RC Yachts, anyone have one, if so, any tips?
- Thread starter Murv
- Start date
Iain C
Well-Known Member
I have one languishing in my loft. TBH it wasn't really for me...people do seem to take it waaaaay to seriously. I turned up at a competition as a newbie, people loved to scream "PROTEST" at any opportunity rather than welcoming a newbie to the fold. The lunchtime chat was around how incredibly dangerous the run was, people were "seriously, dangerously overpowered...sweaty palms the whole way down that run...seriously risky sailing". I was asked my views as a newbie so I casually mentioned that compared to the previous weekend when I'd been helming an 18's skiff downwind, triple trapezing, at 20 odd knots with the kite up, it really didn't seem particularly risky...
...silence.
...silence.
WayneS
Well-Known Member
As someone who has moved from the world of Cruiser sailing on the South coast to the world of RC racing, all I can say is that you need to ready yourself for a steep learning curve. I can quite honestly say that if I went back to proper boat sailing I would now be a much better sailor. RC sailing teaches you so much about sail trim, reading conditions, tactics etc. An RC boat that is marginally out of trim sails like a dog and you need to learn very quickly what to tweak to get yourself going properly.
There is RC sailing and there is RC sailing. Someone in this thread mentioned that they tried it but gave up because there were people who were more interested in protesting than having a bit of fun. This is true, in some classes, but not all classes.
There are Restricted One Design classes that you can get involved in for an outlay of around £170, where you would be welcomed, coached and encouraged, with none of the bullying that goes on in other classes. I guess much the same as proper sailing. Turn up as a newbie at a Topper event would be very different to turning up at an RS700 event.
My advice would be to visit a club (look here for affiliated clubs but there are also a lot of unaffiliated clubs out there), boat in hand, and let the locals help get you going.
As with most sailing, spending time on the water is better than spending money on upgrades to your boat.
Iain C
Well-Known Member
Wayne...out of interest...which way do think things go in terms of welcome at a Topper event or an RS700 event?
Murv
Well-Known Member
Thanks all, it does seem very competitive at times from watching youtube videos, I guess it depends who you're racing with though.
I shall focus on crushing the competition for this race and see how I get on. It would be nice if a RC sail boat would satisfy my obsession with sailing boats though!
So far I have a couple of items for the shopping list, a deck mounted cannon, a rope cutter for the keel and a loud haler. Victory shall be mine!
Hydrozoan, I don't know if you've come across this guy, but he builds some rather lovely looking things:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYlwMVXxC9E
I shall focus on crushing the competition for this race and see how I get on. It would be nice if a RC sail boat would satisfy my obsession with sailing boats though!
So far I have a couple of items for the shopping list, a deck mounted cannon, a rope cutter for the keel and a loud haler. Victory shall be mine!
Hydrozoan, I don't know if you've come across this guy, but he builds some rather lovely looking things:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYlwMVXxC9E
PhillM
Well-Known Member
We cannot allow this thread to contune without knowing some more details, important ones like:
What sort of anchor are you planning on carrying?
Red ensign or blue?
Varnish or teak oil?
What sort of anchor are you planning on carrying?
Red ensign or blue?
Varnish or teak oil?
Hydrozoan
Well-Known Member
Thanks - I have, but not that video. I linked elsewhere here to this one recently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9axJlCredqk. I don’t aspire to his skills, but just hope to make Mrs H’s childhood boat sail half decently - for the grandchildren of course.
Today I got all the r/c side working, which was pleasing given my previous total ignorance, but I still have masts, rigging and sails to do.
Last edited:
TQA
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If one wishes to gain an advantage then a canting keel plus foils is ABSOLUTELY the way to go.
langstonelayabout
Well-Known Member
LOL - I disagree: These are excellent incentives to learn sailing and basic pilotage skills. Ask anyone who learned to sail in a Topper or Optimist before the age of 10.
Murv
Well-Known Member
Thanks - I have, but not that video. I linked elsewhere here to this one recently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9axJlCredqk. I don’t aspire to his skills, but just hope to make Mrs H’s childhood boat sail half decently - for the grandchildren of course.
That is absolutely stunning!
Best of luck with your project, I'd love to have a go at something like that one day
Anchor: Danforth. The only anchor of choice in the local gloop.
Ensign: Red. I think at least modicum of boat handling skill needs to be demonstrated before flying a defaced Blue!
Teak oil, definitely. Can't stand varnish!
Wow!
My boat does have a wide blade thing that bolts to the bottom of the keel but I'm sure it was for stabilisation rather than any sort of lift. Apparently it's faster without it though so it's staying off!
seacomm
Member
If the bug really bites you have a model boat club at Mote Park in Maidstone.
The Cygnets Model Boat Club run every type of model boat on the lake there including an active yachting section. See them at https://www.cygnetsmbc.org/
The Cygnets Model Boat Club run every type of model boat on the lake there including an active yachting section. See them at https://www.cygnetsmbc.org/
Murv
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that, I've seen them there a lot, only £30 to join, too.
Right, first try at this yesterday. In case any little prying eyes are reading, it wasn't a practice session but I was wandering around a saltwater lake and accidentally dropped the yacht in the water so had to sail it back.
It didn't go too badly, was surprised that it was so difficult to run down wind, it seems to weather helm quite strongly so maybe I needed to adjust the rake on the mast.
Saying that, it must have been blowing a good 15 knots and a bit more at times so probably not perfect conditions.
Managed to tack OK, but turning the thing around to run down wind was really quite difficult.
Had about half an hour before the thing stopped responding. On recovering it, the inside was fairly wet and the salt water had filled up the receiver despite me taping the access compartment on.
Washed everything, dried it out but it's dead as a dodo. Can't quite believe that nothing internal is waterproofed! Also quite amazed that the connecting pins on the receiver turned to mush in just half an hour.
So, new receiver on order, as well as some liquid electrical tape. It will sail again!
Quick vid just before getting stuck on the edge for the 400th time:
https://youtu.be/qoq49JgEqM4
Right, first try at this yesterday. In case any little prying eyes are reading, it wasn't a practice session but I was wandering around a saltwater lake and accidentally dropped the yacht in the water so had to sail it back.
It didn't go too badly, was surprised that it was so difficult to run down wind, it seems to weather helm quite strongly so maybe I needed to adjust the rake on the mast.
Saying that, it must have been blowing a good 15 knots and a bit more at times so probably not perfect conditions.
Managed to tack OK, but turning the thing around to run down wind was really quite difficult.
Had about half an hour before the thing stopped responding. On recovering it, the inside was fairly wet and the salt water had filled up the receiver despite me taping the access compartment on.
Washed everything, dried it out but it's dead as a dodo. Can't quite believe that nothing internal is waterproofed! Also quite amazed that the connecting pins on the receiver turned to mush in just half an hour.
So, new receiver on order, as well as some liquid electrical tape. It will sail again!
Quick vid just before getting stuck on the edge for the 400th time:
https://youtu.be/qoq49JgEqM4
oldgit
Well-Known Member
" dried it out but it's dead as a dodo."
Vengeance is mine, I will repay
Vengeance is mine, I will repay
Giblets
Well-Known Member
On my RC Laser I have three different sails for light, normal and strong winds which the rules state can only be fitted before the start of the race and not changed during so selection can be critical.
Murv
Well-Known Member
" dried it out but it's dead as a dodo."
Vengeance is mine, I will repay
Pfftt, a minor setback. Not too late to back out now if you wanted to save face before the big event!
I only have one set of sails, and they're quite big! Could explain why the boat was laying almost flat to the water at times...
Does the stabiliser that fits to the bottom of the keel bulb help at all? they guy I bought it off said it sails faster without it so I (obviously) left it off.
mjcoon
Well-Known Member
My late mother, looking at my Enterprise sailing dinghy, thought that the centreboard was there to stop it tipping up. Tried to explain that since it was made of wood and floated it did not act as a keel! Didn't try to explain that the lateral resistance made tipping up more likely with the board down...
Mike.
ditchcrawler
Well-Known Member
You say you have a 1M boat. I sail an IOM which is an International One Metre class and it does not allow a stabiliser on the bulb so you probably have just a boat which is 1M long.
I started model yacht racing 6 years ago as something to do when not big boat sailing in the winter aand now race DF65s, Micro Magics, and a class called R36 as well as the IOM.
There are usually different sizes of sails for different wind strengths and if your boat is uncontrollable it is likely your sails are too big.
Water getting in to radio bits is the bugbear of all RC boat owners , especially salt water. Connections and pins need to be greased etc. There are usually patches over apertures in the deck and not surpringly this is called deck patch which needs renewing regularly. Most boats have a drainage bung somewhere so you can drain your boat regularly if it is blowy and you boat is submarining.
I got bitten by the bug and race at two model boat clubs and it is true that it can be quite serious at the higher levels and at
open meetings. A new model IOM can with 3 sets of sails and radio can set you back in excess of £3000 but a Dragon Force
65 can be had for around £200.
Many of the guys I sail with are ex dinghy racers now getting on in years and quite a few still have proper bots including me.
If you want further information have a look at the Model Yachting Association website.
I started model yacht racing 6 years ago as something to do when not big boat sailing in the winter aand now race DF65s, Micro Magics, and a class called R36 as well as the IOM.
There are usually different sizes of sails for different wind strengths and if your boat is uncontrollable it is likely your sails are too big.
Water getting in to radio bits is the bugbear of all RC boat owners , especially salt water. Connections and pins need to be greased etc. There are usually patches over apertures in the deck and not surpringly this is called deck patch which needs renewing regularly. Most boats have a drainage bung somewhere so you can drain your boat regularly if it is blowy and you boat is submarining.
I got bitten by the bug and race at two model boat clubs and it is true that it can be quite serious at the higher levels and at
open meetings. A new model IOM can with 3 sets of sails and radio can set you back in excess of £3000 but a Dragon Force
65 can be had for around £200.
Many of the guys I sail with are ex dinghy racers now getting on in years and quite a few still have proper bots including me.
If you want further information have a look at the Model Yachting Association website.
anoccasionalyachtsman
Well-Known Member
Yes, bearing away can be tricky with too much sail area, but it would be worth checking that you're getting the mainsail out as far forward as possible. Does the boom touch the shroud then that's it, but if not then if the servo is the arm type is the line attached to the outermost hole? Could you extend the arm without it fouling anywhere as it goes through its arc? These tweaks would give more line movement. (There's obviously a trade off in that the servo may not be powerful enough to sheet in with the greater load that these will give it).
It may be possible to do the downwind turn even when a bit overpressed. Firstly, avoid turning too tightly. It causes a lot of drag and slows the boat, and may well stall the rudder. Now that your turns are smoother, ease the sails out completely just as/before you make the turn. Judging that is tricky. Too soon and the boat will stop, too late and it won't turn. Doing it this way means that the boat is almost on the new course before the sails power up, and you may get away with it.
It may be possible to do the downwind turn even when a bit overpressed. Firstly, avoid turning too tightly. It causes a lot of drag and slows the boat, and may well stall the rudder. Now that your turns are smoother, ease the sails out completely just as/before you make the turn. Judging that is tricky. Too soon and the boat will stop, too late and it won't turn. Doing it this way means that the boat is almost on the new course before the sails power up, and you may get away with it.
Murv
Well-Known Member
Thanks both, just had a quick google, mine is best in light to mid winds apparently, so probably wasn't the best day for a try!
https://www.thundertiger.com/products-detail.php?id=11
It will be thoroughly waterproofed for the next outing which will probably be the race itself now.
Thanks for the handling tips, the boom does touch the shroud (or the clip does, anyway) so I'll try turning a bit slower.
My wife did a lot better than me at controlling it, she did say that small movements on the sticks were better but I've always been a bit of a thug with RC models which is why I gave up with the cars and the helicopters as I simply couldn't afford the constant repairs!
Yes, I'm a bit of a slow learner...
https://www.thundertiger.com/products-detail.php?id=11
It will be thoroughly waterproofed for the next outing which will probably be the race itself now.
Thanks for the handling tips, the boom does touch the shroud (or the clip does, anyway) so I'll try turning a bit slower.
My wife did a lot better than me at controlling it, she did say that small movements on the sticks were better but I've always been a bit of a thug with RC models which is why I gave up with the cars and the helicopters as I simply couldn't afford the constant repairs!
Yes, I'm a bit of a slow learner...