FAST FACTS  MANUFACTURER: Pro Boat  BOAT: Miss Budweiser  STYLE: Unlimited Hydro  DRIVER: Any speed-   minded boat racer  SPEED: 26.4 mph  STREET PRICE: $299 Hydro Havoc

by Greg Vogel

If you have ever caught full-scale Unlimited Hydroplane racing on the sports channel on television or better yet, in person, you probably reacted as I did when I first caught a glimpse of these boats: eyes glued to the action. It is absolutely amazing how these massive machines seem to hover on top of the water with just a small contact patch of the hull on the water and the propeller hurdling them forward at insane speeds. So why not get in on the action, just in a smaller scale? Pro Boat’s Miss Budweiser is one of the hottest boats on the RC water scene and it’s no wonder why: the ultra realistic action makes for white-knuckle driving and high-speed water excitement. Let’s take a deeper look into this hot Hydro.

FEATURES

Construction of the Miss Budweiser is top notch. The hull is formed by hand-laid fiberglass that is built up to an ultra rigid yet very lightweight structure. The hull and top deck are one piece and even the vertical fins are seamlessly molded in. The entire exterior is then painted in a brilliant red that has a silky smooth feel and the windshield area is painted black to give it a realistic look.

Two thumbscrews hold the fiberglass canopy with vented clear plastic scoop in the intake hole. Under the canopy lies the fuel tank with a screw-on cap, engine and electronics compartment. Pro Boat has bolted a Dynamite .15 engine to the hull that is similar to an engine found in cars; however, it has been massaged for water use with its water-cooled red anodized head.

Air enters the engine through the two-needle carb’s open venturi and expelled gasses are used to maximize the engine’s power in a long chamber tuned pipe. A brass flywheel bolted to the engine keeps it idling smoothly while power gets to the Octura prop via a solid shaft in a greased stuffing tube. In the rear of the inner compartment is the radio box that houses all the electrical components. The box is sealed with a Lexan cover and tape that you must purchase.

Outside the boat a turn fin is located in the back of the right sponson and a knife-edged rudder is secured to a composite bracket to the right side of the transom. The bracket also houses a water pickup with tubing feeding water to the engine’s head.