Ultimate Retrieval Boat! ProBoat Horizon Harbor 30-Inch Tug RTR RC Boat | RC Driver

We have the ProBoat Horizon Harbor 30-Inch Tug Boat RTR found here: bit.ly/3Kz6Jhz to show you. The boat is built with fantastic scale features and looks realistic on the water. But more importantly for some, it is also a retrieval boat that can rescue boats up to 48”! Troll around ponds in style, grab dead boats from the water or just display this beauty on a shelf, the Horizon Tug has lots to offer and Greg will go over all of it here in one of his in depth reviews with some amazing action footage too!
PRODUCT FEATURED
ProBoat Horizon Harbor 30-Inch Tug Boat RTR
By: Horizon Hobby
Kit Type: Ready To Run
Part Number: PRB08036
Price: $499.99
Buy at Amain: bit.ly/3Kz6Jhz
Buy at Horizon Hobby: bit.ly/3eKyUKw
Visit Horizon Hobby: bit.ly/3fa3wEM
Suggested Support Gear
Water Pump- bit.ly/45lJdwh
Spektrum RC S2200 G2 AC LiPo Smart Charger- bit.ly/45kPAjF
Spektrum 11.1V 5000mAh 3S 30C Smart Hardcase LiPo Battery- bit.ly/47lk0Eh
SHOP AT HORIZON: bit.ly/3KwN2XJ
RC DRIVER SHIRTS & MERCH: teespring.com/...
WORKSHOP STORAGE RACKS: bit.ly/3xNgwZj
Don’t Miss A Thing! Follow Us:
Subscribe: bit.ly/SubToRCD
Website: bit.ly/VisitRCD
*Notice: Some of our articles, videos and descriptions may contain affiliate links or coupon codes, which means that if you click on or use one of the product links/ codes, we may receive a small commission. This helps support the website and social media channels and allows us to continue to produce content. Thank you for the support!
#ProBoat #RCBoat #RCDriver #retrievalboat #RCwatersports #RCModel #RCSpeedBoat #rctugboat

[@roypennock8046]

It's like a crawler for water...😊

[@MandaPii_]

It looks so clean. The first thing I'd do is weather it and make it look worn and used.

[@simonblackwell7906]

Water maybe coming from drive shaft? Check to see if there is grease. And remember to re grease 👍👍

[@mikesrccorner]

What happens when the retrieval boat needs retrieving?? LOL. Cool stuff, boat looks awesome. I made a video 4 years ago, super simple, empty water bottle, tape, 6ft of string. Tape that one of your boats and loop the bottle on the string around your stranded boat. It'll grab on to the rudder and you can tow it in. All of under $1 and any boat can be a retriever. Cheers and great video as always!

[@ericr4055]

Plan on getting one, will be modifying it with low power brushless setup, along with a solar panel mounted to a scale barge to be towed for power and a Raspberry PI with GPS module for autonomous navigation.

[@rcdriver]

That sounds like an awesome project!!

[@user-ij7lw3zt4h]

@ericr4055 Sounds very cool!!! Did you do this project? Please post a video. 🙏

[@douglaselliott8298]

RC boats have been luring me for over a year, but "retrieval" concerns have until now dissuaded. Now, I need a convenient body of water within a reasonable driving budget.

[@rickkephartactual7706]

I've always been interested in RC Warships but after watching this video I think I'll have to expand some.

[@DoubleClutchProductions]

Been eyeballing this boat for a few weeks now, looks great....

[@mikemcnevin1785]

I think this would make an incredible fishing accessory. Make a small platform to rest your bait on, run it out 200 feet, tug the bait off the platform and drive the boat back to shore

[@darkiee69]

Why not buy a bait boat instead?

[@rcgliderswetterholt9591]

Gosh Greg. I wish my luck with Proboat/Horizon was as good as yours. Mine is a super leaker. Fixed that myself. Lights fizzled out after approximately 10 minutes run time. ESC/receiver combo, always a bad idea, died after 20 minutes run time. Customer support from Horizon totally inadequate.

[@jamesswift4641]

Awesome looking,needs more tires on the sides,I work around them and they have tires from bow to stern

[@6-Iron]

That thing would look awesome with a weathering job.

[@alg4633]

A model boat should NEVER take on water. After sea trials, its always back to the workbench to work out where the leaks are coming from and fix them. You could of burned out the motor, receiver, batteries, etc. I would check the water pick up for the Fire Pump; could be leaking. I see they have a screw as a plug in the tubing!? Others have mentioned the stuffing box, which is always a great place to start looking for leaks. The only other thing to check is if water came over the bullwark or transom, but with the magnets and rubber seals, that does not look suspect. Nice video; thanks for sharing!!!!!

[@Kolsch221]

Finally a review of a retrieval boat. Got mine on order. Awesome video.

[@williamgibb5557]

At Birch Grove Park, Northfield,NJ, there was a guy that had a tug with an arm he could drop down from the Stern and tow a boat back to shore! This was back in the 60s and it made him a popular RC boater!

[@shuster1921]

Nice Tug, I still have my AquaCraft Atlantic Harbor Tugboat from years ago, still in great shape, probably a collectors boat by now? I bought it to take my baited line out to the dam and drop it off, because you couldn't drive boats within 150' of the dam. We caught our biggest fish ever doing that, till other fishermen caught on, then the Game Warden🤣

[@strech5412]

RC boats need driving too, right? Lucky we have you to tell us how. Cheers and thanks, every show you make is great!

[@g0fvt]

Years ago playing with RC boats we often wanted a retrieval boat. TBH I came to the conclusion that the retrieval boat would be more successful with air screws, the broken down boat would often have a stalled engine from weeds around the prop, the last thing you want is another boat stuck in the same weeds. I am sure the kort nozzle helps though. A car screenwasher pump would pump that out quickly and they are very cheap... nice looking boat though.

[@koosvanpetten5567]

About the leakage: You could also try, after bringing on some grease, to put a small rubber ring around the shaft.

[@timkowalik]

I would probably mention, because I got caught, both the box and instructions say ec5 or ic5 battery but obviously, like you said, it's an ec3/ic3 battery connector. And also, with the combo esc/receiver, it's kind of a proprietary thing. The voltage coming out of the channels are battery voltage, not standard 5.5v. and the remote switch for the pump is reduced to 2.5 ish volts. So a standard 6v pump won't work. Locking you into the more expensive horizons brand pump. I tried swapping out the pump switch with a switch the allowed thru voltage and wound up frying the esc combo. I swapped out to a spektrum remote and 5ch receiver with a hobbywing esc. Works great.

[@8poundquark]

Wow, am I glad I have the Atlantic Tug! Fiberglass hull, minor upgrades made it really good. This is cute but looks toy quality.

[@stevemdelacruz5602]

Never been to much on watercraft...but this looks fantastic

[@Kruzin87]

That's awesome I'm building a regular tugboat model right now

[@timvanasen6711]

Great review Greg cool to see your boy's trolling the tugboat the retrevial arms seem to work well a water pump would add a fun factor the water retention could be partially the water cooling design nice waterways you have in Main too very peaceful 😉👍🚤

[@TAZXB]

Sweet boating playground… The tug look’z like it’z a blast…

[@JeepsCafe]

Im getting the tugboat since I'm returning to rc boats again. I dont need to bring a kayak or floating devices to retrieve capsized boats. Attached the arms to the tug and then retrieve. Excellent video RcDriver!😊

[@Cynocehali]

Can we get a maintenance video on this?

[@ryurc3033]

I'm sure that boats are going on my wish list. My son really wants another boat to go with the traxxas blast we found at a yard sale(20$!!!!!) Then I started looking at boats ......oooff. 500 is alot, but it sure cool.

[@Diaszurana]

I like it. 👍I do wish it were a little Faster though, although I do get it's not made for speed. It does look 👍 and it has that super smooth wake.

[@DietPizza1]

The impressive part is that it can push it with the boat you are recovering with the rudder in the water. Small boats have trouble with a rudder down

[@frankwestlinder5681]

. s rk r

[@koosvanpetten5567]

For my boat i use Photo-glue, this is a kind of rubber-cement and is always simply to remove also, it works perfect.

[@scalebuildersguild]

Great job Greg. Can I call you when my Impluse gets stuck in the middle of Lake Ontario?

[@rcdriver]

Sure can! I’d love to hear how it happened! 😁

[@jaredharris1970]

I once thought of a heavy lift boat that could go out to stranded rc boat partially sink itself as it was approaching slip under the stranded boat hull then pump air back in its hull to raise stranded boat up on to its deck and bring it back to shore lol

[@vacatedbroom6237]

Brushed motor, cheap radio, all plastic.. I'm having a hard time seeing why there is a 450 dollar price tag.. horizon still up to its old tricks

[@ww3soulja]

agree. RIP OFF!!

[@PatrickFaulkner-pm8ci]

Yep as cool as this is $500 for it is absolutely insane

[@PortCharmers]

The propeller shaft may meed some grease, as well as the rudder shaft. It's a good idea anyway to take these apart every now and then t clean and re-grease.

[@keaaul808]

Water probably entering through the stuffing box. Might want to remove the shaft and stuff some marine grease in there before reassembly.

[@adrianharrison5208]

That tug boat does look good.. I kind of feel that the price is somthing I would be willing to pay as I would love a tug boat but don't have the time to build one and I am sure it would cost me more to build one in the long run..

[@eddiebatter]

Nice video and boat. It took me a second and then I realize I know where that pond is. It’s in Brookfield,CT. I’m impressed how the boat handled with the waterfall there.

[@Frapop]

Good morning, or the Horizon Harbor 30-Inch Tug Boat RTR It can be powered by a battery with a rating greater or less than 50c, e.g. 45c or 60c

[@davidevans8357]

The "strakes" you refer to are called Bilge Keels, for stabilization as you mentioned.

[@hobioficial7682]

The ship was cool and his path was swift. I like. good luck friend

[@joeycarlson9589]

It’s so therapeutic to watch..

[@4Tugboats]

To stop the leak: You need to buy some silicone Dielectric Compound, and inject some into the prop shaft. You will have to remove the shaft to inject it. Be generous with it too. It will stop water from migrating up to the hull.

[@rcdriver]

That was not the problem. It was a gap between the hull and deck. We talked about it in our followup video and ProBoat has since fixed that issue.

[@kcaskmelater5079]

Go to auto parts store and get an old school washer fluid pump, heck of a lot cheaper, check the shaft seal for leakage pack it with grease if it's leaking

[@JohnVHRC]

Nice looking boat, very cool.

[@michaelm5203]

I like the idea of this. Do Any other boat come with a retrieval system similar to this?

[@beesod6412]

That's a gorgeous boat, Thank's for everything you do, as always!

[@robertpawlusiak]

I have one will not leave the house when Racing my R/C Boats ! I have 4 ProBoats ! I'm putting a F.P.V. Camera in the front of it, when the Boat is 500 m or more ! This can happen Easily !!! when current in Water takes the Boat

[@robertpawlusiak]

Also would like to say I used it 2 times to save my V Hull 6s !! The Boat was 3/4 under and the Tug pushed it a football field !!! I had Styrofoam Tubes in the Bow of The V Hull and it saved the Boat !!

[@RCHyperRacing]

The lines (red) is actually a watermark. What it does is basically tell you how much weight the boat can have. Anything above that waterline (not sure if the waterline is the same as a real boat) is dangerous. Love the review. I came across a Bertram RC fishing boat. Does anyone know who makes it?

[@johnutting9615]

The ribs along the hull are calles bilge keels and help prevent the hull rolling.

[@pitbullrcltd6252]

If you’re good at wrenching…… maybe a water canon Mod that pumps out the bilge so you don’t take on that much water from piloting the RC very slow….

[@fooman2108]

A lot of people just take a simple contact switch, ON/OFF, and wire a windshield-washer pump for fire monitor(s), they will use a simple connection to the rudder servo to aim the monitor. The radio is a three channel (though in all honesty I would get a good radio), so two minutes on Tower Hobbies for a 9 gram servo to run the on off and you got the monitor solved.

[@bonnieeveritt5812]

I bought the tug also & also got a lot of water in it check the bow area, my anchor was missing and that’s where I was getting the water from.

[@MsKeileigh]

I added a y after the pump and ran a short line to the v of the tug and turned it into a bulge pump using that water also to go through the cannons

[@johnmishjr599]

I gotta believe putting marine grease in the stuffing tube would have fixed the leak. I make it a point to always lube any new or used boat I purchase, if you still have the boat may I suggest appending the video if grease either did or didn’t fix the leak? Or at least add a caption to the existing video with the status? Great video otherwise but if I was Horizon Hobby I’d be very unhappy right about now, I wonder how many sales they may have lost as a result of that leak? Great video otherwise, very thorough and nicely filmed, music even!!

[@joshbolt9654]

Just bought one! My wife is thrilled 🤦

[@johnmiceli7861]

I have the pump It is cool shooting out water stream. You can pretend put out the fire.

[@nicholaspetre1]

Awesome ship!

[@bluegroovemodelsports9650]

Very cool boat

[@markhufnagel2744]

Need to rig up a moskeeto fogger on that boat.

[@krgkeith]

How about adding navigation lights and deck lights along the cabin exterior

[@CharlesBurnaford]

Check the input for the fire monitors for leaks

[@joenickel2371]

The water is coming in through the drive shaft, a common problem with tugs since the stuffing tube is below the water line, also the stuffing tube for the rudder. I made seals for the drive shaft and use some grease on the rudder shaft. In all my tugs I would install automatic sump pumps, if you want to leave it parked in the water while you play with your speed boats. My retrieval system was just a bobber and fishing line. I would drive around the dead boat until I snagged it, and tow it in.

[@rcdriver]

Actually the water was coming in through a gap between the deck and hull.

[@koosvanpetten5567]

About the leakage, put also some grease aroound the stearing rudder, so 2 places can be greased, rudder and shaft.

[@BigDaddyKai620]

You should have two hoses one going inside the boat to pump out the water when you get that water pump.

[@UKGtrotter2k]

Prop shaft needs packing with marine grease and I've had to do it on our real mooring boat at work, maybe hook up a water pump to pull excess water out the Hull.

[@ghzkhz1770]

the other tug 2 years ago around the time the pbr boat was out i got i put a pump out on and a brushless lots o power use about 20% runs all day and its a bit much but it works great so far added fan to controller all air cooled the pump is a self prime on a extrs switch on an extra ch so i can turn it on and off got parts ready to do up another i am thinking this might be fun its got some power out the box no need for a brushless the old came with a 550 sux

[@StreamwoodExplorer]

Imagine being impressed by L.E.D. Navigation lights in 2022.

[@cwbetb]

Missing Rc Boat Magazine

[@ViSiOnEr420]

This is a bad ass boat dude!! VR with it. 😆

[@davidwatlington3737]

I'd say a bilge pump would be in order!

[@rcdriver]

They’ve fixed the gap in the hull that caused the issue in their latest run of models.

[@jjlad5037]

Looks like you may want a bilge pump as well.

[@jameshogan6380]

Can't wait to get one I would definitely get aux pump

[@toddbertram6556]

That is pretty rad. Need a retrieval boat, to lazy to build one. But ya gotta throw a massive jet prop that fat girl.

[@jesseormond3202]

Best rc on the water

[@darkiee69]

That hook on the aft deck is for towing.

[@michaeldecker2725]

Could you get the pump and maybe Siamese a hose to the bottom of the bilge? Or separate bilge pump?

[@adrianbernardo202]

If I have this boat, I'll gonna put it on display, and maybe run it seldomly

[@rcdriver]

It is certainly display worthy

[@robbryan3044]

When I first heard about the Horizon Tug, I was considering getting it, to replace all of my 'part-time' rescue boats...which consists of a converted ProBoat Shockwave, a TFL Jet Boat, and a Tenshock Mini Eco...and using the Horizon Tug as a 'full-time' rescue boat. Unfortunately, I've heard/read too many not-so-good things about it, and have almost entirely considered against getting it. So, if the Horizon Tug is a "bad investment", what other currently-available RTRs are there that would make a great 'rescue boat'? I've already got a hand-built rescue platform...and, if need be, I don't mind having to redo it, or make a new one...I would just prefer to have one 'really good' (or, better yet, 'great') full-time rescue boat. And, one that does NOT take on massive amounts of water (as the Horizon Tug appears to do). Suggestions? Speaking of the optional water pump...maybe, instead of connecting it to the hull pickup, the 'smart' thing might be too connect it to a separate tube, placed inside the bottom of the hull, and use it to pump all that taken-on water out of the boat...lol

[@Dokroc78]

I have had excellent luck with the Proboat River Jet as a retrieval with a custom PVC rig. The jet drive is unmatched in maneuverability , pumps a ton of water even at low speeds and has gobs of pushing power. You also don't need to worry about weeds tangling the prop. Its brushless , doesn't get hot and is fun to drive on its own without the rig. Good price too, about $250.

[@quadkrazykeith]

@@Dokroc78 Your right about the river jet its a great retrieval boat, I have a pvc rig and rj, its quick and easy. I did recently get the tug and swapped out the all in one esc with a 60 amp and a spektrum receiver. Much better boat now. Not as fast as the river jet but the tug is a tank nothing slows it down and it steers better than the river jet with a boat on.

[@brianfoster7064]

@@Dokroc78 sadly, it's no longer available.

[@fettpunkrcrocketryshananag6681]

another use would be for float plane retrieval..which is why I will get a TUG...

[@fettpunkrcrocketryshananag6681]

nice boat! and YES..get the water gun going!

[@MrMadenuff]

Nice filming and editing.

[@koosvanpetten5567]

About the leakage: Why don't you try to put some grease on the inner and outterside of the shaft, maybe this will solve yr problem.

[@BlueDually4x4]

I wonder if it has enough torque to annoy a spouse or other family member in a kayak?

[@tw4704]

I doubt it, you need a Mr Darby.

[@diogofidalgo2202]

Add a horn

[@bigrig3135]

I bought one last week. I would suggest skipping this one. Many design flaws. The only nice part is the hull everything else is seems carelessly thrown together. Horrible wire management, the rudder steering setup is really bad. Getting to the prop shaft set screw is a joke. Prop arrived stripped as well as the motor mount Phillips head screws. And DONT PAY $50 FOR A PUMP!!! For the price it should have 100% been included. You can get a pump for $10-20. There's nothing special about horizons.

[@tonyromano6220]

It seems ok for what it is, a work boat.

[@tonyromano6220]

I think I could make a basic retrieval boat out of my FT12.

[@thegreattreon0177]

That was awesome!

[@mustangcircut]

So dammmmm cute!!!!!! Yes I said that. I love it.

[@k_a_m_i_n_s_k_i]

Hey, just want to say, I love your channel and your way of presenting all the cool things here. You have kind of relaxing effects to me :-) Also, I do love your soundtracks. What is the one where you drive the boat on the lake?? All the best for you & greetings from germany.

[@rcdriver]

Thanks! It’s called “Alone” from the KZbin Audio Library.

[@Wazza722]

$799 in Australia for this! I can’t see $800 worth of rc boat. Cheap electronics and no pump for the water cannons!

[@johnlowden5871]

Hi RV driver,can you do a video on the maintenance on the driveshaft how to do it

[@johnlowden5871]

Sorry didn't finish on the tugboat.

[@willywantoknow2563]

Just like a unimog. When anyone gets there $300,000 mud runner stuck unimog goes in and pulls them out.

[@Rc_world_cologne2552]

very nice tug boat, unfortunately it doesn't come to Europe 😢

[@DietPizza1]

Curious on your water leak too

[@geovaniboothe1992]

Would you guys change this to a engine and put a really good receiver? Let’s say it’s far out current against you plus weight ?

[@rileykairc]

Put in the bath tub and see if it leaks ,cool looking boat

[@OfficialKlausMelodyne.YouTube]

I do this with every RC boat I’ve ever owned. I call that the Dry dock test. We look for any leaks in the boat before we Certify it as seaworthy before we move on to the wave test. The wave test is to see how the boat handles in semi rough conditions. And if it passes that test it’s on to the power and torque test. If it passes all my tests ( 6 Tests total ) then the boat receives my sticker and it’s off to the pool/pond.

[@rileykairc]

@@OfficialKlausMelodyne.KZbin both me and my friend do this to,my mate has only had 1 mishap while testing a power boat he accidentally hit the throttle and ended up with a nice hole in his bath tub,he's fixed the tub and the boat works really well to 🤣.it's always best to test boats like this as it's a pain if they fail in a pond and you can't get them back

[@gemfaceter]

Just got mine and its a nice boat but for the money the radio is a cheap piece of junk.

[@DoubleClutchProductions]

Don't tell horizon about that servo, they will slap a Spectrum SMART tech sticker on it and up the price $74

[@robertrosson1990]

Living by the ocean.We have a old saying about the word boat.(Break out another thousand.) L.O.L Great looking Tug tho.Thanks for sharing.

[@rcdriver]

🤣

[@fooman2108]

First rule of having a boat; NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT AT LEAST ONE RETRIEVAL METHOD! Second Rule; NEVER SWIM AFTER THE DAMNED BOAT!!! Third Rule, life is too short to deal with crappy radio in a boat....The radio is a three channel what are they doing with it? P.S. I would sub a neon colored pool noodle to make it easier to see where the retrieval rig is.

[@leftseat30]

Such good advice!! New to RCs and RC boating!! I already see what you are saying!

[@johnbenda3486]

you can buy that pump on ebay for like $20..they use it in rc tanks for smoke and other things

[@gotosingapur]

I thought the retrieval kit is extra and not included. Can you confirm? In your review sounds like it's included

[@Shaky_Jake]

Apparently Horizon couldn't even get the box information correct. It's advertised as having an EC/IC-5 connector, but as you pointed out it contains an EC/IC-3 connector. Great review, Greg, but the product needs some help.