I bought a Billings "Danmark" on eBay a few years ago, it had been found in an attic with just the hull framed up. The hull frame had warped but I got it straight again. Eventually I found a fittings kit for it on eBay as well, so when my current two projects are complete I want to start on it.

Looking at the hull frame I am wondering if it would be possible/practical to motorise it with two channel r/c. I could then build it with sails furled for static display and sail it occasionally to blow the dust off!

My question is – has anyone on this forum done this before or seen this kit motorised? Any comments, suggestions, ideas or warnings would be appreciated before I bite the bullet and get started.

Without going into it very deeply, I'm thinking that the motor and steering servo would need to be permanent installations and decked in, but it might be possible to make a deckhouse removable for access to batteries, rx and esc.If I build in a couple of threaded sockets on the keel line then a removable weighted keel could be used to keep it upright.

Thoughts, anyone?

Thanks for the link Chas, looks really good doesn't it. So, now I know it is possible, just have to see if my abilities are up to the job!

It strikes me that you have to be very ,very careful when you sail a model square rigger with full sail plan like that- any unexpected gust of wind is liable to put it on its beam ends. I suppose that if you make the keel weighty enough to keep it stiff and cope with gusts, then you put the hull too low in the water. Think I will settle for furled sails and only launching in flat calm.

Rgds

Steve