The Castaways Boat Worx club began by racing radio-controlled recoil boats on Lake Mira Mar.
The club has expanded to approximately 50 members, with radio-controlled racing taking place on a regular basis throughout The Villages and beyond.
And those modest recoil boats have grown to include boats that are much more entertaining to drive.
“The boats got bigger and faster,” said Robert Bailey, of the Village Alhambra, a four-year member of the club. “Lithium polymer batteries came along and changed the world as far as these boats.”
The club gets together Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-10 a.m. at Lake Mira Mar, and Mondays and Wednesdays from 10-11:50 a.m. at the Everglades Regional Recreation Complex. On the first and third Saturdays of each month, from 9 a.m. to noon, the club hosts races in Veterans Memorial Park in Fruitland Park.
That Everglades practice session has been critical to the club’s objective of gaining new members in The Villages’ expanding area.
“We’re primarily up north, but we’re trying really hard to reach the southern part of The Villages,” Bailey said. “This is where the new growth is happening. And so we’re trying to expose as many people down here as we can to the boats and see if there’s an interest. We’re always looking for new members.”
The camaraderie between the club’s new members appears to be enjoyable.
“So far, the experience has been great,” said Bruce Kafer, of the Village of Briar Meadow, a new club member. “The people here are really great, and we have a good time together.”
Kafer joined the club to learn more about these newer, larger and faster boats.
“I’ve always had radio-controlled boats,” Kafer said. “But never at the level that they currently are racing these boats.”
Before arriving to The Villages, Laws Lindell, of the Village of Dunedin, operated his own motorsports firm. He wanted to go quickly and discovered his niche inside the club.
“I was looking for things to do and found this boat club,” Lindell said. “I brought an RC car and then looked at the boats — I actually did the planes too, but that was too complicated. So, I went to the boats and found these guys, and it’s been fun ever since.”
Kafer and Lindell did not compete in the Castaways race at Veterans Memorial Park in December, but they were there to enjoy the boats and companionship.
“It’s fun. It brings you out,” Lindell said. “Even though I don’t have a boat here today, I came out just to see what the guys are doing.”
“You don’t have to start by racing,” said Michael Pepe, of the Village of Lake Deaton, a nine-year member of the club. “You start by having fun with the guys. It’s a fun time. All of our guys are enjoying it very much.”
Pepe joined the group, having previously used RC planes and vehicles before moving on to RC boats.
“I started flying RC planes with my boys when they were just little guys,” Pepe said. “We went from RC planes, to RC cars and then they dropped out of it, and I continued into RC boats.”
Pepe, who owns 15 RC boats, has found a way to connect with people who share his hobby through the Castaways organization.
“We have a very social group here,” Pepe said. “It gives me social contact. Guys are a lot of fun — except when we wreck each others’ boats. And nobody usually gets really mad because racing is what it is. There’s no anger involved.”