Question: How Do I Recover an RC Submarine That Sinks?
The simplest way to avoid losing your RC submarine to the bottom of the pool or lake is to do regular maintenance, be sure you are using fresh batteries, operate in clear water, and don't go deeper than you're willing and able to dive yourself to recover an RC submarine that sinks and won't come back up.
Answer: Some subs, including toy RC submarines come equipped with failsafe systems that will automatically cause the submarine to surface if it runs out of power or there is a loss of radio signal. It might not have enough power to return to shore, but you can swim out or take a floatie or boat out to retrieve it.
When your RC submarine does become lost and won't resurface it could be ensnared in weeds or other debris. Try these steps to recover an RC submarine that has sunk.
- Shut off the propeller.
- Turn off the controller.
- Try using a net on a pole (like for swimming pools) to scoop up your sub from poolside.
- Jump in and get wet retrieving your sub.
- If the water is dark or murky, bring along a waterproof flashlight.
- If you are operating in deep water, bring along a mask and fins and swim gear.
- If your RC submarine is a static diver, you might be able to use air bubbles from purging the ballast tanks to pinpoint its location.
It helps to have a friend along to aid in keeping track of where your submarine went down and where you're diving to try to find it.
Dave Merriman has more detailed recommendations on how to go about estimating where your RC submarine is under the water and how to recover an RC submarine that sinks.
