Hey all, I’m new to the board as well as the hobby. 12 years of experience in racing RC cars helps none here by the way!! Before getting involved in any racing, I need to learn to sail. I’ll probably do so with a Vic or something else that comes all in one package, but I have a project in mind. I want to build a model of a small single handed dinghy that I found plans for on the internet. Problem is that the craft has a steel centerboard with specified weight. If I build this craft, how should I determine how much weight I should ballast it with? Any ideas? Also, The local club here sails Soling Ones, If I were to buy a soling one from Victor how much more would I need to invest in rigging to keep up? Is the stock rigging with this boat any good? Thanks for any input…
What is the dinghy? Got a link to the plans? Might be able to work it out…
Luff 'em & leave 'em.
I found the stock rigging for the Soling to be pretty good actually. More Importantly, I think the spirit of the Soling class Rules is that all the boats are as close to straight out of the kit as possible. The only change I made is the deck beam support which keeps the mast from crushing the boat. I think the Soling is a really great choice for a beginners boat. The other change I made to mine is substituting the wire Jackline that holds the mainsail to the mast with a piece of the same string you use for the sheets. I found that this reduces the un-evenness that inevitably occurs between the various points where the sail is attatched. That way you don’t get as many wrinkles in the sail.
The Dingy-
Keep in mind that models need a lot more stability relative to size than their full scale cousins. Big boats, big wind, small boats, same big wind. To answer, it should float to its lines with sufficient freeboard, but have a much deeper keel for stability, and a bigger rudder to go with that if you want to sail in some real wind which in my humble opinion is the most fun.
Good luck
Thanks for the input guys. I’ll try and link the plans that I’m considering. And also, about the soling and racing, any guess as to how long it will take me to be proficient enough at guiding my boat to actually race? I have ZERO experience under a sail… Can you tell me exactly what the vang does? does it maintain the proper angle of the boom relative to the mast? Also, What are the differences in rigs - A being the one you use most often(in typical conditions) B (heavy wind) C (dead wind)?? Thanks for answering all my questions.
Links to the plans:
http://hometown.aol.com/polysail/HTML/oldboats.htm
Plans for “Snorky”, “Super Sunray”, and “Conga” being considered.
If the local club sails Soling, go with one, that?s your best choice. Sailing with people is more fun and you will learn quicker with some help.
The Soling is a ?one design? boat, so little modifications are allowed (and only one rig?.. the kit ones). If you want to see the class rules check out the Soling AYMA web site (http://www.amya.org/s1m.html) lots of other information?s too.
The major problem you might have with the soling is the building part, that?s not an easy task, but if there are soling sailors around you they might be able to help, and if you?re lucky they might have a building jig that you could borrow. For info about the building process, look at the soling resource center: http://www.amya.org/s1m/. or the Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solingonemeter/.
About the scow?? I?m may be mistaken, but not sure those boats could be suitable R/C models?.. Believe it or not it?s easier to build a bigger boat designed to be a R/C model than scaling down a full size plan and adapting it for R/C?.. If you want to build something try a USOM ??. Here are some free plans available and the necessary construction guide: http://www.amya.org/us1mcons.html.
Gio
Gio is right about the scow. I live in scow country and many people I know have tried to build RC models of their full sized boats. While many of them “work” from a functional standpoint, their performance pales in comparison to an IOM, US1M, M or any other refined RC class. Stick with something that someone else has tried. You will be far happier with the end results…
- Will
Will Gorgen