RC boatsailing Q and A.

[BabyBoy]

Do we need to join the punggol club inorder to sail our boat at the pond? If so whats the registration fee like? We are only restricted to sail on a Sunday with time slot?
Looking at the plan Sailing boat needs only 2 channel?

[stuka]

No no no....no fees...no club....but if u prefer, can join the club at community center. Sailing and electric powered vessels can sail anytime.... priority given to powered ones on sunday and 3pm onwards can sail nitro/gas boats.

Yes, only 2 channels are needed...actually can also sail with 1 channel, leaving the sail in fixed position. In fact when your RCX battery goes low only rudder channel is controllable. So, it's good to preset a fail-safe sail position if your TX has this feature.

[BabyBoy]

OK.. club is not a must (noted the schedule)... thats a relief cos pay for member but dun frequent the place is a waste of $$.
Stuka,, you r using fibercloth for water resistance (to keep the water out) or other method is available? Dun want to get the balsa wet right... Can the sailboat overturn in strong wind? Looks scary the last time I was there that I see you guys were shouting when the wind became too strong. As there are no rescue tug on hand how do we prevent it from overturn? Salvage I think still can ask some fisherman to help cast their line... pay them $$ n a cup of tea.

[ez zai]

Hi Babyboy,
Be there on sat at about 2:00pm, they are a great bunch of guys. I'm purty such they will help you out if you get yourself in a jam.You could decide later about joining their club. Fee very affordable I'm sure, look for Mr Peter.













Ezzy

[Vifo]

Not getting Wet Feet

Ez zai,

Great to know that you are appearing in this Forum, surely all your encouragement to new boaters will be appreciated.

Keep up the good work

[ez zai]

Hi Vic,


Thanks You. I will do my very best. Sorry for the typo errow on my last posting.











Ezzy

[stuka]

Originally posted by BabyBoy
OK.. club is not a must (noted the schedule)... thats a relief cos pay for member but dun frequent the place is a waste of $$.
Stuka,, you r using fibercloth for water resistance (to keep the water out) or other method is available? Dun want to get the balsa wet right... Can the sailboat overturn in strong wind? Looks scary the last time I was there that I see you guys were shouting when the wind became too strong. As there are no rescue tug on hand how do we prevent it from overturn? Salvage I think still can ask some fisherman to help cast their line... pay them $$ n a cup of tea.

Babyboy, there is another post on the schedule on the other thread...think that is more official.

Fiberglass cloth is not so much for water resistance, it for strengthening the hull structure. The finishing epoxy is for hardening the fiber as well as water resistance. So far find this method works best for me...i m sure other methods are available but not sure where to get the materials.

I have seen real american cup boat overturn with keel and bulb high up in the air...scary man. Our sailboats wont, the bulb is weighty enuf to hold the boat upright unless it is flooded and loses buoyancy...then bye bye it's going down...

I have lost control of my sailboat in a few ocassions, totally not under command!! (RX problem) The boat just turned in2 wind and sailed on its own (quite a pretty sight..)...soon it will be closed enuf for retrieval...guess thats the beauty of sailboats...powered by wind.. ...but for safety, i do bring with me fishing lines.

[BabyBoy]

OK. on the schedule part noted on other thread...

In strengthening the hull fiberglass is used and the epoxy keeps the water out. So a thin fiberglass is used. Looks like I have to experience with Fiberglass too. This is interesting. Thought ppl used water resistence type of paint on the balsa... on the other hand the balsa might not like the paint and deform...

[BabyBoy]

Originally posted by ez zai
Hi Babyboy,
Be there on sat at about 2:00pm, they are a great bunch of guys. I'm purty such they will help you out if you get yourself in a jam.You could decide later about joining their club. Fee very affordable I'm sure, look for Mr Peter.
Ezzy

Hi, didnt know that PPL do sailing on Saturday, cos everytime I went in the morning... Now I know... will drop by one of these Sat then...

[stuka]

Originally posted by BabyBoy
OK. on the schedule part noted on other thread...

In strengthening the hull fiberglass is used and the epoxy keeps the water out. So a thin fiberglass is used. Looks like I have to experience with Fiberglass too. This is interesting. Thought ppl used water resistence type of paint on the balsa... on the other hand the balsa might not like the paint and deform...

Can use paint too but epoxy not only keeps the water away but harden the fiberglass, thus strengthening the hull. After epoxy dries, u can choose to paint it or leave it in natural wood finish (cos epoxy is transparent). The epoxy used here is the finishing epoxy, b sure to buy the right type.

The group that sail on Sat afternoon is very experience, they were the one who tot me how to tune the boat right...was kind enuf to let me try a $2000+ boat on my maiden, tats how i got hook.. ...b sure to join them if u can.

[BabyBoy]

Stuka, what method do you used to transfer the plan to the balsa for cutting? Saw on the other thread you were bulding a "bulb", you use the "tool"(sorry dun know whts it called,, metal with a nice grip) beside the pic to sand? Wht grid of sand paper do you used to sand the balsa?

[stuka]

To tranfer plan to balsa, i traced the plan on thin tracing paper then just paste it on balsa plank using normal glue. The balsa is sand or cut to shape with the traced plan on it as a guide. After sanding the plan is tear off, any remaining paper sticking to the balsa can be sand off easily.

Depend on wat u wana do, i use 80 grit if lots to sand, and 200 for smoothening. u can oso use a razor plane like masterairscrew's for removing balsa.

http://www.masterairscrew.com/GoCart/itemlist.asp?ID=1267&RootID=1057

The tool in the pic below is called the File. This is the wide type i got specially for filing lead...easier to do the job with a wider file.

[X34]

Babyboy,

I sail and play electric boats on sat afternoon at PP, feel free to approach us just to chat or ask any questions.

James

[BabyBoy]

Thanks X34... will drop by one of tis weekend. Sat me also go Flying in the afternoon. Will drop by then.

Stuka thnks for the info... so I will have 1 extra tool to play with...razor plane... saw at NTC but dun know whts it is used for. Wah got a lot of things to learn...