With so many RC boats on the market, it can be hard to find the right one for your preferences and needs. If you’re looking for an RC boat that can handle waves and rapids with ease, you’re in the right place; we’ve found seven of the best RC boats for rough water.
The best RC boats for rough water include the DEERC H120 and the Altair MidSize AA Wave. But our top recommendation is the Abco Tech H102, thanks to its low price, durable build, anti-capsizing technology, high speed, and long signal range. This boat won’t tip over and handles rough water with ease.
| TopTOP QUALITY |  | Pro Boat React RC Boat 17" Self-Righting Brushed Deep-V RTR (Includes Transmitter, Receiver, Battery and Charger), PRB08024 | Check Price |
| BEST ON BUDGET |  | YEZI Remote Control Boat for Pools & Lakes,Udi001 Venom Fast RC Boat for Kids & Adults,Self Righting Remote Controlled Boat W/Extra Battery (Yellow) | Check Price |
| BEST VALUE FOR MONEY |  | RC Boat - Remote Control Boat for Kids and Adults – 20 MPH Speed – Durable Structure – Innovative Features – Incredible Waves – Pool or Lake - 4 Channel Racing – 2.4 GHz Remote Control - H102 Model | Check Price |
Keep reading to learn more about what makes these RC boats so durable and great for rough water.
Best RC Boats for Rough Water
These great boats won’t ever capsize or struggle, no matter what kind of water you put them through.
1. DEERC H120 RC Boat
The DEERC H120 RC boat is an excellent choice for families on a budget or beginners looking for a boat that can handle rough water. Its top speed is 20 mph (32 km/h) and it has a fairly long range at 150 meters or nearly 500 feet! While it isn’t ideal for saltwater, it is perfect for a day out on the lake with the kids, in the pool, or any other bodies of fresh water.
Possibly its most appealing feature is its capsize recovery technology. This boat has straightforward, easy-to-use controls, and it will right itself immediately when it begins to topple over, so you won’t have to find it and flip it over yourself. This feature is especially great for rough water, as many RC boats tend to capsize quickly.
You won’t have to worry about losing this boat to a rainy, windy day or damaging it from repeated sinkings.
This boat’s double hatch design also helps it greatly with handling rough water. Combined with its capsize recovery system, you’ll rarely have to deal with this boat tipping over, even in the waviest of waters.
The DEERC H120 RC boat even has a low battery alarm. The controller will let you know when its battery is low, so it won’t suddenly quit on you in the middle of a race or become stranded in the middle of a lake. Plus, it comes with two batteries, so you can always keep one on the charger, ready to swap out when the one you’re using starts to die.
For its reasonably low price, the boat comes with a rather generous set of accessories, including:
- A display stand for when the boat is not in use
- A USB charger
- An extra propeller
- Boat lubricant and tools
- A detailed user manual
Overall, this is a great budget RC boat that is ideal for the pool or the lake.
Pros
- Capsize recovery technology plus a double hatch design to handle rough water
- Low battery alarm and an extra battery so you’ll never be stuck without a battery
- The controller has a long range, ideal for taking the boat in large bodies of water
- Inexpensive but still high quality
Cons
- Not intended for saltwater
- 20 mph (32 km/h) top speed may be too slow for some users
2. Pro Boat Sprintjet RC Boat
The Pro Boat Sprintjet is a great RC boat for lakes and pools, and it has a fun, edgy shark mouth design. It’s small and lightweight, but don’t underestimate this one, as it can handle rough water quite well, provided you don’t use it in saltwater.
This boat’s hull and powerful jet pumps are also designed to prevent capsizing, making it an excellent choice for users who want a bit more excitement out of their RC boating sessions without having to worry about it constantly tipping over.
Its runtime is slightly more modest than some others on this list at only 9 to 12 minutes, but it charges pretty quickly. This fun little boat is fantastic for all kinds of play, and it is also not very expensive.
Pros
- Self-righting technology to prevent capsizing
- Unique and fun design that helps it stand out from other boats
- Requires no assembly before using
Cons
- Not intended for saltwater
- 9 to 12-minute runtime is somewhat short
- No top speed listed
- More expensive than some of the other options on this list
3. YEZI Remote Control Boat
The YEZI RC Boat is another great budget option for kids and adults alike who want a fun, easy-to-use, lightweight boat that can handle rough water with ease. It has a flip recovery function and a double hatch design to prevent it from capsizing or struggling with challenging waters, making it a surprisingly durable and fast boat.
It comes in three fun colors: neon green, dark blue, and yellow. It has a sleek, streamlined design that is sure to appeal to a wide range of RC enthusiasts. It has the Vector XS logo proudly emblazoned across its top, making it stand out from the many plain and boring RC boats on the market.
The YEZI Vector XS is also one of the faster boats on this list, coming in at a top speed of over 20 mph (32 km/h). It has a 120-meter signal range or nearly 400 feet, so you’ll be able to have a lot of fun with this boat without having to worry about losing signal at a distance.
Finally, it’s also easy to control, making it especially great for beginners and younger RC enthusiasts.
Pros
- Flip recovery technology and double hatch design to prevent it from tipping over
- Three different colors to choose from
- Very fast with a very long signal range
- Simple controls make it easy to use, even for beginners
- Fairly inexpensive
- Battery lasts around 20 minutes, meaning it lasts longer than most others on this list
- Comes with a display stand, spare propeller, and boat tool
Cons
- Not intended for saltwater
- Only one rechargeable battery
- Not ideal for very young children; intended for ages 14 and up
4. Altair MidSize AA Wave RC Boat
The Altair MidSize AA Wave RC boat is a fantastic boat with a fun, modern design and durable build. It’s great for beginners and experts alike with its simple controls, surprisingly fast speed, and long signal range. Its top speed is 18 mph (28.9 km/h), and it has a range of around 100 meters or about 330 feet, so you can have fun with it even at a distance.
This boat isn’t designed for saltwater, but it’s perfect for lakes, ponds, rivers, and pools. It comes with two batteries that last around 10 minutes each, so when the one you’re using starts to die, you can quickly swap it out for the other one. They’re rechargeable, so you can always keep one on standby.
Like most other boats on this list, the Altair MidSize AA Wave has a hull designed with self-righting, anti-capsizing technology to help it handle rough waters no matter where you’re using it. It’s also entirely waterproof and very durable, making it great for racing or even trying out some fun tricks. Take it out on the lake and see what you can do!
Altair is a highly respected brand in the RC vehicle space, so you can trust their boats are built to last. Their products are also very reasonably priced; you won’t have to break the bank just to get an RC boat that can handle rough water.
You can even use it alongside other boats with friends and family, as you won’t experience any interference from their signals thanks to this boat’s 2.4 GHz controller. Get a group of friends together and race your boats!
Another great feature is its water-safe propeller system. The propeller will only turn when the boat is in the water, so if you have curious kids, you won’t have to worry about them getting their fingers stuck in the propeller and getting hurt.
Overall, this is an attractive, reasonably priced, and incredibly well-constructed RC boat designed for all ages and uses, particularly rough water.
Pros
- Very fast at 18 mph (28.9 km/h)
- Decently long range at over 300 feet
- Very sleek and modern design
- No signal interference, so you can use it with other boats
- Water-safe propeller to protect small children from injuring their fingers
- Hull is designed to prevent capsizing
- Comes with two rechargeable batteries
- Protection plans available at a reasonably low price
Cons
- Only available in one color, yellow
- Not designed for saltwater
- Slightly more expensive than some of the other options on this list
- Batteries only last 10 minutes, making the battery life lower than most other boats on this list
5. Pro Boat React RC Boat
Although it is a more expensive boat than some of the others we’ve listed here, the Pro Boat React 17 Deep-V is an excellent choice for rough waters, and you can even take it out on the ocean! It can effortlessly handle even the most turbulent waves.
This RC boat is more substantial and weighty than the average boat on the market, making it a fearsome presence in any race or just out on the water in general. It weighs roughly 1.4 pounds (0.64 kilogram) and has sizable dimensions at 18.7 x 12.6 x 5.7 inches (47.4 x 32 x 14.5 centimeters).
This boat is large and in charge, and it can handle rough waters of all kinds with ease.
Despite its size, you won’t have to worry about it ever capsizing. The Pro Boat React’s self-righting hull will prevent this enormous, beautiful boat from toppling no matter what. It also has a sensor that prevents it from accelerating unless it’s in water.
In addition to being larger and more durable than most RC boats on the market, this boat is also surprisingly fast! Its top speed is roughly 19 mph (30.5 km/h), so you’ll be able to zoom around any lake, pool, pond, or even the ocean and cut through rough waters like butter.
You won’t need to assemble anything, as this boat is ready to use out of the box. Although it is only available in one color, most RC enthusiasts will find its modern, simple white and red design very attractive and chic.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more than the other boats on this list, this Pro Boat option is an excellent choice. It’s durable, impressively large yet fast, and its rechargeable battery lasts roughly 15 minutes, making it longer-lasting than most of the other boats in this selection.
Pros
- Large and fast with a top speed of around 20 mph
- Battery lasts longer than most similar RC boats
- It can be used in freshwater and saltwater so that you can use it at the beach
- Self-righting hull prevents capsizing
- Ready to use out of the box; no assembly needed
- Protection plans available at a low cost
Cons
- The heavier and bulkier size makes it harder to transport
- Only available in one color and style
- Not ideal for young children or beginners; intended for users age 14 and older
- More expensive than every other boat on this list
6. Abco Tech RC Boat H102 Model (Best Overall)
The Abco Tech H102 RC boat is a very affordable yet durable and long-lasting option. It’s great for all ages and experience levels, thanks to its simple controls. If we had to pick a favorite on this list, this product would probably be it because of its low price point and high quality.
This boat is perfect for rough water thanks to its double hatch body, capsize recovery mode technology, and auto-correcting rudder to help it handle even the most challenging waters and winds without sinking.
The Abco Tech H102 also has a water-cooled engine to prevent it from overheating and keep it running smoothly at all times. Additionally, its smart remote technology comes with several helpful features, including:
- Sleek LCD that shows the signal, power, trim adjustment, and left-right throttle switch mode at all times
- Low signal warning to let you know when the boat is out of range
- Emergency stop function to stop the boat immediately and prevent crashes and other damage
- A low battery signal reminder to let you know when it’s time to recharge it
Despite its small and lightweight size, this boat is quite speedy, with a top speed of over 20 mph (32 km/h). With its anti-capsizing technology and super-fast speed, this boat is excellent for all ages of RC enthusiasts who want more excitement out of their boating sessions. Try racing it on lakes, ponds, or in the pool!
Its only downside is that it isn’t designed for saltwater. Other than that, though, you can use this boat on any water source.
Pros
- Attractive, modern, and sleek white and rose gold design
- Several anti-capsizing measures to prevent it from ever sinking
- Extremely fast despite its small and lightweight size
- Comes with a spare propeller, boat lubrication, boat tool, and USB charging cable
- Double hatch body design gives this boat improved resistance even against rough waves and rapids
- Most affordable option on this list
- Great for all ages; designed for children as young as 10, but is still great for adults and even experts
- Protection plans available on Amazon
Cons
- Only available in one color, white and rose gold
- Not designed for use in saltwater
- Only comes with one battery, so you’ll have to recharge it often
7. Force1 Velocity H102 RC Boat
The last boat on our list, the Force1 Velocity H102 model, is a moderately-priced boat that comes in three flashy, unique colors: red, green, and blue. It’s small and lightweight, but don’t underestimate this one, as it’s a powerhouse; its top speed is a whopping 20 mph (32 km/h), and it has a signal range of over 120 meters (393 feet).
Although it isn’t designed for saltwater use, like most RC boats on this list, it still handles any type of freshwater with ease. It has capsize recovery technology to keep it from flipping over regardless of how you handle it or how rough the waters are.
Plus, its water-cooled engine keeps it from overheating, so you don’t have to worry about it malfunctioning due to an overheated engine.
The battery in this boat lasts around 15 minutes, which is slightly longer than average for RC boats of a similar size and build. To get a full charge, it takes about three to four hours. This model comes with a display stand, boat lubricant, an extra propeller, and a nose guard.
This boat’s remote control is highly advanced, with an LCD with a low signal warning to notify you when it gets out of range and an emergency stop function to prevent damage.
Pros
- Battery life of 15 minutes
- Top speed of 20+ mph (32+ km/h)
- Signal range of 120 meters (393 feet)
- Anti-capsizing technology so the boat can handle rough waters without sinking or sustaining damage
- Advanced remote control with an LCD display
- Three fun, vibrant colors: red, green, and blue
- Lightweight, portable design so you can take it with you on vacation, to the pool, lake, etc.
- Great for RC enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels
Cons
- Not ideal for saltwater
- Takes up to four hours to get a full battery charge
- Only comes with one battery