Mini Sailboat Project

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StanFM

StanFM

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Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
I know this probably belongs in a more general forum (or maybe nowhere!), sorry. Anyway, I need a special project for a week with 7th graders, so naturally I thought of a class on sailing. What better way to learn some parts of a sloop than to build a small model that might even float in a pond! Keeps the little minds and hands busy. So I'll start with a 2 x 4 scrap, dowels, and paint stir sticks! Add a few screw eyes, kite string, and a garbage bag for sails!

Stan
 

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StanFM

StanFM

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Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
Here's the prototype, complete with halyards and sheets and all. Keel adjusts by moving it along a slit on the bottom of the hull. Rudder twists, and lines hold fast by catching them under the small dowels. I'll have to see if this thing can even hold itself upright in the water!
:eek:

Stan
 

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Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
No roller furling jib? Sorry. Couldn't help it. Great work!
 
StanFM

StanFM

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Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
You guys like Lowes or Ace paint sticks better for pointing into the wind????
;)

Stan
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,178
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Split the class and have each side build a boat....... then you can have a race!!!
 
StanFM

StanFM

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Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
Actually, I have 36 students and am planning that each kid will build one! AM I NUTS OR WHAT??? I'll post some pics next week when we get into this. I'll have 18 students all morning and 18 in the afternoon for 5 days. Maybe we can do this, who knows until we try!

Stan
 
agprice22

agprice22

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Aug 3, 2012
2,542
Performance Cruising Telstar 28 302 Watkins Glen
I like the idea of teams. It teaches cooperation instead of isolation. Maybe have 4 teams. Then each team can raffle off its boat and donate the money to a charity... Like my beer fund! :)
 
HillbillyWanderer

HillbillyWanderer

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Jan 7, 2012
276
catalina 22 Cave Run Lake
Great idea, a hands on learning experience. Something I am sure they will enjoy at school. A break away from the everyday norm, or as my stepdaughter calls it"soul sucking daycare".
 
StanFM

StanFM

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Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
FourPoints said:
Very Cool! Is that a working outhaul I see as well?
Click to expand
Yes, I've tried to incorporate some of the actual rigging. I decided not to go with the shrouds and spreader as it will complicate the hank loops attaching to the mast. I only have a week to get these done! :dance:

Stan
 
C

CaptDon01

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Nov 19, 2008
2,129
Catalina C-22 MK-II Parrish, FL
Stan,

Your post reminded me of our model yacht club in school, nice to know this sort of projects are still being accomplished. Here's my story;

I grew up in Detroit and the Detroit New sponsored a model yacht regatta at the end of every school year for many years. They also published plans for a 24" wooden sailboat built using the "lift method". basically 1" planks of wood glued on top of each other. We had a club after school in the shop and we built theses boats all fall, winter, and spring ready to race them. We made the spars, and you could fabricate the hardware out of brass, or purchase a hardware kit, and sails. These were self steering systems that you adjusted for the wind direction and speed, in relationship to the course, which was a straight course to the other side of the model yacht pond. The boats had 2 1/2 #'s of lead ballast, and we gathered tire weights from the local gas stations and we had a mold that held a U-bolt as we poured molten lead,(in school!!!), to make the keels. Tought us a bunch of skills, and sparked an interest in sailing that many of us still enjoy! I still have my model yacht displayed in our living room.

Don
 
StanFM

StanFM

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Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
Don, can you post a picture of it? Sounds like great fun. I remember vividly being allowed to melt lead and pour it into molds as a kid! My, how things have changed.

Our society now is so protective... but ironically... we insist on little foam helmets and knee pads, but at the same time allow young kids to see horrible things in movies, and on tv and on the internet that rot the mind and soul... I can't figure it out.

Stan
 
Bilbo

Bilbo

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Aug 29, 2005
1,265
Catalina 22 Ohio
jib sheets? They could be easily added if not there. Interesting project.
one could create an assembly line and have the kids assemble the parts like the pinewood derby kits from the scouts. A sailing regatta adventure would be neat.
 
StanFM

StanFM

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Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
Jib sheet and halyard are there along with main sheet and halyard. Yes, some assembly line will be needed!!!! Not sure what I've gotten myself into!

Stan
 
C

CaptDon01

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Nov 19, 2008
2,129
Catalina C-22 MK-II Parrish, FL
Stan,

Here are some photos. My original sailboat is the one one the end. She's 24" long. Hand planed tapered spruce wood spars and bronze fittings from A.J. Fisher, (was in business in Royal Oak, Michigan, made model yacht fittings, and display boat kits. Last I knew they're out of business). Also there is a old newspaper photo covering the regatta. I built the boat during the fall/winter of 1965-66. I raced her in 1966 and for the last time in 1967, where I won 2nd place out of about 700 boats from around Detroit and surrounding cities. She sparked my interest, and I've been sailing some kind of boat or another ever since. Interesting to see the changes in sailboat technology in the last photo from the old racing sailboat design to the new designs.

Don
 

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