R/C boat sails

[gonzo]

What companies specialize in sails for R/C boats?

[Doug Lord]

Originally Posted by gonzo

What companies specialize in sails for R/C boats?

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One of the best is Graham Bantock (Sails etc).

http://www.sailsetc.com/

http://www.theamya.org/suppliers/ Rod Carr is very good.

[Submarine Tom]

Gonzo, if I may ask, what's your mast height?

Feet, inches, cm, meters, cables, furlongs, I don't care...

-Tom

[gonzo]

I don't have a boat needing sails, but was thinking of building one this Spring.

[Submarine Tom]

Great idea! There's a group here that meet every week for 'round the buoy racing.

What sort of mast height, or boat length, are you considering?

Maybe that depends on what's available for sails...?

-Tom

[gonzo]

If there are some used sails that are not good for racing any more, I am interested. I don't have a boat length in mind yet, but could build to the sails available.

[Submarine Tom]

I don't get out that way anymore but you can probably find a group on Google, maybe even close to you.

Their boats are about a meter (yard) long.

-Tom

[Doug Lord]

If you're interested in racing you can't beat the IOM class-worldwide top notch competition. Otherwise find a club near you and race what they race. If you're interested in development there are a few recognized development classes; however, generally, they ban modern technology like movable ballast and spinnakers. Even so, they can be very expensive. One of the most "fun" boats I raced was the RC Laser-very well designed and just a blast to race and relatively inexpensive.

[gonzo]

I am not interested in racing, just playing.

[Submarine Tom]

Maybe you could just go around the buoys in the opposite direction while they're racing, that would be fun.

Just kidding.

-Tom

[Doug Lord]

Playing is fun-did these ,first as experiments then as a business for a while. Had my full size sailmaker-Sails by Morgan- build the sails:

[messabout]

Gonzo; If you just want to fool around with an RC model, especially on the cheap, then consider the Footy class boat. The boat and sails can be made for about ten dollars US not including RC gear. The boats are tiny but great fun. There is active class racing going on all over the world. Check out the boats on the internet. The sails are often made from plastic bag material for this class. For larger more serious boats, the material of choice these days is called Tri spi. It is mylar with reinforcing strands molded in. It is not cheap but is very durable. Doug listed major sail makers that are excellent craftsmen. Sails for the IOM will cost in the region of $150 for main and jib. You can easily get a thousand dollars, or a lot more, invested in a serious RC boat. (I blew through $1800 on an EC12 that I built and that was considered about average cost....EC12 is a 59 inch replica of a 70s vintage Americas cupper. EC12 is a fiercly competitive racing class) That is why I suggested the footy. I warn you that RC modeling is addictive, especially if you start messing around with other modelers.

[gonzo]

Thanks, that is more like what I am looking for. It makes no sense for me to spend too much money if I am not racing. That is why used sails could work.

[Earl Boebert]

Another possibility if you like to build is the RG-65 class. 65cm LOA, about 1kg displacement, can use a 500g trolling sinker for a bulb. Large enough to sail realistically, small enough to transport easily rigged. For just playing around, single panel sails from lightweight kite material work fine. You can build one for around $200. Simple box rule (LOA, sail area, mast height) permits a lot of innovation. A CD image with rules, plans, pictures and so forth can be downloaded from:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2751363/RG65%20CD.zip

I second the warning that RC sailing can be addictive, especially if you start racing. As Halsey Herreshoff said after we introduced him to it: "You people are just as passionate and dedicated as the big boat sailors, and you're just as cut-throat on the water."

Cheers,

Earl

[latestarter]

Here are a couple of links which may help

http://www.radiosailing.org.uk/

the one below is packed with information on most aspects of design and build, also a useful links page to more sites.

http://onemetre.net/index.htm

another one is
http://www.rcsailing.net