Swimline Radio Control Boat Race Set

The seven-year-old wasn’t the only one who was disappointed. The box had held such promise. All week I had been planning to re-enact scenes from Miami Vice the movie (although this time it wouldn’t involve running drugs to Cuba) and race go-fast boats across our swimming pool.

We waited for Saturday, and for a sunny winter’s afternoon. We needed the light to be just right. We set up the buoys with the finish line at the far end of the pool. I should have heeded the sign. The banner flopped into the water floating face-up.

Undaunted we ran to the other side to start the race.

But it was not to be. The first boat “Tiger Shark” took off across the pool more on a go-slow than a go-fast. The second, “Sea Javelin” whirred its propeller and then gave out about 10cm from the remote control, probably a faulty connection. The coast guard could have reached her by paddling on a raft that probably would have been quicker than “Tiger Shark”.

Where it all went so wrong

Quality. Quality. Quality.

Besides for the falling finish line and the intermittently whirring propeller the remote controls had buttons to shift direction and torque that made it difficult to maneuver the one boat that worked.

What it cost

Sixty five bucks for batteries for the boats and remote controls, me having to deal with my sexy but grumpy assistant (the father of the seven-year-old) summoned to the pool to film the historic race (I had asked him to dress up like Don Johnson but he thought a pink T-shirt and a white suit plus a five o’clock shadow would be overdoing it) and a sad seven-year-old who minutes earlier had been running around the box saying “this toy rocks”. Plus a trip to Think Toys to make up for the “don’t mention the boats” incident.

In all, not a very successful afternoon.

Guest review by Laurice Taitz.

Pricing and Availability

The Swimline Radio Control Boat Race Set is available from WantItAll for R696.00.

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(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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