Friday, September 6, 2024
On Saturday afternoon, July 13, the Western Area Modeling Society (W.A.M.S) hosted its inaugural “W.A.M.S on the Water” event at Hewlett Park. Finace Bogle coordinated the event, which saw approximately 20 entries, a mix of adults and children participating, and numerous spectators in attendance.
“We had advertised on some of the Hood County pages as well as our Facebook page to get the word out,” Bogle explained. The event featured various radio-controlled (RC) boats. “We were all out there just enjoying the hobby. We had some sailboats, speed boats, gas boats, electric — a little bit of everything,” Bogle added.
July 13’s event marked the first RC boat show in Granbury, aiming to bring together RC boat enthusiasts who typically race or run their boats with a small group of friends. “We wanted to get together; this was a first of its kind in Granbury. We’re planning on hosting it two or three times a year from now on out,” said Bogle.
The idea for the RC boating event stemmed from conversations among local club members. “About four or five of us run in Granbury regularly. I also go to Fort Worth and run with a couple of guys up there, and then I’ve also gone over to Weatherford and run with a few guys. We were like, man, what if we just held an event and all met in Granbury?” Bogle recounted.
The various boats at the event ranged from entry-level models costing around $300 to larger, more advanced ones valued between $2,000 and $3,000. Sizes varied from 12-14 inches to some as long as four to five feet. The gathering was not only about members enjoying the hobby but also about introducing it to newcomers. “We got three new club members yesterday from people in Granbury who’ve never even known that stuff like this was a thing around here,” Bogle noted.
For those interested in getting started with RC boating, Bogle assures you that no specific background is needed. “You could buy a $400 boat with everything you need to go to the water. There are even classes of races for beginners who’ve never raced before,” he said.
The event was relaxing, with participants and spectators ranging from teenagers to octogenarians. “It’s very laid back — a lot of cutting up and laughter,” Bogle shared. The event went smoothly with no significant challenges. “It came together fairly well. I think we had between 15 and 20 drivers, and then total, we had probably 25 to 30 boats that were there.”
The only incident of the day was Bogle’s boat accident. “I crashed my boat — a Miss Geico Proboat — going 80 plus miles an hour. It flipped about 10 times across the water,” he recounted.
The funds raised from entry fees and club dues go toward enhancing the sport. “All money raised helps fund our club by supporting our lease with the city and improving the field. We will have a full RC park when it’s finished,” Bogle explained. The club, primarily an RC airplane club, also has an RC car track at its field which does not support the boating events.
Located at the old city landfill at 3400 Calico Court, the facility boasts an RC airplane runway and an off-road short course truck track. Plans include building a 16-foot by 80-foot shade structure to provide shelter during events, pending special permits from the state due to the location being an old landfill. The RC car track was built entirely through donations from local Granbury businesses, costing the club nothing. View additional event photos here: WAMS RC Boat meet up - Hood County News (hcnews.com)
Anyone wishing to donate to the club can contact wams2021@aol.com.
