Packing Your Boat for Transport

If you are going to ship your boat or check it as baggage on an aircraft, these extra packing tips are worthwhile.

Step 1: Remove the 8 batteries from the transmitter. They can be stored in the transmitter pocket in a zip lock bag or similar. The momentum of the batteries left in the transmitter often smashes the compression clips at the end of the battery trays. Even though not permanently damaged, you must pry these clips out or you will end up with intermittent power in the transmitter. Better to remove batteries for shipping.

Step 2 : Use wadded newspaper or other packing, to fill in the ends of the bag. Especially pay attention to packing between the radio pocket and the stern of the boat. A hard shift of the boat that strikes the tiller on the radio, can cause the gears in the steering servo to be damaged.

Step 3 : Loop a rubber band onto one of the steering wires and then over the hatch. This holds the tiller hard over in one direction, which will help to protect the gears from damage.

Step 4 : Plenty of packing around and over the radio is important. A real squash of the bag can jam (and break) the control sticks on the face of the radio.

Step 5 : Pack well around the keel lead to keep it insulated from contact with the outside of the bag and the bow of the boat. A foam or cardboard piece fitted around the pointed keel lead is a good choice.

Step 6 : The bottom line is to fill the open spaces in the ends of the bag and you will be amazed at the pounding this boat and bag can take.

Step 7 : Pack the bag, with the boat inside, in a suitable sized cardboard box. (it is pretty straightforward to custom-make a box up from a larger carton). Even though the box does not do much to protect the boat and contents from impact, it does keep the bag from getting scuffed up.

Step 8 : Put a ‘Fragile’ sticker on the box when you check it in & you should pick it up in perfect sailing condition at the other end.

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