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Frequently Asked Questions About Pickleball Paddles

1. What does “RTR” mean on an RC boat?

RTR stands for Ready-to-Run. Every boat in our RC boats collection arrives with the motor, speed controller (ESC), servo, and radio system already installed, so there’s no soldering or complicated building. On most models the rudder and propeller shafts are removed to protect them during shipping, so you’ll do a few minutes of simple reassembly before your first run.
2. Do RC boats come with batteries?

No. Like most high-performance RC boats, these ship without LiPo batteries or a charger, so you’ll need to buy those separately, along with batteries for the transmitter. Battery needs vary by model. The Dominator Mono runs on two 2S or 3S LiPo packs wired in series, while bigger boats like the MAGNUM 44 are built for 8S power. Each product page lists the exact batteries you’ll need.
3. How fast do these RC boats go?

Fast. THE ANIMAL CAT II E and ANIMAL CAT II EQ have been verified at 109 mph completely stock, making them the fastest ready-to-run RC boats in the world. THE BEAST tops 100 mph on 8S power and can cruise at a more relaxed 55–65 mph at reduced throttle. Actual speeds depend on your batteries, water conditions, and setup.
4. What’s the difference between a catamaran, a mono hull, and a rigger RC boat?

An RC catamaran (twin cat) rides on two hulls, which makes it very stable at high speed. That’s why our fastest boats, like THE BEAST and RAMPAGE 55, are catamarans. A mono hull has a single hull that carves through turns and looks like a real speedboat, like the Dominator Mono. A rigger rides on small sponsons that lift the hull out of the water for a pure racing setup, like the SCORPION.
5. What’s the best RC boat for beginners?

The Self-Righting Dominator Mono is the best starting point in our lineup. It’s one of our most affordable models, it runs on smaller 2S or 3S LiPo batteries, and it flips itself back over if it capsizes, so you won’t be stuck swimming out to get it. All of these are serious high-performance machines, though, so start at partial throttle while you learn the controls.
6. What does “self-righting” mean?

A self-righting RC boat flips itself back upright after it capsizes. The Self-Righting Dominator does this with a built-in flood chamber, a series of hull ports that fill with water and roll the boat back over on its own. It’s available in both Black Carbon and Carbon/Kevlar.
7. What’s the difference between a carbon fiber and a carbon/Kevlar hull?

Both are lightweight, stiff, and much stronger than the plastic hulls found on toy-grade RC boats. Carbon fiber gives you maximum stiffness for speed. Carbon/Kevlar blends in Kevlar for extra impact resistance and durability. Several models come in either finish, including THE BEAST, the ANIMAL CAT II EQ, and the Dominator Mono.
8. Where can I run my RC boat, and can it go in salt water?

High-performance RC boats run best on calm, flat fresh water like lakes and large ponds. Rough or salt water puts more strain on the hardware and speeds up wear. After every session, rinse the hull (especially after salt water), flush the cooling system, remove the LiPo batteries, and let the electronics dry. Planning a full day at the lake? Check out our kayaks, boats & canoes, paddleboards & watersports gear, and marine accessories.
9. Can I race these RC boats?

Yes. The SCORPION Quasar Carbon Fiber Rigger is legal for both NAMBA and IMPBA sanctioned PLTD and P-Hydro racing, right out of the box. Twin cats like the ANIMAL CAT II E and MAGNUM 44 are built for speed runs and competitive racing.
10. How does shipping and warranty work?

Every RC boat in our collection ships free, and most ship in under a week. Backordered models can take 4–8 weeks. Each boat is covered by Oxidean Marine’s limited warranty for defects in materials and workmanship, which applies to the original purchaser. Restocking fees apply to returns on non-defective boats, so check the product page or contact our experts with any questions before you order.

RC Boats — High-Performance Ready-to-Run Boats for Every Level of Speed

There’s nothing quite like the sound of a brushless motor winding up and a carbon fiber hull lifting onto plane across glassy water. Hobby-grade RC boats deliver real speed, real engineering, and real excitement, a world away from the toy boats sold in big-box stores. At Omaha Sports & Games, our RC boats collection is built around Oxidean Marine, the maker of the fastest ready-to-run RC boats in the world. From affordable mono hulls to 60-inch flagships and record-setting twin catamarans, every boat ships ready to run so you can spend less time building and more time on the water.

Hobby-Grade vs. Toy-Grade: Why It Matters

Most RC boats sold at general retailers are toy-grade. They have plastic hulls, small brushed motors, and short-range radios built for a few minutes of fun at the pool. Hobby-grade RC boats are built differently from the ground up.

Every boat in our collection features a carbon fiber or carbon/Kevlar composite hull, a brushless motor, a high-amperage electronic speed controller (ESC), a water-cooling system to manage heat during hard runs, and a multi-channel digital radio with long, reliable range. Hobby-grade boats also run on LiPo (lithium polymer) batteries, which deliver far more power than the batteries in toy-grade models. And because every component is a standard, serviceable part, a hobby-grade boat can be maintained, repaired, and upgraded for years instead of being thrown away when something breaks.

Understanding RC Boat Hull Types

The shape of the hull has the biggest effect on how an RC boat feels on the water. Our collection includes three main hull styles.

Twin Catamarans: Stability at Extreme Speed

An RC catamaran (often called a “twin cat”) rides on two parallel hulls connected by a deck. At speed, air trapped between the hulls helps lift the boat, reducing drag and creating a remarkably stable ride. That’s why the fastest RC boats in the world are catamarans, and it’s why most of our lineup uses this design.

Our twin cats include the record-setting ANIMAL CAT II E and ANIMAL CAT II EQ, the 45-inch BEAST, the MAGNUM 44, and the massive RAMPAGE 55.

Mono Hulls: Classic Speedboat Handling

A mono hull RC boat has a single V-shaped hull, just like a full-size offshore speedboat. Mono hulls carve through turns, handle choppier water well, and have the scale realism many hobbyists love. A stepped mono hull adds notches along the bottom that break water contact and reduce drag for even more speed.

The Dominator Mono is our most accessible mono, while the INTIMIDATOR 60" Stepped Mono is the largest and most imposing boat in the collection.

Riggers: Pure Racing Machines

A rigger (or hydroplane) rides on small sponsons out to each side, lifting most of the hull out of the water at speed. With so little hull touching the surface, riggers are some of the fastest and most competitive designs in RC racing. The SCORPION Quasar Carbon Fiber Rigger is hand-built and hand-varnished, and it’s legal for NAMBA and IMPBA sanctioned PLTD and P-Hydro racing straight out of the box.

Hull Materials: Carbon Fiber vs. Carbon/Kevlar

Every boat we carry is built with a composite hull, and many models let you choose between two premium layups.

Carbon fiber is extremely light and extremely stiff. A stiff hull doesn’t flex under load, so more of the motor’s power goes into forward speed. Carbon fiber also has the bold woven look many enthusiasts want. Boats like the MAGNUM 44 use a super-thick carbon fiber lamination schedule built to handle the stress of high-speed runs.

Carbon/Kevlar combines carbon fiber’s stiffness with the impact resistance of Kevlar, the same family of material used in protective gear. The result is a hull that’s both rigid and tougher against bumps, debris, and hard landings. The INTIMIDATOR 60" uses a thick carbon/Kevlar layup, and Carbon/Kevlar versions are available for THE BEAST, the ANIMAL CAT II E, the ANIMAL CAT II EQ, the Dominator Mono, and the Self-Righting Dominator.

Power and Electronics: What Makes These Boats So Fast

Brushless Motors and kV Ratings

Every boat in our collection uses a brushless motor, which is more powerful, more efficient, and longer-lasting than a brushed motor. You’ll see motors described by a kV rating, which tells you how fast the motor spins per volt. A higher kV generally means more top-end speed, while a lower kV delivers more torque for turning bigger propellers. On the ANIMAL CAT II, you can choose either 1650kV or 2200kV motors to match the power level you want.

Twin-Motor Setups

Many of our catamarans and the INTIMIDATOR run two motors, each with its own speed controller. Twin-motor boats deliver balanced thrust, stronger acceleration, and more total power. The INTIMIDATOR 60" pairs twin Dynamo 8-pole brushless motors with 300A Igloo Series ESCs to spin massive 70mm propellers, and the MAGNUM 44 uses dual Castle Hydra 8S ESCs.

LiPo Batteries and Cell Counts

RC boats are powered by LiPo battery packs, described by their cell count (2S, 3S, 6S, 8S, and so on). More cells mean higher voltage and more speed. The Dominator Mono runs on two smaller 2S or 3S packs wired in series, while performance cats like THE BEAST are designed for 8S power and speeds over 100 mph. Each product page lists the exact batteries that boat needs.

The Quasar Talking GPS Radio

Several of our boats include Oxidean Marine’s Quasar Talking GPS Radio, a 9-channel transmitter with a built-in GPS speed sensor that announces your speed out loud as you drive. It’s the easiest way to track top speeds, compare setups, and chase personal records without taking your eyes off the boat. The Quasar comes standard on the ANIMAL CAT II EQ, THE BEAST, MAGNUM 44, RAMPAGE 55, INTIMIDATOR 60", and SCORPION.

The Oxidean Marine Lineup

Dominator Mono and Self-Righting Dominator

At 33.3 inches long with a 2000kV six-pole brushless motor and a 200A ESC, the Dominator is a true performance mono at the most approachable price in our collection. CNC aluminum hardware, dual water pickups, and a high-flow cooling system keep it running hard and cool. The Self-Righting Dominator adds a built-in flood chamber that rolls the boat back upright after a capsize, which makes it a great first hobby-grade boat. Choose from the Dominator in Black Carbon, the Dominator in Carbon/Kevlar, the Self-Righting Dominator in Black Carbon, or the Self-Righting Dominator in Carbon/Kevlar.

ANIMAL CAT II E and ANIMAL CAT II EQ

Verified at 109 mph completely stock, the ANIMAL CAT II is the fastest ready-to-run RC boat in the world. This 38-inch twin cat features a double-thick hull, twin 4082 brushless motors, dual 200A waterproof ESCs, and a push-pull scale rudder. The E version includes Oxidean’s 40-model memory digital radio, while the EQ upgrades to the Quasar Talking GPS Radio so you can hear your speed on every pass. Both come in carbon fiber or carbon/Kevlar: ANIMAL CAT II E Carbon Fiber, ANIMAL CAT II E Carbon/Kevlar, ANIMAL CAT II EQ Carbon Fiber, and ANIMAL CAT II EQ Carbon/Kevlar.

THE BEAST Twin Cat

At 45 inches long and 12 inches wide, THE BEAST is a big, stable twin cat with twin water-cooled 1650kV torque motors, dual 200A ESCs rated up to 8S, and the Quasar GPS radio. On 8S power it tops 100 mph, and at reduced throttle it cruises comfortably at 55–65 mph, so it’s thrilling for experts and manageable on a relaxed day at the lake. Available in carbon fiber and carbon/Kevlar.

MAGNUM 44 Twin Cat

The MAGNUM 44 is purpose-built for serious speed runners. A super-thick carbon fiber hull, twin 4092 1650kV brushless motors, dual Castle Hydra 8S ESCs, and the Quasar GPS radio with an external voltage probe make it one of the most capable speed-run platforms in the ready-to-run market.

RAMPAGE 55 Twin Cat

The RAMPAGE 55 is a 55-inch twin cat that draws a crowd wherever it runs. Dual DYNAMO 1400kV motors, dual Hobbywing 300A ESCs, heavy-duty EC8 connectors, and support for dual 6S or 8S LiPo packs give it big power to match its size. It comes in Black Carbon, Carbon/Kevlar, White, Blue, and Yellow.

INTIMIDATOR 60" Stepped Mono

The INTIMIDATOR is the flagship of the collection: 60 inches of thick-layup carbon/Kevlar stepped mono hull, twin Dynamo 53100 8-pole motors, twin 300A Igloo Series ESCs, 70mm propellers, and the Quasar 9-channel GPS radio. Its outdrives are positioned as close together as possible to maximize combined thrust and sharpen cornering. If you want the most realistic, most imposing ready-to-run RC boat available, this is it.

SCORPION Carbon Fiber Rigger

The SCORPION is a hand-built carbon fiber rigger made for racing. With a 2000kV brushless motor, a 180A ESC that supports 2S–6S LiPo, a fully waterproof chromoly-gear servo, and the Quasar GPS radio, it’s ready to compete at NAMBA and IMPBA sanctioned events right out of the box.

How to Choose the Right RC Boat

New to hobby-grade RC boats? Start with the Self-Righting Dominator. It’s one of the most affordable boats in the collection, runs on smaller batteries, and rights itself after a flip.

Chasing top speed? The ANIMAL CAT II EQ pairs record-setting 109 mph performance with the Quasar GPS radio to prove it. For more size and stability at triple-digit speeds, look at THE BEAST or the MAGNUM 44.

Want to race? The SCORPION is legal for sanctioned NAMBA and IMPBA rigger classes.

Want the biggest boat on the lake? Go with the INTIMIDATOR 60" for scale realism or the RAMPAGE 55 for giant twin-cat performance.

What You’ll Need to Get on the Water

Ready-to-run means the boat arrives with its motor, ESC, servo, and radio installed, but a few items are sold separately:

  • LiPo batteries matched to your boat (cell count, capacity, and connector type are listed on each product page)
  • A LiPo-compatible battery charger
  • Batteries for the transmitter, usually 4 AA batteries (some models can also use a 1S LiPo)
  • Hatch tape for sealing the hatch on Dominator models

On most models the rudder and propeller shafts are removed for shipping and need to be reinstalled before your first run. It’s a simple process, and no soldering is required. Graphics kits shown in product photos are sold separately.

Running and Caring for Your RC Boat

High-performance RC boats run best on calm, flat fresh water like lakes and large ponds. Rough water and salt water put extra strain on the hardware and speed up wear. Always run in open areas away from swimmers, wildlife, and other boats, and make sure you can retrieve your boat safely if it stalls.

After every session, rinse the hull (especially after any salt water exposure), flush the cooling system, check connections and hardware, remove the LiPo batteries, and let the electronics dry fully. Always charge LiPo batteries with a LiPo-rated charger, never leave them charging unattended, and store them safely between runs. A few minutes of care after each run will keep your boat performing at its best for years.

Make It a Full Day on the Water

An RC boat is just one way to enjoy the lake. Explore our kayaks, boats & canoes, paddleboards, eFoils & watersports gear, inflatable tubes & waterparks, and water trampolines to build the ultimate lake day. Round it out with marine accessories for your dock and boat, plus coolers to keep drinks cold between runs. Browse our full water fun & recreation collection for even more.

Love speed on land too? Check out our electric go karts, electric powersports, and sim racing setups.

Shop RC Boats at Omaha Sports & Games

Whether you’re buying your first hobby-grade boat or adding a 100-mph twin cat to your fleet, our RC boats collection has the right fit. Every boat ships free, and our team is happy to help you pick the right model, batteries, and setup. Have questions? Contact our experts and we’ll help you get on the water.