Now that you've decided to start spending your time with radio controlled boats, there are some things you should remember before you launch your boat.
Of course you are looking forward to sitting on the waterfront on a bright summer day and enjoying great times with your friends, family, and your hobby, but there are some precautions you should take.

• Don't operate your radio controlled boat alone - always have a buddy along.
  It's a good idea to have someone there with you as a spotter to watch for any unsafe condition that could arise around the pond or lake.
  At least one of you should be able to swim.
  You never know when your radio controlled boat might need to be rescued from the middle of the lake, pond, or swimming pool...
  if the battery dies, it goes out of range, or it just quits running!
• If it happens that you do need to enter the water to rescue your boat, don't go in the water until all other watercraft are stopped or very far away.
  Make sure that everyone else around knows that you are entering the water to rescue your boat.
  You sure don't want to be the one needing rescue yourself!
• Read your owner's manual...
  don't assume that you can figure it out as you go! Save yourself the aggravation of encountering problems and not knowing how to handle them.
  The instruction manual that comes with radio controlled boats contains valuable information that every owner needs to read.
  Your owner's manual will most likely also address many of the common mistakes that occur, which will save you a lot time and frustration on the water.
  
• Don't be fooled by the fact that the props are plastic...
  the props on radio controlled boats spin at a very high rpm, and in one moments lapse of judgment you can injure yourself quite severely.
  You should always treat moving parts with great respect...
  keep your hands, fingers, hair, and loose clothing away from all moving parts such as props, clutch bells, or blades.
  
• Which brings me to my next point...
  if your boat stops running because weeds or plants have wrapped themselves around the prop, use extreme caution in removing the debris.
  There may be considerable tension on the prop that can cause it to spin unexpectedly once the weeds have been removed.
  OUCH! If you can, try to loosen the main shaft inside the hull first to remove any tension before servicing the prop.
  It's also a good idea to disconnect any power from the radio system, whether it's a receiver pack or main battery pack.
  
• Your boat is HOT.
  ..
  literally! Exhaust pipes, clutch bells, engine heads, and other parts can all be extremely hot and can cause serious burns.
  Err on the side of caution and wait if you're not sure if everything has cooled down to the point where you can touch them.
  
• Don't forget to take a few minutes to inspect your hull for any cracks, holes, or other damage.
  Not only could damage to the underside of the hull allow water to leak in, it poses a potential hazard to your electronics! If you have any doubt about the condition of your hull, you are better off waiting until you can properly repair any damage before putting your boat in the water.
  
• Last, but certainly not least, be a safe, courteous, and responsible radio controlled boat owner.
  Using common sense and being safe while running your boat not only protects you and the life of your boat, but also protects bystanders and the environment around you.
  Enjoy your boat and your time outdoors, just be careful and use good, sound judgment.
  Don't operate your boat near any people or animals that are in the water.
  Radio controlled boatscan occasionally perform unpredictably, and a temporary loss of control could be disastrous.
  

So, get out there and have fun.
..
just remember to be safe whenever running radio controlled boats!