There are many different RC boats on the market, but recently there has been a huge reduction due to companies going out of business or merging. There is only a few players left, but they still make great boats.
The boats below are our top boats in different categories as it relates to them all being deep V mono hulls. These boats rip and are the best boats for their sizes on the market.
The boats are listed below from largest to smallest depending on what size of body of water you have to play on.
Enjoy!
Pro Boat Sonicwake
The Pro Boat Sonicwake just looks MEAN. It is so slick looking with its black hull and bright green accents. (the boat is also available in white and blue, but it doesn’t look as good in my opinion. However, it is a lot easier to see on the water.) It screams buy me buy me.
The boat is capable of 50+ mph on 6s batteries out of the box, and some users have gotten 70 mph with just a prop swap.
The 1900Kv brushless motor is controlled by a Dynamite 120 amp water-cooled speed control. There is a waterproof high torque metal geared servo that turns the offset aluminum rudder on the boat.
This ABS hull is truly a self righting hull, it has flood chambers which fill with water when it is capsized and flip it over without the use of power or the motor. This is the best way to have a self righting feature as sometimes boats which rely on their center of gravity just don’t work.
The canopy is sealed with thumb screws and a foam gasket to prevent water from entering the hull.
The hardware is made out of aluminum and is anodized black to match the hull. There is a metal prop included from the factory to provide great performance. The rudder has a water cooling line which keeps your electronics cool.
Pro Boat includes a Spektrum STX2 radio and waterproof MRX200 receiver which is a high quality piece of equipment, not just your average RTR throwaway radio.
This boat is for the beginner to advanced boater. It can rip around at 50+ or be driven at a leisurely pace.
The width of this boat gives it an advantage of others this size as it is 11″ wide as compared to the Spartan at 9.5″ wide. This gives extra stability in the turns as well as straight high speed runs. The turn fins and trim tabs provide lots of adjustment to get running right for any condition.
The electrical components are neatly secured in the hull and battery mounts are towards the front of the boat in the middle for a low center of gravity.
This boat is a good second boat for any user, it can be a good first boat if you want to buy once and grow with the boat. This is one of my favorite boats on the market as it has a real flood chamber for self righting.
A con listed below would be that it is an ABS hull, a few years back all boats this size were fiberglass, but with advancements with technology, more and more are becoming ABS and are reinforced in areas to help it be as strong.
I need to get over myself and understand that the hobby is moving towards ABS boats and quit listing this as a con as they are more lightweight and can be more forgiving and not crack, however, they may break if they flip at 50+. I just am a boat guy and real boats are fiberglass so why can’t our tiny model boats be fiberglass too. (end of rant)
Pros
- Self righting flood chamber
- Fast
- Great electronics
- Good radio system
- Good hardware for RTR
- Metal Prop
Cons
- ABS hull
Traxxas Spartan
The Traxxas Spartan Brushless RC boat is a 50+ mph machine. The Spartan has been around and has been successful for several years. There have been different versions of the Spartan, and have only gotten better over time. If you see some old reviews, they did have trouble with water cooling and the ESC, but these flaws have been fixed.
The Spartan is a 36″ deep V hull that can handle any lake you throw it at. Its deep V allows the boat to slice through the waves. The VXL 6s speed control is matched up with a 540XL motor to much this boat 35+mph with two 2s batteries and 50+ on two 6s batteries.
The 2.4GHz radio has Traxxas Stability Management as the cars have which will steer the rudder to help the boat go as straight as possible. The radio can also use the Traxxas Link wireless module to get real time data sent from the boat. The receiver has fail safe technology which will stop the boat in case of loss of radio signal.
Like its sister the Traxxas M41, all of the electronics are mounted on a integrated power system for easy removal. The electronics in this boat are tried and true and have been around for several years. In addition to great electronics, they are also waterproof.
The hull of the Spartan is made of ABS plastic and reinforced in the areas you need strength most. Traxxas went with this design to save weight over a fiberglass hull as the boat is HUGE.
The hatch has easy on and off clips and features a drip rail eliminating the need to use tape to seal the hatch. Although Traxxas has this feature and the electronics are waterproof, a little hatch tape is extra insurance to prevent damage to any electronics especially if you are running in salt water.
The integrated battery trays are huge and allow for an array of battery sizes and placements to perfect your center of gravity. The hardware is beautiful blue aluminum with stainless steel trim tabs. The offset rudder provides superior steering compared to an inline which can get lost in prop wash. The high torque waterproof servo ensures stiff turns every time.
All in all, the Spartan is a great boat to buy for the beginner or advanced boater. The speed control does have a speed limiting function which only allows 50% power for a beginner.
This boat is a must buy for any type of user. It is one of the top boats on the market today and has great aftermarket and parts support.
Pros
- Waterproof Electronics
- Time tested electronics
- Great components
- Traxxas has great support
Cons
- ABS Hull
- Should be fiberglass hull for the price
- Not self righting
Pro Boat Recoil
The Pro Boat Recoil is a great bang for your buck and is one of the best deals on the market today. It comes RTR with everything you need including a 3s battery and charger and is capable out of the box of running 30+mph.
The Recoil hull is designed to be self righting and does so without any hassle. The boat measures in at 26″ and is made of ABS plastic like most boats on the market today.
There is a water cooled Dynamite 60 amp esc coupled with a 2100Kv brushless water-cooled motor. The electronics in this model are waterproof in case you were wondering. Pro Boat includes a quality Spektrum STX 2.4GHz radio.
The design of this hull is really tall to help it be self righting. The hardware is aluminum with stainless steel turn fins and trim tabs. There is a composite molded prop from the factory.
The battery that comes with it is a quality dynamite 3s 3200 mah battery and it includes a balance charger to properly care for the battery. The hatch on this boat is a one piece and appears to seal quite nicely. Give this boat some room and let it fly!
Anyone would like this boat from a beginner to advanced. This boat screams down the lake and is guaranteed to make you smile.
Pros
- RTR with quality battery
- Fast
- Good Price
- Brushless
- self righting
Cons
- Shape is awkward but that is for the self righting future
Traxxas Blast
The Traxxas Blast is a boat which needs no introduction. It has been around for years. When I say years, I mean it was around when I was a kid, so probably 20+ years. Obviously, there has been changes made and the boat is up to date with the latest technology, but it has been a great boat.
The Blast truly is a blast measuring in at 24″. It has a water cooled brushed Stinger 20 turn motor which Traxxas states is 30% more powerful than your typical stock motor.
Like other Traxxas models, this model is 100% waterproof and ready for anything you can throw at it. The 2.4GHz radio ensures you will have great radio connection and won’t have a problem being on the same channel as your friends.
Unlike the other models on this list, this model has a steerable outdrive just like a real life boat allowing tighter turns and quick speeds with its surface piercing propeller.
Traxxas includes a 6 cell battery and charger so this kit is truly RTR so nothing else is needed. The downside is that the charger is DC only which means you have to charge it from the cigarette lighter in your car. They do sell an adapter to use it with AC or your normal 110 volt outlet, but that’s an additional cost you can put towards a real charger that is a lot better.
This boat is geared more for the beginner as it is not a boat capable of 50+, but anyone driving it will still have fun jumping waves.
Pros
- Comes RTR with battery and charger
- Great beginner boat
- Waterproof electronics
- Good price for the kit
Cons
- Not the fastest boat
- Charger is DC only
- Not self righting
Pro Boat Stealthwake
The Pro Boat Stealthwake is a direct competitor of the Traxxas Blast. They both are similar length, both have ABS plastic hulls, both come ready to run with charger and battery.
The charger on the Stealthwake is a AC charger which you can plug into your home outlet whereas the Blast has a DC charger which plugs into your car.
The Blast has a steerable outdrive whereas the Stealthwake has a fixed prop with a moving rudder for steering. Either may be better in certain conditions.
The Stealthwake has turn fins, trim tabs, and an offset rudder. In fact all of the hardware is high grade aluminum like its big brother boats.
The hull is a matte color which looks tall and mean. The hatch is a stepped one piece hatch which has a foam gasket for sealing. The step may be harder to seal properly to keep water out. Hatch tape is recommended just as we do on all of or boats.
The electronics on this model are waterproof, the ESC is a 60 amp brushed model with a 550 15 turn motor pushing the models plastic prop. The 15 turn motor is a bit hotter than the Blasts 20 turn, so you may expect more speed depending on the voltage you run and the prop you have on each boat.
Pro Boat includes a 2.4GHz radio with receiver on this model to keep this boat under control.
This boat is a good beginner boat and can be ran on lipo batteries with the integrated cutoff for better speed and runtime. If you want a model to run around the pond or lake, this is one of the top contenders for a fun model that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to run.
Pros
- Waterproof electronics
- Comes RTR with battery and charger
- Great price
Cons
- Could be brushless
Cheerwing UDI
The Cheerwing UDI is a great boat to keep around the house that is a blast to play with. Although not brushless, this little boat zips around and is agile as a cat. One of the best parts is that this boat is self righting.
This boat comes RTR with battery and charger. The battery that comes with it is a lithium 1500 mah battery which will keep you on the water longer and keep you going faster.
The hull is made from ABS plastic, there is also a clear plastic piece which fits between the hatch and hull to provide extra water resistance.
Should your battery run low in the middle of the lake, this boat will alert you before so you are literally not dead in the water.
The boat measures in at about 17″ long and is capable out of the box of 18 mph. This is one zippy boat. The motor is a 390 size brushed and is water-cooled to prolong life. The electronics on this model are also waterproof for extra security just in case.
The handling is great and it drives as it is on rails as there is turn fins, trim tabs, and an offset rudder.
Overall, this boat is great for a beginner as well as a good extra boat to play with. The cost is low so it can also be a good recovery boat for your more expensive boat that could die on the water.
Pros
- Fast for its size
- Comes RTR
- Self righting
Cons
- This is a great boat for the price, so not really any cons
Cheerwing Micro RC Boat
The Cheerwing Micro RC Racing boat is the baby of the bunch, but don’t let that steer you away. This little boat goes about 15 mph. For something that is only 13″ long, that is quick. This thing can zip zig zags around other boats in the pool, pond, or even the lake.
I love taking mine behind a full size boat and riding the waves or jumping them. This is also perfect to run the waves near shore. I have many hours on mine and have never had any problems, not even a broken prop.
This boat includes a lithium battery, charger, and is RTR so you can get out on the water as quick as possible.
Don’t worry about getting stuck on the water, this boat is self righting, features a low signal alarm, as well as a low battery alarm. (I will admit my self righting did not work one time. It was due to my battery coming un balanced as it wasn’t fastened properly and it just did not work.)
The 2.4GHz radio allows you to race against as many friends as you have without interference.
This boat is fun for all ages and is priced so good you may as well buy two one for you and one for a friend to race.
Pros
- Lithium battery included
- Low Cost
- Great boat
- Self righting
Cons
- I honestly cannot think of a con for this boat. It is great.