AquaCraft Mini Rio User Manual

™

™

WARNING:

• Never attempt to swim after a stalled RC boat.

• Never operate your RC boat while standing in the water.

• Never operate your RC boat in the presence of swimmers.

• Always use a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when boarding and operating your retrieval craft, i.e. Jon boat or duck boat.
NOTE: Because of the sharp running hardware included with this RC boat, we do not recommend a rubber blow up raft.

• RC boat running hardware is very sharp. Be very careful when working on and around the metal parts.

• While the motor is running pay close attention to the propeller. Do not come in contact with the propeller at any time the engine
is running or serious injury will result.

• AquaCraft products are to be used by ages 14 and over.

www.aquacraftmodels.com

ITEMS INCLUDED

WARRANTY

AquaCraft will warrant your Mini Rio for 90 days after the purchase from
defects in materials or workmanship of original manufacture. AquaCraft,
at their option, will repair or replace at no charge, the incorrectly made
part. This warranty does not cover damage caused by crash, abuse,
misuse, alteration or accident. To return your boat for repairs you need
to provide proof of purchase. Your store receipt or product invoice will
suffi ce. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PURCHASER BE ENTITLED TO
ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, WHETHER RESULTING FROM THE USE, MISUSE OR
INABILITY TO USE THE PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN THE
PRODUCT. This warranty gives you specifi c legal rights and you may
also have other rights, which vary from state to state. (Outside USA
and Canada, contact local importer for warranty information.)

Hobby Services

3002 N. Apollo Drive, Suite 1

Champaign, Illinois 61822

Attn: Service Department

Phone: [phone]:00 am - 5:00 pm Central Time M-F

E-mail: [e-mail]

STANDARD REPAIR SERVICE

After the 90-day warranty has run out you can still have your Mini Rio
repaired for a service fee by the experts at AquaCraft™. To speed
up the repair process, please follow these four simple steps:

Important Note: For standard repair service you must specify
whether you wish the charges to be billed COD or if you wish to be
notifi ed of the charges so you can send a check.

1. Please return the ENTIRE system, boat and radio.

2. Make sure batteries are removed from the transmitter.

3. Send written instructions which include a list of all items returned,
a THOROUGH explanation of the problem or problems of the
service needed. Be sure to include your return address and
daytime phone number. If you have access to e-mail please provide
us with your e-mail address to help speed communication.

4. Send to the address above.

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INTRODUCTION

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Thank you for purchasing the AquaCraft™ Mini Rio! We want
the time you spend with your new Mini Rio to be fun and
successful, so please fully read the manual. If for any reason
you think this model is not for you, return it to your local
dealer immediately. NOTE: Your hobby dealer cannot accept
a return on any model after fi nal assembly or after your boat
has been subject to operation.

SPECIFICATIONS

Mini Rio Boat Specifi cations:

Hull Length: 14.25" [362mm]
Overall Length: 16" [406mm]
Width: 4.75" [108mm]
Height: 2.5" [63mm]
Overall Height (less antenna): 3.25" [82mm]

Boat Features:

Water resistant access hatches
Tough ABS construction
380 water cooled motor
Micro fl ex wire drive system
Dual wedge rudder steering system
Transom mounted water pickup
Side rail cushioning
1/8” [3.2mm] prop shaft
Two Blade 30mm FRP propeller

• Never ever attempt to swim after a stalled RC boat.

Do not get in the water for any reason to retrieve your
boat. To aid you in retrieving a stalled RC boat, set up a
fi shing real with a tennis ball tied to the end of the line.
Or better yet, get yourself a small Jon boat so you can
row out and pick up your boat. Remember to use a PFD
any time you enter your retrieval craft.

• AquaCraft products are to be used by ages 14 and over.

• Do not touch the propeller anytime the motor is running.

Pay equally close attention to items such as loose clothing,
shirtsleeves, ties, scarves, long hair or anything that may
become entangled in the spinning prop. If your fi ngers,
hands, etc. come in contact with the spinning propeller, you
may be severely injured.

• The speed and mass of this boat can infl ict property

damage and severe personal injury if a collision occurs.
Never run this boat in the presence of swimmers or where
the possibility of collision with people or property exists.

• Electric motors produce heat. Do not touch any part of your

motor until it has cooled.

• This boat is controlled by radio signals, which are susceptible

to possible interference from other R/C transmitters, paging
systems, or other electrical noise. Before turning your radio
transmitter and receiver on, make sure no one else in the
area is operating a radio on the same frequency (channel).

Radio System:

AquaCraft 2-Channel Pistol Grip FM Transmitter
AquaCraft Water Proof ESC Receiver Combo
AquaCraft Micro Steering Servo

BOAT TERMINOLOGY

B OW: The front of the boat.
STERN: The back of the boat.
P ORT: This is the left side of the boat when aboard and

facing the front (bow). An easy way to remember this is
that port and left both contain four letters.

S TARBOARD: This is the right side of the boat when aboard

and facing the front (bow).
HULL: The body of the boat.
DECK: The top of the boat.
TRANSOM: The back of the boat.
KEEL: The center of the bottom of the boat.
STRAKE: Lift rail(s) located on the bottom of the boat
R UDDER: The hinged vertical plate mounted at the stern

that controls steering.
S TRUT: The propeller support bracket mounted on the

transom of the boat.

• In the event that weeds become entangled in the propeller,
stop the motor before attempting to remove them.

• If your Mini Rio should happen to stall, water currents will
slowly carry it to shore. The bad news is that the boat could
be carried to the opposite shore. When surveying areas to run
your Mini Rio, keep variables in mind such as wind direction,
size of the lake, etc. It is not advisable to run R/C boats on
any free-fl owing bodies of water such as creeks or rivers.

• Always remove the battery pack from the boat before charging.

• Only use the specifi ed battery when operating the Mini Rio.

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ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS

PREPARATIONS

To order replacement parts for the AquaCraft Mini Rio use
the order numbers in the replacement parts list that follows.
Replacement parts can be purchased from your local hobby
shop or by mail order. If you need assistance locating a
dealer to purchase parts, visit www.hobbico.com and click
on “Where to buy”. If you are missing parts, contact Hobbico
Product Support at:

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

AQUB6209 ...... Cowl

AQUB6401 ...... Deck Lids

AQUB6402 ...... Cowl Latch

AQUB9214 ...... Water Cooling Plate

AQUM3507 ...... RX/ESC with On/Off Switch (A1)

AQUM3508 ...... RX/ESC with On/Off Switch (A2)

AQUM3509 ...... RX/ESC with On/Off Switch (A3)

AQUM3510 ...... RX/ESC with On/Off Switch (A4)

AQUB6250 ...... Flex Drive Cable with Drive Dog

AQUB7893 ...... Motor Coupler

AQUB7767 ...... 30mm FRP Prop

AQUB9045 ...... Transom Water Pick Up

AQUB8715 ...... Rudders

AQUB8716 ...... Rudder Control Arms

AQUB8717 ...... Rudder Support Brackets

AQUB8718 ...... Rudder Linkage Set

AQUB7105 ...... Boat Stand

AQUB6323 ...... Decal Sheet Blue

AQUB6324 ...... Decal Sheet Red

AQUB6325 ...... Decal Sheet Orange

AQUB6326 ...... Decal Sheet Yellow

AQUM3500 ...... Battery 7.2v 1100mAh

AQUG1061 ...... 380 Motor W/Connectors

AQUP9929 ...... 12V Peak Charger

AQUZ1003 ....... Instruction Manual

AQUM7050 ...... Steering Servo

These are the components you will need to operate your
Mini Rio:

• 8 “AA” batteries

• Small personal retrieval system. This might be as simple
as a tennis ball tied to the end of a fi shing reel, or a fully
equipped AquaCraft Hammer
a tennis ball behind a 10 foot line, Better yet, a small Jon
boat and personal fl oatation devise (PDF, preferred!) so
you can row out and properly retrieve your boat.

Extra supplies you might want to have with you during
the operation of your Mini Rio:

As with any hobby, it is a good idea to assemble a useful
collection of tools and accessories to bring along when you
head out to the pond. These are some items you will want to
keep handy.

• Extra “AA” Batteries

• Pliers (HCAR0625)

• Hobby Knife (HCAR0109)

• Metric Allen Key Set (GPMR8020)

• GrimRacer™ Speed Grease Drive
Cable Lubricant (AQUB9500)

™

EP RTR (AQUB10**) towing

MANUAL SPECIFICATION AND

DESCRIPTION CHANGES

All pictures, descriptions, and specifi cations found in this
instruction manual are subject to change without notice.
AquaCraft maintains no responsibility for inadvertent errors
in this manual.

Other Useful Items to Have On Hand:

• Waders or rubber boots

• Paper towels

• Spray-on cleaner

• Sunglasses

• Sun block

• Folding table

• Lawn chairs

• First-Aid kit

• Cooler with plenty of ice and soda

• Canopy or shelter

4

ASSEMBLY

INSTALLING THE HAND-HELD TRANSMITTER ANTENNA

1. After removing the transmitter and
transmitter antenna from the box,
line up the antenna to the hole in
the top of the transmitter.

2. Slip the antenna in and lightly screw the antenna into the transmitter.
Do not over tighten. Give the antenna a light tug to make sure it is
properly installed.

INSTALLING THE TRANSMITTER BATTERIES

1. Slide off the battery door from the
bottom of the transmitter.

2. Install 8“AA” batteries into the transmitter in the confi guration molded
into the battery fl oor.

3. Reinstall the battery door onto the
bottom of the transmitter.

5

4. Turn the transmitter “ON” using the
switch on the transmitter’s left side.
The battery level indicator light
(LED) should glow red. If the light
is fl ashing, the batteries are low
and need to be replaced.

5. The completed transmitter.

INSTALLING THE RX ANTENNA INTO THE HULL OF THE BOAT

1. The antenna tube has the receiver
antenna pre-installed in the tube.
Align the antenna tube with the
rubber bushing.

2. Slip the tubing into the rubber bushing. To make this easier you can
place a small amount of cooking oil on your fi nger, wipe any excess
off your fi nger and lightly touch or coat the base of the antenna tube.
Slip the antenna in place, being careful not to push the tube in too far.

6

ACCESSING AND CHARGING THE BATTERY PACK

Note: When charging your battery pack, be sure to follow the charging

recommendations that come with your charger instructions.

1. Remove the cowl by rotating the
lock near the front of the windshield.

2. Remove the cowl.

3. After removing the cowl, grab
the bar on the top of the round
opening covers and rotate to
remove the covers.

4. Remove the battery pack from the boat via the front opening.

5. Plug the charger into an
automobile’s 12 volt power outlet.
Once the charger is plugged
in it will start to beep and the
light on the front will begin to
fl ash. Place the charger outside
your automobile.

6. Join the battery and charger connectors. The connectors are
designed to only connect one way to prevent the battery from being
hooked up backwards.

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After you attach the battery to the charger the beeping will stop and the light will stay illuminated to indicate the charger
is charging property. It’s a good idea to check the battery pack every fi ve minuets or so. If at anytime the battery becomes
hot prematurely remove the battery from the charger. Allow the battery to cool completely before attempting to use it.
When the charge is complete the charger will start to beep and the light will fl ash.

Note: It is normal for the battery to be warm after charging it. It’s also a good idea to allow the battery to cool before
placing it in the boat.

After charging is completed, unplug the charger form the power outlet. Disconnect the batter and charger connectors by
pushing the small tab on down while gently pulling the connectors apart.

IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS

• Do not charge the battery with the vehicle’s engine running.

• Always place the battery and charger outside the vehicle

when charging.

• Charge only the Mini Rio’s 6-cell 7.2 volt 1100mah NiMH

rechargeable battery. Do not attempt to charge other
battery types, as damage may occur to the battery
and charger.

• Do not allow water to foreign objects into the charger.

• Do not cover the air intake vents on the charger as this can
cause the charger to over heat and become damaged.

• Do not leave the charger unattended while charging.
Disconnect the battery immediately if the charger and/or
battery become hot.

• Do not charge hot batteries.

• Keep out of the reach of children.

7. Reinstall the battery in the boat.
You will notice the plug can only be
attached one way. Pay particular
attention to the polarity of the plug.
Plug the battery into the electronic
speed control.

8. Tuck the battery plug up under the deck of the boat to keep the wires
away from the drive components. Make sure the battery pack and

wire are NOT touching the drive components.

9. The on/off switch for the boat is
located under the back opening
of your Mini Rio boat. Make sure
your hand-held transmitter is “ON”
before turning this switch on.

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10 . Re-install the covers by aligning

the tabs on the bottom of the
covers with the tabs in the
openings. Rotate the covers 45°
to secure them in place.

11 . Place the cowl on the boat and turn the front lock to hold it in place.

Your boat is now ready for operation.

POWER UP

It is important to follow the below sequence each time you operate your boat.

POWER UP BEFORE A RUN:

1. Turn on the transmitter. Make sure
the light on the front is glowing red.

2. Plug in the 7.2V battery pack.

3. Turn on the receiver switch.

4. Install the round hatch covers.

5. Install the canopy.

LAUNCHING AND DRIVING YOUR MINI RIO:

1. Place the boat in water that is at least 8” deep. Make sure the water is
free of weeds, sticks or other fl oating debris.

2. Slowly advance the throttle to get the boat a safe distance from shore.
Adjust the steering trim knob on your transmitter until the boat tracks
straight when the steering wheel is at neutral.

3. Enjoy driving your MINI RIO!

4. When your boat starts to slow down, it’s
time to drive it back to shore. Typical run times are 6 to 9 minutes
depending on the charge and condition of your battery pack.

IMPORTANT:

If your boat takes on a large amount of water and stalls in the middle of the lake, don’t worry. Your Mini Rio has foam
fl otation so it will not sink. You will, however, have to retrieve the boat and remove the hatch covers to remove any water
that might have entered the boat. If the inside of the boat is fl ooded, remove the water and let the boat fully dry before
operating it again.

POWER DOWN AFTER A RUN:

1. Remove the canopy.

2. Remove the round hatch covers.

3. Turn off the receiver switch.

4. Unplug the 7.2V battery.

5. Turn off the transmitter.

6. Use a paper towel to remove any water
that might have entered the hull.

9

MAINTENANCE

1. It is important to remove and
lubricate the drive cable after a
day of running. Make sure the
power to the boat is turned off and
the battery pack is unplugged. To
lubricate the cable you will need:

• 1.5mm Allen wrench

• GrimRacer Cable Grease

• Paper Towel

2. Using a 1.5mm Allen wrench, loosen the set screws holding the drive
cable to the motor coupler. It is important to note that there are two
set screws holding the cable in position.

3. Slip the cable out the back of the
boat. Wipe off any grease and
water that might be on the cable.

4. Using GrimRacer speed grease, apply a small amount to the cable
and slide the cable back into the boat. Be careful to align the cable to
the hole in the end of the motor coupler.

5. Leave about 1/16” [2mm] gap
between the front of the drive dog
and the back of the shaft tube.

6. Tighten the set screws to hold the cable in place. Do not over tighten
the set screws. It is also a good idea to tighten one screw lightly
and then the other. Go back and forth between screws to keep even
tension on the drive cable.

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OTHER BOATS AVAILABLE FROM AQUACRAFT

The AquaCraft Hammer EP requires no assembly or finishing and on-board electronics come installed–from the
rudder servo and reverse-equiped electronic speed control to the water-cooled, 550-size motor. AQUB10**

• The waterproof radio compartment features a screw-down cover that allows easy access to the on-board
radio gear.

• Realistic deep vee racer looks–complete with twin cockpits–add to the excitement.

• Done carving into the curren for the day? Admire the Hammer at home on its supplied display stand!

Combining electric powered, ready-to-run simplicity with innovative GrimRacer parts, AquaCraft’s SuperVee 27
is two offshore winners in one: Newcomers can be on the water in as little as ten minutes, and competitors can
start racking up victories in FE (Fast Electric) action just as quickly. Available in six colors, the painted, hand-laid
fiberglass hull holds all the ingredients for racing success. That includes a brushless B36-56 motor plus a perfectly
matched 45 amp brushless 18V ESC — which, like the motor, is water-cooled. The on-board servo and linkage
of the included 2-channel radio are factory-installed. And AquaCraft adds many premier accessories from their
GrimRacer line: a machined aluminum surface drive strut assembly; adjustable anodized FE rudder; stainless steel
FE trim plates; aluminum adjustable turn fin assembly; and innovative cowl lock system, made of durable stainless
and spring steel. AQUB17**

11

COPYRIGHT © 2008

COPYRIGHT © 2008

AQUB1003 for AQUB15**

AQUB1003 for AQUB15**