Issues with RC model yacht winch servo

[James Clark 4Participant @jamesclark4]

Hi I am a newby to RC model yachts so I decided to start with a pre made boxed Model Yacht from Ebay.

I have an issue now with the winch servo & refixing the cords & making them work correctly.

I have now been fiddling around & not getting anywhere fast

Can anybody put me out of my misery & help ??

[James Clark 4Participant @jamesclark4]

RC HURRICANE racing model kit from ebay

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Hello James,

Like you I'm a novice in this area. I think there are two basic types :-

1. The servo winds a sort of miniature drum. The cords (sheets) wrap around the drum and, effectively, pull the sails in in one direction, and let the sails out in the other direction. From what I've been told, it can end in a big tangle if the lines are not correctly 'tensioned' (using springs etc).

2. The second type operates a sort of long lever. The cords are attached to the end of this and the sails are pulled in /let out as the lever moves from side-to-side. This type is supposed to be more straight forward for the novice.

Try posting a few photos (of the inside of the hull especially) – you'll need to set up an 'album' first. There are quite a few sailing experts on the forum that can help you further…

Good luck,

Dave

ps to get to "Albums" use the grey bar at the head of the forum page. It also has the little camera icon alongside it

 

Edited By Dave Cooper 6 on 22/05/2022 19:30:25

Edited By Dave Cooper 6 on 22/05/2022 19:35:31

[James Clark 4Participant @jamesclark4]

Hi Dave thank you for your reply I have now uploaded a photo image will try to get

intouch with Volantex now as the servo winch was a factory set up

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi James,

The instructions such as they are online in French with diagrams, but the attached is a photo of my tablet so forgive the quality !

Google = Volantex Racent Hurricane, there is pdf to download

It seems the 2 lines coming out the back of the boat from the winch make a continuous line round the eyes on the deck and the mainsail and jib are attached to it !

This is not the easiest method Iv'e ever seen

Good Luck

Regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 22/05/2022 21:28:42

[James Clark 4Participant @jamesclark4]

Hi Ray yes I have also checked this out on the Volontex Website so I will try to email them as the winch is factory set I have also ordered a couple of reels of twine from them I think that I am almost there its just a bit fiddly trying to get it right but will keep battling on

[geconParticipant @gecon]

Hello James, I have not seen this particular yacht before and I cannot see the foredeck in your photo. If the installed winch pulls in both sheets at the same time and lets them out again together then the sheet to the boom needs to be fastened to the boom at a point which moves to Port & Starboard the same distance as the clew of the foresail moves to P&S. The clew of the foresail moves through a shorter distance than the clew of the mainsail, therefore the attatchment on the main boom needs to be about halfway along the boom -or maybe even nearer the mast- at point which moves through the same distance as the clew of the foresail.

Hope that's not all too much for you…I can hardly undersand it myself

I'm only guessing here, as I cannot see enough of the deck and you have not mentioned how the sheets are connected to the winch drum or how they are hauled in/out.

My Krick Comtesse works in this way. ie. the sails are pulled in to the centreline and then let out again when the yacht is turned to Port/Stbd on the next tack.

George

[geconParticipant @gecon]

Oh yes…regarding the tangling…you may need som sheet guide tubes -or rings- to help keep the lines from tangling below deck. One important thing is to not let out too much sheet at a time when you tack. the sheets need to be very slightly taught so they don't get caught up on obstacles. A short piece of thin round elastic on the clew / boom connection point may help. The breeze in the sails should help to keep tension on the sheets.

You don't need spring tensioners in this type of system, but the lines to the sails must not have too much play in them…to avoid tangles.

George

Edited By gecon on 24/05/2022 15:07:43

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi George,

I don't think it's that complicated a system, my money is on the winch having 2 sections upper and lower as the winch is operated one pays out and the other pulls in this giving you a tensioned running line on top of the deck to which the sheets to the main and the jib are attached.

I think the diagram I posted shows a bobbin on the port side to which the sheets are attached, there is already a fixed traveller in the centre of the boat for the main sheet to exit to the boom.

The Dragon Flite 95 has a much better and simpler system with a single line from the winch which is tensioned by very thin elastic to the bow and runs completely above deck.

Regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 24/05/2022 15:43:29

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

George, you may need to define some nautical terms for him eg tack, clew, boom etc. otherwise, he won't have a 'clue'.

Some folk even get mixed up with port and starboard !

Regards,

Dave

[geconParticipant @gecon]

Wow …There's a video of the yacht under sail on Youtube! On board camera too.

Continuous line on deck as Rays suggests!

Don't need to learn all those words then. That's a relief

George

[James Clark 4Participant @jamesclark4]

Good Afternoon all model boaters etc you will be pleased to know I have finally fixed my winch & its all up & running just need to get it in the water now Thank you so much for all your help & advice

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Let us know how you get on James. A photo or two of the yacht in operation would be nice…

Regards,

Dave

[James Clark 4Participant @jamesclark4]

Hi Dave yes no probs will try to take it to Portishead Lake next week weather permitting

[James Clark 4Participant @jamesclark4]

[James Clark 4Participant @jamesclark4]

Posted by James Clark 4 on 18/06/2022 15:05:13:

[James Clark 4Participant @jamesclark4]

Hi Dave please see photo of Hurricane back on the water @ Portishead Lake this was taken after it got stuck under

a tree branch & was rescued by a guy with a small dingy that worked in the local Cafe

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