reliable RTR electric boat that can run approximately 20 mph out of the box. Here are the boats in looking into:

Traxxas Blast

Proboat Shockwave 26

Any other suggestions? Pros and cons, things to look for?

I like the catameran style hull, but a V-hull design would be OK. For budget I'm allowing around $120. The Blast and Shockwave are both on ebay for around that price. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I forgot to mention my RC experience includes RC cars and a 3ch electric airplane.

[Baboon48]

sactown.... welcome to the world of rc boats. I have been looking for about a month or so now for the boat I want. I think I am going to get the Super Vee 27 by Aquacraft. It has a fiberglass hull and a brushless motor and at $279 you can't beat the price. I don't think you're going to be very happy with any boat you find at that price ($120). I would expand your budget by about $160 and get the SV 27. :) I would recommend buying your boat new for warranty purposes.

RTR = Ready To Run minus batteries and charger.

So here is a short list you can check out:

Super Vee 27 (vee hull) RTR= Brushless electric. Out of the box it will run 30+ mph. It has Grimracer hardware. With a new prop and good batteries with a few other minor things (i.e., scuff the hull bottom) many have been reaching speeds of 40+ mph. Aquacraft makes this boat; $279

BlackJack 26 (cat style hull) RTR = Nitro boat. I could be wrong, but I don't think this boat is as fast as a properly setup Super Vee 27? I can't remember the price but a lot of people seem to be "somewhat" dissappointed with it out of the box.

Miss Vegas Hydro (Hydro boat style hull) RTR = Nitro boat. This boat had a good review / write-up in RC Boat Modeler magazine. Not sure about speed? Aquacraft makes this boat. It also has Grimracer hardware and sells for $280.

Traxxas Blast (vee hull) RTR = Brushed electric. Very beginner style boat. Don't know price. Not very fast.

Traxxas Villian (Vee hull) RTR = Brushed electric. Ok boat from what I've heard but it nowhere near as fast as the SV 27. Twin motors that are counter rotating so the boat is pretty stable. Can't remember price.

Traxxas Villian EX (Vee Hull) RTR = Brushed electric. Again, I've heard this boat is ok. Twin counter rotating motors but with more power than the base Traxxas Villian. Still nowhere near as fast as the SV 27. Can't remember price.

Traxxas Nitro Vee (Vee Hull) RTR = Nitro boat. Have not heard any reviews for this boat. My guess is that it isn't great but not terrible. I could be wrong but I think I heard the SV 27 is still faster than this boat? Don't know price.

Aquacraft Nitro Hammer (vee hull) RTR = Haven't heard any reviews only people sarcastically talking about this boat, whatever they mean by it? I don't think this is faster than the SV 27? Aquacraft makes this boat; Don't price.

Proboat Shockwave 26 (vee hull) RTR = electric boat. The reviews I've seen are nothing special. Not nearly as fast as the SV 27. Can't remember price.

I hope this helps in your quest for a boat. If anything else I would recommend just going to Toy's R Us and buying a plastic boat that looks like a Fountain or Donzi? You'll still be at or bellow your budget and have a boat that looks good. Not fast though. I not trying to discourage you, I am just relaying some of the facts.

[sactown]

Baboon48, that's a lot of good info. Thanks for your input. I'll keep those boats in mind when I'm shopping. I agree that the SuperV27 is a bargain for what you get. It's probably going to be the step up from the 1st boat I get. The ponds we are running the boats at are not very big and a 30mph+ boat could end up crashing into a fixed object with my limited experience. I'm sure it wont take long for me to get bit by the "speed bug" and I'll be swapping motors.

[Kirker]

I've seen several people on here with the Traxxas Villian (EX?) boats, they seem to like them. One of those might work, or if the Shockwave is in your price range, that might be your ticket. One thing on price, I am assuming you mean without batteries and a charger? Also, not trying to be a downer but I think you're going to be hard pressed to find 20 mph for $120, new. I paid $150 for my first boat (not including batteries and a charger) and it was like 14 mph. Don't get me wrong, it was fun and lead me to move up, but 20 mph out of the box for $120, don't think it can be done.

[SouthJersey-FE]

Sac I dont knw where you are located but right now is the best time of year to be looking into a boat. My suggestion seeing how it is winter and most of us can't run anyway is this. Save your money up untill spring. Put a little away here and there and in the spring just buy an SV27. If I had limited funds I would consider an entry level boat a waist of money. Resale on one won't return 50%. Invest in the SV27 and if you find the hobby is not for you ebay it and you will @ least recover 80% of your investment. Just my opinion.