| This fascinating hobby is enjoyed by people of all | | | | good way to start because you gain useful |
| ages around the world. Model boat building is | | | | experience. If this does not satisfy you then you |
| almost as old as recorded history, and examples | | | | ought to consider scratch building your own. |
| dating back to Phoenician and Ancient Egyptian | | | | You will need to be good with your hands and |
| times may be found in museums. Although model | | | | have a small workshop with the necessary tools. |
| sailboats were originally made for ceremonial or | | | | It's best to buy the tools as you go along to |
| religious purposes, early examples have also been | | | | avoid unnecessary expenditure. You may decide |
| found that appear to have been made just for | | | | to buy a prefabricated hull and sails, or |
| fun. For many years scale boat models were also | | | | alternatively you may opt to make everything |
| used in boatyards instead of drawings, to explain | | | | yourself. Whatever you decide, your starting point |
| what was required to craftsmen who did not | | | | is a scale drawing with enough detail to get you |
| know how to read drawings. | | | | started. If you are really ambitious you could even |
| Radio (RC) controlled model sailboat building has | | | | create your own design. Beware of scaling down |
| become a popular hobby throughout the world | | | | the plans of a full size boat unless you are an |
| thanks to greater disposable income and increased | | | | expert mathematician because the relationship is |
| leisure time. Modern technology has made it | | | | not direct. |
| possible for anybody with funds and access to | | | | Although your RC Sailboat may be small enough |
| open water to own and operate a remote | | | | to fit into your hand, or so large as to require a |
| controlled sailboat that looks and behaves like the | | | | trailer to transport it, all radio control model |
| real thing. | | | | sailboats are built in the same order as full size |
| There are a many RC Sailboat clubs all around the | | | | boats. The first stage is to form the hull, which |
| world that help enthusiasts make contact with | | | | must have space in it to accommodate the servo |
| people who have similar interests. These clubs are | | | | motors, batteries, and other gear. After float |
| also able to offer advice on the best model to | | | | testing to determine the optimum position for the |
| buy, or how to build your own. | | | | keel, you complete the hull by installing the |
| All sailboats are driven by the wind that is caught | | | | controls that will allow you control the model |
| in their sails. These need to be frequently | | | | sailboat remotely. Thereafter you fit the masts |
| trimmed, in conjunction with the rudder, so as to | | | | and spars, and install the sails and rigging. |
| trap as much wind as possible and gain maximum | | | | When commissioning any radio control sailboat it is |
| speed. On model sailboats this is achieved through | | | | always a good idea to first work out a recovery |
| servo motors that are controlled via a hand held | | | | plan in case the remote control or servers fail. |
| radio transmitter. | | | | Begin by testing your model in a small pond that |
| Experienced enthusiasts who have already owned | | | | allows you to reach any point in the water or on |
| several commercial sailboats bought at hobby | | | | shore. Expand your scope progressively as you |
| stores often decide to build their own. This may | | | | gain confidence, but never, never risk your pride |
| be because they want to experiment with new | | | | and joy in a large lake or open stretch of ocean. |
| ideas. More usually their decision is driven by a | | | | There are several ways to acquire the model RC |
| need to own something different. | | | | Sailboat of your dreams. These include |
| If you choose to build your own sailboat you | | | | off-the-peg, modified, scratch built, and totally |
| must first decide on the size you want. There are | | | | original versions. The final choice depends on you: |
| several practical considerations that you must | | | | your experience, your technical competence, and, |
| keep in mind. These include the stretch of water | | | | of course, how much time you have available to |
| where you will sail your boat, how you plan to | | | | spend on this fascinating hobby. |
| transport it, and, if you are not so strong, how | | | | Whichever option you choose, the time spent will |
| you will launch and recover it. | | | | prove to have been worthwhile. When you are |
| There are several ways to go about building your | | | | finished, you can sail away to your heart's |
| own RC Sailboat. The simplest is to buy a kit at a | | | | content, the envy of all who come to admire |
| hobby store, build it up, and finish it off with a | | | | your radio control model sailboat. |
| different colour scheme or other detail. This is a | | | | |