You've been waiting for what seems like forever, and the moment has finally arrived. You've unpacked your radio controlled boat, and you're ready to take it out for a spin. Before you can hit the water with your new little wonder, though, there are several things you should do.

Charge Those Batteries

No matter what kind of boats you have, there are batteries involved. Even if you just have a simple radio controlled sail boat, you'll need to charge the batteries for the radio control. If you have an electric radio controlled boat that relies on one main battery pack, you simply must charge it. A fuel (gas or nitro) boat will probably use a receiver with rechargeables. Either way, charging is an important first step. Most come with a wall charger, and while you may have to purchase a different charger for a power pack, having your radio controlled boats equipment in working order is an essential part of the process.

Don't Forget About the Prop Shaft

Marine grease is an important part of radio controlled boats, and before you get started for the first time, adding some to the prop shaft is essential. It not only helps to seal your hull, but it can also lessen the amount of friction that you experience. Given that friction can seriously damage your boat, you want as little as possible. That can extend the life of your boat, which may save you some money in the long run.

If You're Using a Fuel Powered Boat . . .

There are two big things you have to do if you're using either a gas or nitro powered radio controlled boats. First, you have to use new fuel every single time you run the boat. This probably isn't an issue the first time you run the boat unless you plan to drain the lawn mower, but as you continue to play with your radio controlled boats, you'll want a fresh batch every time. Clean fuel means better performance, and it means the moving parts inside your engine are better lubricated.

If you have a nitro radio controlled boat, you'll need to break it in before it hits the water. That will make it quite a bit easier to deal with in the long run, and it can improve your speed considerably. For the first few tanks of fuel, let the engine idle. That helps make certain the piston and sleeve fit together. On that first tank, set it to idle a bit higher than you normally might. You can drive the boat a bit and occasionally use the throttle, but not for more than a couple of seconds at a time. The whole process can take up to six tanks of fuel, and you may want to follow your specific manufacturer instructions on this process.

Make certain that you have enough fuel to run the boat and have it return to you. If you don't double check, you could have to retrieve your boat before you ever really get a chance to run it.

Radio Box

Depending on the radio control boat you have, you may need to waterproof the radio box. They make tape designed to help keep water out of the box, but before you apply it, you'll need to clean the box very carefully. Any household cleaner will do the trick. Be sure it's dry, then use the tape.

Check the Frequencies

If you plan to run radio controlled boats where other boaters play, you'll need a frequency checker. This can help you ensure that you don't interfere with other boaters. You'll want to handle this task before you turn your transmitter on. Otherwise, you run the risk of shutting someone else's boat down and causing serious problems on the water.

Check your Range

In order to verify that everything is working correctly, you'll want a friend to stand a little bit from the boat and flip on the transmitter. The antenna should not be up, and your friend should go ahead and use some of the controls. If everything is operating properly and you're getting a signal, the chances are good that you won't have any problems.

Practice The Three Essential Safety Rules

The final thing you have to remember is that there are three primary safety rules involved with any type of radio controlled boats. First, if there are swimmers in the water, your boat shouldn't be there, too. Second, if there are real boats in the water, your boat doesn't need to be out. Finally, if you don't have a retrieval system in place, you don't need to be in the water. Swimming after your boat is very dangerous for a number of reasons, so planning carefully to retrieve your dead boat is of utmost importance.