Small dinghy or yacht

[Martin CurrieParticipant @martincurrie30815]

Hi

I have a few boats with motors, but fancy a wee RC sail powered boat, 12" to 18", robust, no detailing needed and I’m happy to build from a kit. It needs to be able to stand up to children’s handling, cheap & cheerful.

 All the boats I’ve found are huge, expensive, delicately detailed, scale models. I want something much simpler, any suggestions?

Martin

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Martin

You can’t go wrong with a Mirror Dinghy its lots of fun to sail, easy to manage and being pram fronted easy to build, try building your own from a plan then you can strengthen up the hull to take the knocks.

The full size version only takes 20 hours to build so a model will be a doddle.

Have fun

Paul

[Martin CurrieParticipant @martincurrie30815]

Looks likely, the RC 1/6 scale kit is too big for my liking, but there is a static 1/12 version at a nice small 11" length. Anyone converted this or anything similar to rc?

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Martin and Paul

If you want a simple yacht….why not something new like a ………….PLANK YACHT?

Have a look at at the "Free flooding" forum and give it some thought?

I`ll start you off……..Hull 12" long using 1" timber……….keel blade 1 1/2" wide by 1/8" thick by about 8" deep with a piece of lead at the bottom….easy peasy

Fasten a lidded plastic box on top…with the RC gear inside……..wires out for the rudder.

Make a simple sail and mast and the job`s a good `un?

Hope you like the idea?……..I do!

Cheers…………………….Plankman

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I`ve just posted a sketch illustrating my idea……Can anybody post it in this thread?

Thanks……Bob

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

Hi Bob, follow Vinnies instructions to post a photo on your thread. They are at the top of the page,Forum Updates-Help Guide.

Len.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks for the info…Len

I`ll be blowed!…………Can`t find…..updates?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Bob

One easy way

Just click on your gallery image, copy and paste into position

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks Paul…………………Now why didn`t I think of that?

Any interest in the idea?

Bob

[Martin CurrieParticipant @martincurrie30815]

Good set of suggestions, never sailed before so excuse the question, is the rudder alone enough? All the boats I’ve seen have a servo for the sails too. How much difference does this make, or is it just that there are two levers on every controller and it’s a shame not to use both?

Martin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Martin

I`m pleased you like the suggestion.

You can omit the sail winch  if you  want a simple boat………but the winch is nice to play with at times.

If you take up the idea…you will learn a lot about yachts and centre of gravity etc. Allow for mast and keel positions to be adjustable.

Best of luck…..Bob Abell

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Martin again

If you have a look at the thread entitled…."Free flooding hulls"…… you`ll see that The Fat Controller has tried out the idea of a plank yacht and it appears to be ok!

Bob Abell

[Ray FlaniganParticipant @rayflanigan95621]

There is a class doing the rounds now which may interest you.

If you go to the MYA site there you will find pointers to what is called the footy class, there are a couple of designs doing the rounds. The R/C for it is simple and cheap and they are also being raced so if you want to design a boat to that spec you could always test it against those already in production, it’s all good fun.

Hope this helps.

Ray

My drinking club has a problem with sailing, no help needed…………LOL

[Martin CurrieParticipant @martincurrie30815]

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