Aeromarine Laminates RC Boats: Fibreglass Race Hulls
Aeromarine Laminates is a US name in fibreglass RC boat hulls, mostly for racing and fast sport running: monos, catamarans and other performance shapes for gas and electric power. Many fibreglass race hulls of later years trace back to its designs. This guide explains what you get with a fibreglass hull like this, how to set one up and what to check when buying new or used.
By Kyle HilsonUpdated: October 20267 min read
Based on public information from retailers and the RC boat community; product names and availability change, so check current listings.
Who Aeromarine is
Aeromarine Laminates has built fibreglass RC boat hulls for decades and was one of the brands early RC boat retailers specialised in, alongside names such as Octura and Speedmaster. Its hulls have included monos, catamarans and offshore-style designs in sizes up to about 50 inches, for example models sold as the Scorpion, Apache, Avenger and Challenger. Within the racing community, Aeromarine is often credited with many original fibreglass designs that other makers later followed. After a quiet period, production of hulls restarted around 2022, according to posts in the racing community.
Why fibreglass race hulls
| Property | Fibreglass race hull | Typical plastic RTR hull |
|---|---|---|
| Stiffness | High; holds its shape at speed | Lower; flexes under load |
| Repairs | Easy with glass and epoxy | Difficult |
| Hardware | Bought and fitted to suit your setup | Included, fixed |
| Setup work | Significant | Minimal |
| Best for | Racers and builders who want to tune | Quick start |
A fibreglass hull is a platform, not a finished boat. You choose the engine or motor, drive line, rudder, strut and radio, and you tune the setup. That suits people who enjoy the workshop as much as the water. For hull types in general, see the RC boats guide.
Setting up a bare hull
- Decide on power: petrol (often around 26 cc in larger boats) or brushless electric with water-cooled motor and ESC. The choice sets weight, balance and hardware.
- Hardware: stuffing tube, flex shaft, strut, rudder, turn fin (for monos) and trim tabs, sized for the hull and speed.
- Mounting: motor or engine mounts bonded to the hull with epoxy and reinforced; vibration is the enemy.
- Radio box: sealed, high in the hull; see how to wire an RC boat.
- Balance: set the centre of gravity to the designer’s recommendation by placing the battery or fuel tank.
- Test and tune: start with a conservative prop and strut height, then adjust one thing at a time.
Buying new or used
- New: check with the manufacturer or established RC boat retailers for current models and lead times.
- Used: inspect for cracks around the transom, strut and rudder mounts, soft spots in the bottom, and repairs. Ask whether hardware is included.
- Know the size: large race hulls need matching engines, radios and a lake where such boats are allowed.
- Ask racers: club members often know the history of a used hull and its best setup.
FAQ
Are Aeromarine hulls good for beginners?
They are better as a second or third boat. A bare race hull needs hardware selection and setup, and the boats are fast. Start with a ready-to-run deep-V and move to a fibreglass hull once you know how to set a boat up.
Can I run an Aeromarine hull on electric power?
Many fibreglass race hulls can be set up for brushless electric power with water cooling, as an alternative to petrol. Plan the battery position for the correct balance.
Where can I buy Aeromarine Laminates hulls?
From the manufacturer and from specialist RC boat retailers; used hulls often appear in racing forums and club sales.
Mono or catamaran: which hull should I choose?
A mono handles chop and turns predictably, which makes it the easier race boat to drive. A catamaran rides on a cushion of air and is faster on flat water, but it is more sensitive to wind and setup. Pick the hull type that matches the water at your club.
More on this topic: hull types, drive systems and running safely are in the complete RC boats guide.
About 20 years in RC. Mostly boats in the NAVIGA Mini Eco Expert class, with many self-made parts; also a King Motor Baja 5B, a home-built electric plane, home-built nitro planes he has flown, and an RC helicopter. More about SwellRC
