Should a modeller be a club member?

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Hi Everybody,

Just thought I'd chip in with a few comments. Although I go on about submarines all the time, I have some quite nice surface vessels that I built with mi Dad over the years. A Miranda steam launch, a Boston Blenheim, and a Daring class destroyer. They are quite sizeable models (bath length). I do sail them. My best local pond is Victoria park in Nelson Lancs where I can get mi car to within 20 feet of the water's edge and humping all the gear in is relatively easy. There's a cobble ramp into the water which means launching is also not to much of a problem. The water is nice and clear perhaps because there is a stream running through it.

It is not an official model boating pond (what ever that means) and I'm sure the council or whoever would have some objection if they knew. The point is that when I sail my boats, the general public love it. Adults point, children stand there mesmerized and the ducks and swans are not bothered at all.

Sorry about all that preamble but it allows me to make three points in a better light.

1. To sail a model boat you don't have to go to a model boat club. Choose the best water appropriate to your model with consideration for the environment.

2. There's nowt wrong with being on your own. It allows focus and concentration.

3. The best club is where you are here right now, the MB forum. Instant help and good advice.

Recently visited two model boat clubs in Bury and Manchester. All a bit sad really. Gloopy water and council notices about some weed infestation. Almost zero activity on the day. Rapidly overtaken by fishermen.

So, in trough. can't be bothered with clubs (too much to do outside model boat making).

Len

[Peter FitnessParticipant @peterfitness34857]

Len, you're quite right when you say it's not necessary to be a club member to sail a boat, nor is there anything wrong with sailing alone. I do, however, think it's down to the individual. Personally, I prefer to belong to a club, not only for what can be learned from other members, but for the social aspect as well. Also, clubs are ideal vehicles for encouraging new participants in the hobby, and passing on knowledge from the more experienced to the beginner.

Our local club has an excellent relationship with the council, and any problems are usually addressed quite promptly, so to suggest that belonging to a club may result in poor sailing conditions seems rather unfair. It is, of course, a personal choice whether to join a club or not, and the main thing is to enjoy the hobby in a manner that suits you best.

Peter.

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Hi Peter,

I think clubs are excellent for club minded people and in no way was I trying to suggest "that belonging to a club may result in poor sailing conditions". I was simply reporting the facts. Ponds in Lancashire are being invaded by some horrid weed or whatever (I'll get the name and report back on this) and about the only way to get rid of it nuclear warfare, killing everything else along the way. It's not the council's fault or the clubs fault. Not a lot can be done without spending a lot of money and councils don't have a lot of that at the moment. How would you react to signs saying "WARNING, this water contains XXXX. Keep children away. Do not allow dogs to drink." We have the same signs all the way down our local stretch of canal (the Leeds Liverpool). I wouldn't put mi boat in itI

I personally think that it is sad for everybody and there is no blame attached anywhere.

This hot summer is not helping perhaps we need a hard winter. The mind rambles, need to find plans for an Ice Breaker!

Len

[Peter FitnessParticipant @peterfitness34857]

Len some clubs here in Australia also suffer from weed problems in their sailing lakes, and councils are reluctant to do anything about it for fear of. damaging the environment. As you say, killing the weed, especially with chemicals, can also kill everything else. The only other way is mechanically or physically removing it, which can be time consuming and expensive. We are very fortunate in that our club lake is tidal salt water, entering and leaving the lake at either end through pipes, thus flushing it at least twice a day. It also allows several species of fish to enter and leave at will.

Peter.

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Bob and All..

I have been pondering this thought… were to sail the model boat..

How deep is the pond and how to get the model back if it stalls ?

Duck feathers and all that, weed ?

Do I need to have support and help or is it pecking order of sailing..?

I have been down to the Fairhaven lake at Ansdell and it looks ok, then one model boat enthusiast said its very dirty and clogs up his intakes on the tug, he sails.

Only seen about five people sailing on that lake.

I was talking to a helper in B&Q, he said he sailed his model boat at the park ( St Annes), unofficial boat lake more a paddle pool, so he can wade in if the boat stalls.

The third option was to apply for member ship to Fleetwood Model boat club, this looks more on the lines of Bob Abell's club.

It would mean a round trip of near 30 miles, but looks to have all the support and help.

Still Pondering….

Regards,

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Ian

Where abouts do you live?…..As there are plenty of ponds about, up North

I travel a round trip of 16 miles, going to Etherow in Romiley Stockport and 32 miles going to the Bury club

We have a small rowing boat for stranded boat rescues, but we also have a few model boats with rescue scoop type frames, which capture the model and return to base etc……Or a tennis ball on a fishing line in emergencies

I think Fleetwood is salt water……May be ok for yachts etc but power boats would be at risk from salt corrosion?

There is a boating pond at Platt Fields, Manchester, Stockport town somewhere and Buxton and Southport too

New Brighton and Hoylake…..Famous for the Great Eastern adventure!

It all depends on where you live

Bob

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Bob..

I live in Lytham Lancs…about half a mile from the Fairhaven Lake.

St Annes is about 4 miles from here.

Then Blackpool and the Fleetwood boat club,

You are probably right on the salt water.

The thing about Blackpool and district model boat club site….its never updated, so not sure if they meet up any more.

Regards,

Ian

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hello Ian if you are interested in a club or just looking for a suitable water close to you why not visit Haydock park in August for the Model Boat Convention . Many of the North West clubs attend and others you may be unaware of that are in easy reach .One example is the OWLS which have a nice sailing water close to Ormskirk **LINK**) or the Ribble MBC **LINK** to name but two both have fresh water lakes.

hope this helps

Dave Wooley

[lnvisiblemanParticipant @lnvisibleman]

I have to do a round trip of 52 miles to get to my nearest club. I think it is worth it though as the lake is in the middle of town and a rescue boat is always available on club sailing days.

There seems to be a bit of a shortage of clubs in my area. Grantham is actually the nearest but they do not currently have access to any waters as their club pond has been out of use for a few years while repairs are undertaken. Completion is projected to be about another 18 months. Typical council owned facility !

Mike

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Dave..

Many thanks for the information and links to Ormskirk and the Ribble club sites.

Regards,

Ian

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Had a terrible day at the club yesterday. Given a lot of grief by a particular club member, and came away late for dinner (given more grief at home), thoughts of 'do I need this in my life'. Spent last night thinking of selling all the models on ebay, or at the next Bring and Buy sale at the Heywood club.

Recovered today and decided 'why should I' after many years model building. Perhaps I will just change the way I enjoy the hobby, taking note of earlier posts in this thread (by Dave Milbourn and Peter Fitness), and hopefully I will find a better way to continue enjoy this hobby.

Tony

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Tony…

Just read your post and hope you have recovered and find more time to enjoy your hobby.

Clubs and societies do seem to be like a magnet for people seeking a good moan and don't

take time to look at the amount of time taken by the people working to make the club tick over,

and could they find time to do this and build model boats.

You take care and enjoy your hobby,

Best regards,

Ian

[Peter FitnessParticipant @peterfitness34857]

It's a real shame that some people seem to derive pleasure from being "stirrers" at club meetings, and generally making life miserable for others. Unfortunately, such people do exist, as Tony will attest. I have been involved with some organisations in the past where this type of person really does make you question why you bother, but luckily I have never given in to the impulse to simply get out. In all my experiences the positives have outweighed the negatives.

Like Mike (Invisibleman) I have a nearly 50 mile round trip to get to our club, but I choose to do so because I enjoy being part of the group. We used to hold our club business meetings on a Thursday night, once a month, but only the same 4 or 5 turned up, and these were the executive. We made a decision to hold our monthly meetings at our lake, before sailing commences, and now almost everyone attends the meeting. This is a much better arrangement, as now everyone has input into club business, plus it saves me one trip per month

Peter.

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