Best RC Boat

The UDI001 Venom Remote Control Boat is our best RC boat as its radio control is at 2.4 GHz which allows it to be controlled even with simultaneous boats for a no-interference racing experience. It comes with a bonus battery and has a bright red color finish. It is applicable for use on lakes, pools or any other outdoor water surface and is able to run at a top speed of 25 km per hour or 15 miles per hour. It has a 4 channel control that can make it go left, right, forward and backward. Equipped with a self-righting feature avoids capsizing and make turns more accurate, it has an auto-flip feature as well.

Top Pick: UDI001 Venom Remote Control Boat

Our step-up pick is the Babrit Tempo High Speed Electric Boat and it can speed up to 30 km per hour and has a ready to run or RTR design. The remote control distance is 150 meters. It is recommended for ages 14 and above. The transmitter has an LCD display to show you how much battery it has left and it also has an alarm for low battery and the controller is at 2.4 GHz.

The budget pick is the Udirc High Speed RC Electric Boat in which the top speed of this RC boat is at 15 miles per hour or 25 km per hour. It has a self-righting feature that keeps the boat steady and away from capsizing and the motor is a 370 sized single prop that is water-cooled with a very fast water cycling feature. The build is an anti-tilt ABS for the hull and it comes with an alarm to indicate if the boat is on low battery so you can easily drive the boat back to shore. It recharges via USB cable.

A Little Background

An RC boat is just one of the many hobby toys out there that are not just for kids but also for teens and adults or whoever is interested in RC boat racing. They are replicas of real boats just like how RC cars and RC trucks mimic real land transportation.
Many people tend to love RC boats as they are the perfect summer toy to play with or hobby to engage in, especially if you live near the lake or near a river and you’d like to take a small boat for a spin. Inspired from our childhood paper boats, RC boats are the next stage when it comes to racing with our friends and family.
RC boats, too, have gone a long way with the improvement of technology as waterproof materials and electronics keep them running for a very long time and with powerful motors, these RC boats will race any kind of water surface to complete your summer getaway experience!

How We Picked

When it comes to choosing the best RC boat, we took consideration of the following:
What is the price of the RC boat? The price is the first thing most people take a look at when it comes to anything RC related. The boat must be of a decent price for its good features and whatever material it was built with or runs on.
Does the RC boat have deal breaking flaws? Perhaps a few reading of customer reviews might help you decide on which is the best RC boat to pick and to buy for your hobby or for the kids.
What are the dimensions of the RC boat? Know if the RC boat you want is big or small and it depends on who will use it and where you will use the boat.
Do you know the top speed and control range of the RC boat? The top speed is important so that you know you get a fast boat. Most brushless motors have super high speed boats and the control range should also be a good factor. Easy steering and maneuverability is a big plus.
Is it very easy to use on almost any type of water? We know that most electronics are weak against saltwater, so we’re counting that out. Aside from that, RC boats must be built to be used even on lakes, rivers and other non-salt bodies of water.
Does it have safety features? Most RC boats nowadays have a feature that only lets it run when it is on water. This is for safety so that it does not waste battery and propeller life.
How long can you play with it and how long can it charge? Most RC boats can run up to 10 to 15 minutes on a full charge, depending on your usage and your battery power.

Our Pick

Top Pick: UDI001 Venom Remote Control Boat
The UDI001 Venom Remote Control Boat is our top pick as the best RC boat and it is able to run at a top speed of 25 km per hour or 15 miles per hour. In addition, the motor is a single-prop and a water-cooled type that keeps it steady while racing and it also has an auto-flip feature.
Equipped with a self-righting feature, it avoids capsizing and make turns more accurate. Additionally, there are safety features of the boat such as ones that prevent overcharging the battery or over-discharge of the battery. It also has a 4 channel control that can make it go left, right, forward and backward and is coated in a red color finish.
This RC boat UDI001 is strongly applicable for use on lakes, pools or any other outdoor water surface and it is recommended for ages 10 and above. Furthermore, it has an ABS feature which has an anti-tilt feature. It is important to know that the radio control is at 2.4 GHz which allows it to be controlled even with simultaneous boats for a no-interference racing experience.
Speed, style and affordability are in one package with this RC boat and it also comes with a bonus battery. For the UDI001 Venom, there is an alarm for low battery so you know when it is about to run out of power as it also has a water circulating feature to keep the motor cool even while racing.
The control distance is up to 120 meters and the transmitter has automatic code pairing feature. It has very easy controls using trim buttons for directional, knob for turning and throttle for forward and reverse actions. Additionally, the display stand takes good care of the rudder and propeller when the boat is not in use. Do know that when not in water, the propeller has a safety feature that keeps it steady and not spinning. In addition, the hull is waterproof.
This RC boat has super easy maintenance and replacement of the RC boat parts as it runs at about 6 to 8 minutes on a full charge. The charging time is up to 90 minutes and also, the controller requires 4 AA batteries which are bought separately.
The weight of the Venom UDI001 boat is 0.4 lbs or 180 grams. Do note, however, that it is not recommended for use in saltwater. It uses a lithium ion battery at 3.7 volts and 600 mAh that is rechargeable and provides high power for racing and with overall dimensions of 11 in x 14 in x 5 in , the overall product weight is 2.2 lbs and the shipping weight of 2.2 lbs.
In addition, there are also orange and black model versions for this RC boat and when you order, the package of the RC boat comes with the 2.4 GHz controller, 2 lithium ion batteries, user’s manual, a spare propeller, a display stand and a charging USB cable for the battery.

Flaws but Not Dealbrakers

The only known complaint about the Venom Remote RC Boat is that it is not as fast as compared to more expensive RC boats and there are small faults on the turning system, but this depends on the water surface you use it on.

Step-up Pick

Babrit Tempo High Speed Electric Boat
Our step-up pick, the Babrit Tempo High Speed Electric Boat, can speed up to 30 km per hour and it also has a ready to run or RTR design. In addition, the remote control distance is 150 meters and it is highly recommended for ages 14 and above.
As for this RC boat, the transmitter has an LCD display to show you how much battery it has left and it also has an alarm for low battery. The controller is at 2.4 GHz and it also has a recovery feature from capsize to keep the boat steady using the throttle and forward trigger as well as the back controls.
With a fast circulation of the water that makes the motor cool down even when in use, this Babrit Boat is a pre-assembled and ready to roll RC boat which has controls for left, right, reverse and forward are found in the trim buttons. The body is made from ABS parts that are plastic with impact-resistant features and can be easily maintained in which parts can be found for replacements.
In addition, the hull has a modular design that has anti-tilt and waterproof features while there is also a knob for the rudder function. Also, the throttle has a trigger that lets you go forward as well as reverse. When you order, the package includes the RC boat, a user’s manual, a boat stand, a USB charger, a lithium ion battery, a spare propeller and a 2.4 GHz transmitter (in which you have to provide 1.5 batteries at AA size).
Its charge time is about 100 minutes as it can run up to 8 minutes on a full charge. The product weight is 1.5 lbs and shipping weight is 2.8 lbs and with dimensions of 17 in x 4 in x 4 in, the Babrit Tempo High ranks at #1 in the RC Vehicles / Ships and Submarines Amazon category. You get 1 year warranty for the RC boat.

Budget Pick

Udirc High Speed RC Electric Boat
For those who keep affordability in mind, the budget pick of this article is the Udirc High Speed RC Electric Boat in which the top speed of this RC boat is at 15 miles per hour or 25 km per hour. It also comes with an alarm to indicate if the boat is on low battery so you can easily drive the boat back to shore.
As for durability, the build is an anti-tilt ABS for the hull and it also has a self-righting feature that keeps the boat steady and away from capsizing. It recharges via USB cable and the motor is a 370 sized single prop that is water-cooled with a very fast water cycling feature.
Furthermore, the radio controller transmitter is at 2.4 GHz and with its running time of 6 to 8 minutes, you get solid performance from this RC boat. The rotor measures 29 mm and the charge time is about 110 minutes. The battery for the boat is a lithium polymer 600 mAh 7.4 volts battery.
In addition, the hull has a waterproof design and you can easily recover from capsize easily with its throttle and trigger feature. It has directional trim buttons which can be controlled easily and in addition, the rudder has a knob turning feature for left and right. You can go forward and reverse throttle which has a trigger control.
The Udirc High Speed Boat has an RTR (ready to run) design and 4 AA batteries are required for the controller. It also comes with an instructional manual and is highly recommended for ages 14 and up. This awesome RC boat weighs 11.2 lbs and has overall dimensions of 12 in x 3 in x 3 in.

RC Boat with Battleship Design

German Bismarck Military Battleship RC Boat
The German Bismarck Military Battleship RC Boat has a radio control that is fully functional that allows the warship to go left, right and forward on turns and in addition, the exterior is extremely and intricately detailed.
The paint used for the exterior is glossy and with an RTR or ready to run design, it is pre-assembled from the factory. Having a scale model of an RC boat that is 1/360, it has a very realistic warship / battleship military cruiser design.
Being a very high performance RC boat, the speed range of the German Bismarck RC Boat is about 5 to 10 miles per hour and the range it can operate and cruise is up to 120 feet. It has dual propellers to power it up and it has a pit in water to run feature.
It also has realistic lights and also, the guns look realistic and move on their own. It has an operating time of about 30 minutes on a full charge and it is very fast compared to most RC boats. Additionally, the colors of this RC boat may vary. It is okay to use for lakes, rivers, small ponds and of course, swimming pools and it is recommended for 8 years old and above.
The Military Battleship RC Boat weighs 5.5 lbs and has overall dimensions of 7 in x 30 in x 7.5 in with a shipping weight of 5.5 lbs.

Best Submarine Designed RC Boat

Camecho 6CH Super Mini RC Submarine
For submarine lovers, the Camecho 6CH Super Mini RC Submarine is sold by Camecho and comes with 2 propellers to power it up. The distance range you can control it is from 8 to 12 meters and also, it can charge at about 10 to 15 minutes and can run to about 5 minutes on the average.
As this is a submarine model, you can submerge it for real at 1 meter underwater and it is equipped with 2 headlights that glow underwater. This is a 6-channel RC boat submarine design which is available in blue or black color finish. It runs on 3 powerful motors and are great for exploring the deepest of waters for children.
Passing safety requirements and certified by CE standards, with the Camecho Submarine, there is no assembly needed as this is an RTR or ready to run design. The control remote needs 4 AA batteries, which you need to provide and it comes with a rechargeable battery and can be charged with the 12 volts power supply.
Furthermore, the material used for its build is ABS and package contains an English manual, the transmitter and the mini submarine RC boat itself. It has overall dimensions of 6 in x 3 in x 3 in and weighs 0.3 lbs and a shipping weight of 0.3 lbs, recommended for ages 8 and above. It ranks at #7 in the Ships and Submarines – RC Vehicles category in Amazon.

Best Brushless Motor RC Boat

Atomik Barbwire 17″ Brushless RC Boat
The Atomik Barbwire 17″ Brushless RC Boat is an electric powered RC boat which has a deep vee / responsive v hull design with a self-righting feature to keep sharp turns steady. Being an RTR or ready to run RC boat design, the radio system is 2.4 GHz and is a 2-channel control.
The ESC is water cooled and is at 30 amps and it runs on 11.1 volts. The battery is a lithium polymer, 20C 1,300 mAh 3S and the charger is a Venom balance charger with 2-3 cells. The out runner motor is 2950 Kv, also water cooled and is brushless and it is made and sold by Atomik RC.
Being made for ages 14 to 15 years old or more, it ranks at #8 in Ships and Submarines category in Amazon RC Vehicles and has a white color finish. It also has a boat stand to store it in place and has dimensions of 4 in x 4 in x 17 in, weighs 3.1 lbs, has a shipping weight of 3.1 lbs and has 30 days warranty for workmanship defects and 90 days for non-electronic parts.

Best RC Boat for Beginners

Ginzick 4ch Remote Control Speed Zoom
The Ginzick 4ch Remote Control Speed Zoom is ideal for beginners and has a 4 channel control remote that is easy to use. You can charge this RC boat fully for 1 hour and the operation time is up to 22 minutes. It is highly ideal for lakes, rivers, small ponds and swimming pools.
Being very durable and having a high quality build and design, this boat can go forward, backward, right and left as well as throttle and trim controls and it is RTR or ready to run design. It comes with lithium polymer battery, charger, display boat stand and propeller and the transmitter also includes a 9 volt battery. It is made and sold by Ginzick and the battery compartment is also very watertight so it does not get corroded easily.
As it is colored in green finish, the distance you can control is from the range of 80 up to 90 feet. It has a water cooling system for the motor to keep it cool while on the water and the lithium polymer battery is a 700 mAh 3.7 volt battery.

Patrol RC Boat Design

Police Speed Patrol Craft RC Boat
The Police Speed Patrol Craft RC Boat is perfect for those who like police boat cars. With a green, gray and black color combination finish, it is designed to look like a real police patrol boat. The colors may vary for this product but it has a safety system where the RC boat will only run when it touches water.
The body is made from ABS plastic which is aerodynamic and perfect for racing and the deck super structure is highly detailed. It is good for lakes, small ponds, swimming pools and rivers. This patrol boat even has a lighting action for the red and blue siren.
It is electric powered RC boat has an RTR or ready to run designed because it has been pre-assembled and painted and comes with rechargeable batteries. With a 4-channel control system, this is made and sold by Police Speed RC Boat and has an easy control due to its vector-push design.
The scale of this RC boat is 1/20 and the max speed is up to 2 miles per hour and the ideal range of control is up to 100 feet. It can last up to 15 minutes per full charge and has no interference and you can run up to two boats at the same time. The interior is highly detailed and the paint of the exterior is glossy and the design is twin propeller large torsion with metal shafts.

Best RC Boat with Fishing Boat Design

Radio Ranger 34″ RC Fishing Boat
Made and sold by Fish Fun, the Radio Ranger 34″ RC Fishing Boat is a value RC car for actual fishing which has a remote system with 2.4 GHz4 inch measurement. Do note that it can even catch fish aside from its RC boat capabilities as it runs on 7.2 volts 1,800 mAh battery for the boat.
The engine noise level is only at 86.67 dB and it is recommended to buy a 2nd battery for longer lasting usage. It can easily run up to 10 miles per hour depending on the battery and has a variable speed. The control range is from 300 feet up to 400 feet. The fish you can catch with this RC boat include but not limited to bass, pan fish, pike and other similar big fishes.
As this is a dual purpose as an RC boat and a fishing boat at the same time, it is an ideal gift to fisher hobbyists. The RC boat comes with the battery, with extra propellers, a boat stand, wall charger, pistol grip transmitter that includes batteries, fishing line, fishing hook and bobber and the controller runs on 8 AA batteries. The charging time is from 5 to 6 hours.

Titanic Model RC Boat

RC RMS Titanic 1:325 R/C Boat
Want to sail the seven seas without running into an iceberg? Sail away with this RC RMS Titanic 1:325 R/C Boat. With its ready to run (RTR) RC boat design, it comes with LED illumination which makes the RC boat very realistic and the super structure of the deck is very detailed and very much like the real Titanic itself.
It runs on a 700 mAh 7.2 volts Ni cadmium battery that comes with a charger. The opening of the deck panel where the battery compartment is located is 2 in x 3 in x 3 in and the radius of operation is about 30 meters and the max speed is up ot 7 km per hour. It also has a vector push design that allows it to be easily steered in water and also, the propellers have metal shafts and are designed with large torsion with triple 360 motor professional qualities.
Being made and sold by Brigamo, the scale of the RC boat is 1:325. This is a perfect Titanic replica RC boat for fans of the actual boat / movie which can be used on small ponds, lakes, rivers and swimming pools. It has full controls that can let you go forward, backward, turn left or right and stop.
Overall, the RMS Titanic RC Boat weighs 10.2 lbs and has dimensions are 33 in x 4 in x 9 in (850 mm x 100 mm x 230 mm). It is recommended for ages 8 and above.

The Competition

Other RC boats that did not make it to our list are lacking in features such as high speed, maneuverability and multi-channel control that lets you handle RC boats with no interference. RC boats must have good speed and control.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the many great uses of an RC boat?
A: According to Wikipedia , it is used in fun sports such as RC racing and because of their size and scale, they are portable and easy to carry and some even fit in your own hand. Also, some RC boats can be used as sailboats and be used for international radio sailing or racing and some boats can also be used for warship combat and battleships and most of these RC boats have actual projectiles that battle and launch at the enemy. Tugboat scale models are also popular among RC boat enthusiasts.

Q: How can you perform maintenance on the prop shaft of an RC boat?
A: According to RC Boat Mag , check the cable connection, keep the prop shaft well-cleaned with denatured alcohol and use a paper towel to clean it up, detach the strut properly, use appropriate lube pointers, wire brushes can be used to clean dried grease and small gaps should be left in the shaft drive dog.

Wrapping It Up

All in all, after more than 100 hours of testing and research, the UDI001 Venom Remote Control Boat is our best RC boat because of its easy maneuvering and steering capabilities and fair speed as well as durability among other RC boats.