Haha, interesting idea. The radio was actually customised so that my wife could come out to Nats a couple of years ago and still run a boat even though she only has fine motor control on her right hand because of her disability.
I gotta go with mode 2. It comes down to what you think is more important, gunnery or maneuvering. I value accurate fire over precision maneuvers, so I use my primary hand for weapons and my off-hand for maneuvering. I know several people who do the exact opposite, for the same reason. They just place more emphasis on maneuvers, so they use mode 1.
This brings up an interesting question. What radio programming features do we as boat captains use in regards to the throttle channel, other than end point and trim adjustments. I am talking about specific to the throttle and perhaps features that are not available on other channels. The reason I ask is because when I had spectrum DX6, they were mode 2, but I didn't run it like a Mode 2 (throttle on left) I moved the springs to the left gimbal. So the channel I used for the ESC was 'throttle' the only difference was the left gimbal now had sprints, the right gimbal didn't (actually was gone.. I use buttons). On my DX6I Mode 1, I use the radio in the same way, except I didn't have to move any springs. The left gimbal had springs, and I run the throttle on the left just like my mode 2 radio (not on the right as Mode 1 was intended). The only difference is I plug my ESC into the 'elevator' channel rather than throttle. It works fine and have never had an issue. So the issue is.. am I missing out on a programming feature that is only for the 'throttle' channel? I believe fail-safe is for all channels.. or is it? I don't use it anyway.
I know other radios are different, but my Spektrum DX7s beeps at me whenever the left stick (throttle) isn't zeroed when I turn it on. While that's a great safety feature for airplanes (my principal use for the device), it was extremely annoying when that was the only radio I had on-hand at the last battle. It seemed that at least once per hour it'd go beeping and buzzing at me for forgetting every little switch that has to be positioned just right.
Fail safe depends on the receiver not the transmitter. You might be missing out on dual rate or mixing features on other channels if you're using them instead of the throttle but the uses for those are pretty limited in my experience. I can't see how which mode you use matters in the slightest as long as it works for you.
I just reprogrammed my 9X with ER9X software and now I don't have any of those annoying switch warnings. It was pretty easy and has other benefits too.
In the Frankenship build, I am using two servos to control the rudders. This is so I can mix and test the effects of having one rudder turn more than the other and all other combinations.
I also have the ER9X firmware. Maybe since the firmware flash I don't get an alarm if the throttle isn't near it's neutral point, but I think I still get it if the switches aren't all up. It's been a few years since I flashed the firmware, but it seems like there was some configuration choices for the switch alarms if I am remembering it right.... I need to look at it again out of morbid curiosity.
I turned everything off... can't stand a radio that thinks it's smarter than me. It's in a menu somewhere.
I turned off the alarms in my 9X too, once I figured out how to. I just wish I could do the same with my DX7s! So frustrating, they don't even consider the possibility it might be used for something other than a plane....
Mode 2 with ratchets on throttle and depression. Futaba 6ex 2.4 with ch 5 & 6 for front n rear cannon on spring return switches so I can select fire or salvo. All ahead full and damn the torpedoes! Fire as targets bear! Shoot the French ships first!
