It seems everything remote-controlled (RC) is trendy now. The technology has become more accessible, and therefore, the variety of vehicles has expanded. RC boats make up a small portion of this RC niche, but they can be one of the most fun types of RC vehicles out there.
3D printing is an excellent companion to RC technology due to its ability to produce durable and accurate parts on demand. Even in a use case as challenging as RC watercraft, you can successfully 3D print hours of fun on the water.
Some of these models can get pretty complex, even in the 3D printing department. You might even run into material limitations when you’re attempting to recreate some of the more advanced racing watercraft. In that case, you might need to have certain critical parts printed in durable materials through a 3D printing service.
Introducing Craftcloud by All3DP. Within seconds, you’ll be presented with quotes from leading global and local printing services, and as easy as 1-2-3, you’ll have 3D printed parts delivered to your doorstep.
But enough chatter, let’s dive into this collection of diverse RC boat models!
Beginner Projects
This first set of projects is great for those who are just starting out with RC projects or are looking for a model that they can get up and sailing in no time. Each project lists all of the components needed to complete the boat and provides instructions for assembly.
Lego Boat
This boat combines two things we know and love: 3D printing and Legos. It is designed to use a 3D printed body that houses Lego Power Functions motors. Although these components are far from the most powerful motors, this makes for a very unique and fun project that just about anyone can complete.
There’s a build video of this boat up on YouTube, as well as a detailed build manual that goes over all of the steps and hardware pieces you need to complete the boat. This is a very beginner-friendly project and would make for a good place to start if you’re new to the RC hobby.
- Who designed it? Adam_Jirovec
- How printable/popular is it? The boat itself has been downloaded 85 times, while the YouTube video explanation has reached over 10,000 people.
- Where to find it? Printables
Air Boat
This one’s technically still a boat, but it’s also so much more. An airboat uses a fan above the surface to propel the boat forward. This allows for extensive options of surfaces to choose from. Get a robust motor and you can have your vehicle flying over water, snow, or asphalt. This boat simply glides, and it does so gracefully.
It’s not entirely 3D printed, using Styrofoam as the hull. This allows it to be light and yet durable enough to “float”. The entire assembly should take you a couple of hours. 3D printing the parts does take some time, but the boat is powerful and the project is very well-documented. You should have no problem completing and enjoying this project.
- Who designed it? MatiasMamo
- How printable/popular is it? Until now, there are no reported prints. But it’s surely on several watchlists, as over 5,300 people have viewed the project.
- Where to find it? Instructables
Fishing Boat
This model takes after the classic fishing boat look, with just enough detail to look realistic without adding too many tedious parts for you to assemble. The entire boat is scaled to fit on the print bed of an MK3 printer, so you shouldn’t have trouble with scaling so long as you have a standard build volume.
You will find one of the most detailed build guides in the description of this model, with diagrams showing you where all of the electronics are placed and how to properly install them. You can find links to all of the hardware used in the description as well. All in all, this should be a no-fuss build.
- Who designed it? romcoromcoromco
- How printable/popular is it? You’ll find that 815 people have downloaded this model, with 3 sharing their makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Super Simple Speed Boat
Here’s another simple RC boat. The build is straightforward and has been very well explained by the maker. It uses two rotors for propulsion and eliminates the need for rudders to steer. Using the principle of differential steering, the craft can be steered by varying the force generated by each of the propellers.
This build has an active group of supporters from the community, who have suggested various improvements to the design. Make sure to check the comments section and the build video if you’re looking forward to making this one yourself.
- Who designed it? SamFoskuhl
- How printable/popular is it? The design was made by two people, and seven have remixed it.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Speedboat with Ducted Fan
This ship uses a ducted fan to take advantage of all the thrust and make an efficient propeller. It also helps in performing some quick maneuvers and elevates the fun even more.
The project requires an understanding of basic electronics, and significant 3D printing is also involved. Yet, the maker has documented this build quite well, including tips on low infill and specific support use depending on the part, so you’ll be up and racing in no time.
- Who designed it? Winterfell321
- How printable/popular is it? Four people have documented their makes and over 3,000 have downloaded the files.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
3D Benchy
We’ve all printed the famous Benchy at least once, but have you ever wanted a Benchy boat that actually floats? It was only a matter of time before the 3D printing community’s most famous model was scaled up to an RC version.
As you might expect, this version is designed to withstand the waves, but that’s only the beginning (assuming you assemble the electronics correctly). If electronics-tinkering scares you or if you just want a larger Benchy that moves, the maker documents the full build process. You’ll be in good hands as you follow along.
By the end of this project, you’ll get to brag that, while others have just a Benchy, you have an RC Benchy that glides on water.
- Who designed it? Kims3DIY
- How printable/popular is it? Just because no one’s reported a make, doesn’t mean nobody’s made one. With such a great guide, maybe you could be the one to post a make!
- Where to find it? Instructables
Mini Jet Boat
Jets are known for their speed, and it’s no different when it comes to jet boats. With this model, small and quick propulsion systems result in impressive speed and excellent maneuverability.
This boat is a little bit of a technical puzzle, making it a little more than your average weekend project. But it is one of those few things that’ll teach you a lot about RC boats, and the result is pure satisfaction. The maker has provided all his build and testing videos as well as printing instructions and a detailed bill of materials. In addition to the different components needed, the 3D printed parts’ designs are available for about $8 on Cults.
This one might be an engaging albeit complex technical challenge. If the detailed list of videos isn’t enough for you, the maker is quite responsive to user queries.
Sailboat
Who doesn’t love sailboats? They’re the iconic view at any beach or marina, and they surely give off an amazing vibe! Unfortunately, not all of us have the luxury of owning one. But thanks to modern technology, you can have your very own 1:10 scale RC sailboat, fully fitted out with a functioning sail. Perfect to take out to your local lake or even your bathtub, if that’s more of your thing!
The designer provides details for what you’ll need to make the boat and also gives an awesome video showing its first test on the water!
- Who designed it? ofirneger
- How printable/popular is it? This model has over 900 likes, 7 makes, and over 16,000 downloads. Seems like a popular choice!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Advanced Projects
These projects may not provide all of the details needed to assemble a complete RC boat, but they do make great starting points for those who would like to DIY the electrical components themselves or use parts from off-the-self RC boats. It may be best to have some experience with RC devices before embarking on one of these projects, so be ready to become the captain of your own ship!
The Batmobile
This is a basic boat that performs stunningly. It uses an electric motor for propulsion and a servo with a rudder for steering. Everything is nicely tucked away in the hull in a very balanced manner. The maker has also posted links to all the parts that he’s used in this build.
But honestly, you don’t need that many of them. In fact, chances are you might already have some of them. And if you’re interested in modifying the shell, the maker has uploaded the CAD model.
- Who designed it? sergey2484
- How printable/popular is it? With 18 remixes, 21 makes, and over 370 comments with useful questions and tips, this is a pretty safe bet.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Sub Chaser
This is possibly the largest boat on our list. It’s a 1:35 scale model of the Project 194 boat that offers a surprising amount of attention to detail. This model is definitely a labor of love. If you have a smaller printer, you may need to either scale down the build or split up the parts to fit the large pieces in your build volume.
While it’s a stunning model, this project doesn’t include a build guide or a list of electronics needed. However, there are many shared makes that showcase how several others were able to install their own RC electronics with ease. Depending on how DIY you’d like to get with the RC components, you can check out this RC Boat Guide on Instructables, which details how to build your own transmitter, receiver, and motor system for RC boats. For an easier route, you can also strip parts from an off-the-shelf RC boat so you can be cruising in no time.
- Who designed it? Askarsil
- How printable/popular is it? This is quite a popular build, with almost 10,000 downloads. 11 makes have been shared, showcasing many different paint jobs.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Utility Boat
Boats have always been pretty useful to have around. They’ve been used to lug around all kinds of cargo from the dawn of humanity, and now, you can 3D print your own – nice! This awesome utility boat is a robust catamaran-style build that can help you with whatever you need to do on the water, but it’s also just a fun toy to play around with.
The designer of this model says the boat was designed to carry environmental and water quality monitoring equipment and is capable of handling some pretty hefty payloads. If you’re curious to see it in action, the creator has posted a YouTube video, which also details everything you need to know about the build.
- Who designed it? electrosync
- How printable/popular is it? This boat has over 240 downloads from Printables and is approaching 30,000 views on YouTube.
- Where to find it? Printables
Hydro Alpha
This is a larger model that uses its surface area to hydroplane across the water. The body of the boat is a very streamlined design, with only a few printed pieces that glue together. The designer recommends using cyanoacrylate glue if printing with PLA for the best results. Otherwise, epoxy glue will do just fine.
The bulkier build allows for easy electronic storage inside the hull of the boat, although not much power is needed to get this aerodynamic, lightweight boat soaring through the water. Keep in mind that this boat does lack a comprehensive build guide, so prior experience constructing an RC boat is recommended. You will find a list of recommended parts in the description, which will certainly help get you started in the right direction.
- Who designed it? lelex673
- How printable/popular is it? This boat has been downloaded over 3,800 times. There is even a make showcasing the design in some fun colors.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Solar-Powered
Many places in the world have experienced a crisis in the availability of energy but not here. This is a boat that runs on the sun’s energy.
A solar-powered boat may not be the best for racing (especially on cloudy days), but it does stand out from the rest – especially as it’s easy to build, with all the parts available on Thingiverse.
In addition, the maker has uploaded the SCAD file, so you can customize the design to your heart’s content. Looking for a fun little weekend project. Go ahead and let this boat be run by the sun!
- Who designed it? UniversalMaker
- How printable/popular is it? This design has over 2,500 downloads, although no one has posted their energy-saving watercraft solution just yet.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Tugboat
This boat is a 1:33 scale of the 1907 Damen tugboat, maintaining much of the detail of the original. If you’re a fan of scale models, this is the RC boat for you. The design uses about 135 different printed parts that you can use to assemble your boat. Many of these parts are aesthetic and optional, should you just want a little tugboat.
The designer provides a nice list of electronics and hardware that you will need to complete the build, and details of the challenges they faced in creating this model. Overall, this may be one of the lengthiest builds on the list, but the effort will surely pay off.
- Who designed it? Prism08
- How printable/popular is it? Over 1,600 people have found this boat and downloaded the files. Two other makers have shared their boats on Printables as well.
- Where to find it? Printables
Wi-Fi Propeller Boat
This is an awesome non-traditional RC prop boat that you can easily 3D print at home. It uses Wi-Fi to communicate from the controller to the receiver instead of radio waves. It prints in a few parts, so you have a lot of choices when it comes to color combinations!
The designer says that the boat is not likely to be waterproof, so some post-processing work might be needed to secure the build.
- Who designed it? gzumwalt
- How printable/popular is it? This boat has over 10,000 views and 725 downloads.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
License: The text of "3D Printed RC Boat: The Best Projects for Rocking Boats" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.