Boat News Lockdown edition p2 , Everyones building timber boats!
So Much has been happening while you have been locked down keeping really busy with your building, here are some pics to entertain you, stay safe please.
This year marks our 25th year online and our 29th building and sending out RC Sailing Gear and Yachts internationally, hows that!!!
You will find an increased range of parts and boats and of course if you cannot find it , please ask!
As one of the worlds only Full time run Shops for parts and boats, you can contact us by email or phone or even by appointment drop in, not bad in the age of flash in the pan websites with part time staff and operating hours , limited stock and no phone!
To all that have shared the journey with us and those who we have met, thank you and we hope you can continue to help us share the knowledge to keep this past time alive and strong.
Remember as I continually say,
Its not all about racing, its about fun!
John Started this Gothic Marblehead even before lockdown, we will have to feature a build article on her!
Ralph returns...
Ralph White started sailing rc when we got him into a boat over 30 years ago, scary. Now hes back in this Vickers v11.
The new Vickers V11 features a deck stepped mast and pot lid access as on the v8, v9 and v10s.
Nicely done as ever and sailing well!
Meanwhile back in the loft...
Now 2 years old the twins found walking around the sail loft fun and cant wait to scooter about! But not on sails!!!!
Some of the latest batch of Spectre Sails, custom colors and sails avaiable in the Sails section of the shop!
When we had sent out our 1000th boat we stopped counting with the realisation that was over 2000 sails made, that was several years ago, and 1000s of eyelets,phew!
More 3D printed boats!!!
Different materials , colors and shapes, the testing goes on!
Star Yachts of Birkenhead, Liverpool and restoring pond yachts!
Restoring pond yachts as one of few workshops in the world who do so not only to keep the boats alive and from being thrown away but to help keep the knowledge passed on to us by retiring masters!
This is how they typically arrive.
Before a clean and rebuild a good stand is the best place to start, heres after alot of work and care and our new stand.
Even a basic repair can clean the Star Yacht up and keep the Pateena of a 80 year old boat!
Some need more help than others to come back to life, its a tricky balance of restore or replace.
More awaiting cleaning up and rehoming, if you ever need another boat looked at let us know!
A USA Keystone pond yacht cleaned up beautifully, some times its just about a matt paint vs a satin vs a gloss.
Or a coat of all 3 to give the right aged look as in these repairs to a 'Southern Star"
So many boats survive without rigs, if you have a rig with sails, do not throw the sails away!!!!
Here is our magnetic Star Yacht Stand, we have larger versions for painting boats , this one is for display and storage.
SAILSetc, Ikon and Pikanto..
You have seen the green Ikon in previous boat news issues and our building a Pikanto article in the shop articles, now we are building Pikantos to the latest spec with the aid of our friend Craig Smith!
Besides helping Zvonko optimise his Pikantos to win the iom world titles, Craig has created this deck molding for our Pikantos that features the same pot lid as the last generation TS-2 ioms and the Kantun and K2 ioms!
And yes the ts-2 is getting closer to being available, lots of parts moldings, but the mold is not bad after 300+ boats!
Another Vickers iom!
Maos old V10 shows the deck layout compared to the orange V11 above.
The wine Glass foils are still stndard on the Vickers boats.
Australian Radio Sailing Parts in store now.
Besides the ARS-808 Sailwinch that has been taking the world by storm, there are...
Standard Vangs, full Stainless Steel straps and Clip On bearing Vangs that cable tie on to eliminate masts snapping due to corrosion, part of the ARS rang that included carbon fibre spreaders, backstay cranes and much more in store.
The New Classic!
The new classic has been coming along nicley and we have been refinging the rigging to make it more transportable.
She sails really well, few more additions and shes right for xmas!
Initially the sails were laced on, however we found mast rings allow us to scandalise and fold up the gaff for transport.
Under deck sheeting gives the look of a pond yacht and the convienience of a remote control craft that returns!
Topsail has been altered so it can be removed for sailing, although a second smaller rig, or a larger rig could just drop in.
Made to be under 1 metre for shipping she fits in the boot of the Mini even, just!
So many parts in store, it will take you days to find them all!
Like the detail on our keels and rudders?
Gordon Maguire and Andrew Wilson have built these beautiful wooden ioms.
The SAILSetc Argon RG65 gets a new color!
And some new race paint!
Great shots by Richard again, thanks budy!
Some detail shots to help set up your swing rigs!
Here is a Alisa pond yacht restoration.
Scotish firm Milbro produced the Alisa many years ago and she was a revolutionary formed metal hull.
This one was in good condition and had gunwhales refreshed and a light repaint and clean to the hull and keel.
Miss Estelle came from a small village in the Uk where she had been sitting in a cupboard for 40 years.
A 1920s boat from Gamages department stores she even has her original rig and sails, not bad for 102+ years old.
A clean and restore enhanced the pateena of age without washing the life story of her journey away.
Please do not just repaint history and the journey of any old boats you find, might as well build a new one if you are planning to and save the real boat!
Steve made this pretty timber iom in the USA to our friend Jeff Byerleys plans.
Nice foils also!
Rays Katana Marblehead.
Great photos by Ray of his favorite boat, as he said nothing can touch her in the light weather, im keeping her and my grunge!
We need to lock Ray up to photograph our other boats!
Did you know Star Yachts of Birkenhead also made cricket bats, beach toys and other items?
Here is a before and after, using original Blue hemp cordage as per the originals 60 years ago.
Oh no not more sails!!!
You have asked for an easier way to order colors on sails and cloth weight so we have updated the product pages for you!
Colors of translucent, white and black cloths join the luff and corner colors as options.
Some nice colored Marbleheads a while ago now, before lockdown.
More of those bloody 3d printed boats you say!
With a bit of sanding and paint they scrub up ok too.
Or left in natural translucent materials to highlight the materials to best advantage, why add weight?
A timber iom thats fast , easy to build and cheap?
Its the Nighthawk from New Zealand, Peters evolutionary design.
Karl sailed his boat in the recent Auckland regatta to 8th place from 32 boats, admittedly as he put it sailed a couple of shocker races that should have been drops. None the less 8th in a flat panel timber boat against Britpops, V8, V9,V10s and V11s!!!!!
The kit is designed to be easily assembled at home and acurately set up with included jigs.
Rg65s are at the end of the rainbow, so much fun to sail!
Surrey Park Dive sailing
If you live in Melbourne or are visiting, check out Surrey Park Dive and the club, they are awesosme and a great set up.
We found this Marblehead built many years ago by our friend Ray Eades, colors match my car, mmm!
The clubs members build some amazing classics and heres ours sailing with one also.
Oh no, more 3D printed boats!!
Mark Dicks has been busy designing and with the help of Zac Chan we have the Visionary iom for download in the store.
Nicks Vintage Marblehead.
Wow, you dont see many like this!
Hope the deck shots help you restoring yours, we are frequently asked on tips , hope these help a little.
Graham has built this little one for the grandkids.
And even remote controlled her!
Another drop into the shop!
We see a lot of boats come through for restoration and helped get this and her twin up and running again.
Although new, this Dragon by Brian is very pretty, whe came to visit recently also.
Thanks for reading and we hope the stories from around the world have inspired and helped you, please share the knowledge you gain with others and good sailing.
Andrew Cook
