Is an rc boat reasonable in the ocean?

Question

Im looking at the traxxas villain and i was wondering if i would look like an idiot running it in the ocean either on the shore or in a harbor.

Answer 1

It would get swept away. take it to a pond or a lake . Thats what they are made for unless it is a very top flight high performance boat

Answer 2

I'm not familiar with the boat you have in mind but I have run R/C boats in fresh and salt water and there is a difference.  

Salt water is very unforgiving to radio equipment if it should get wet. It will also rust out metal components at a much faster rate.  If you want to run in the ocean,  make sure your radio gear is protected in case water gets in the hull.  I made balsa wood boxes for mine and made sure they were mounted off the bottom of the inside of the hull.  That way if water did get into the hull, and it will,  the gear would stay out of it.  You can also protect and lubricate shafts with Vaseline or some other type of petroleum jelly.  If you do get your radio gear wet expect to loose control of the boat almost immediately.  Have a way to retrieve it.  Servos should reset to a center neutral position and the boat should go dead in the water  but there is no guarantee that will happen.  When you recover the boat,  give everything a good spray of WD 40,  this will prevent corrosion and may restore the radio gear to running condition.  

As long as you know the boat's handling and limitations I wouldnt hestitate to run it in an inlet or other protected water.  I would stay away from pounding wave action.  

Good luck and hope this helps.