- This topic has 11 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated September 24, 2025 at 5:33 pm by
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I’ve spent so much time lately playing with RC planes (upgrading flight controllers, converting to ELRS radio systems etc), that I’d forgot how much fun it is building & modifying RC yachts.
To that end I have started the conversion of an old Victoria (One Class) RC yacht that I purchased second hand (and unfortunately in far worse condition than advertised) way back in Nov 2013.
Due to its poor condition I decided way back then to convert it to a USA standard lightweight racing Victoria but apart from downloading the “Victoria – Class Rules” for allowed modifications & purchasing the CF rod to replace the overly heavy original aluminium mast nothing else got done.
Jump forward 12 years and here we are in 2025.
I recently found the old Victoria hidden in the back corner of the “Toy Room” and thought it would make a fine project for this rainy couple of weeks.
To date I have 3D printed a Servo/battery box, waterproof hatch surround & cover (Tupperware style seal) and installed carbon fibre posts for the rudder & keel (epoxied into the hull & deck to waterproof) and a brass tube for the drop in Carbon Fibre mast.
Below is the 3d printed jig to get the keel post & the mast parallel.
I then printed a keel box (later filled with 24hr epoxy) to better seal the keel post where it penetrates the hull & to anchor the lower end of the drop in mast support.
The mast was then stepped (I think that is the right nautical term) and set straight with the aid of a spirit level & a self levelling Laser Level
With everything plumb the keel box was glued into place with quickset epoxy & then with the mast support tube removed the box was injection filled with 24 hr self levelling epoxy. Once box was filled, the support tube was reinstalled & epoxied into the deck as well.
After letting set overnight & checking all alignments today the mast deckplate & hatch surround were also epoxied in place.
I have started patching the redundant holes & imperfections in the deck & once they are sanded back ready for painting I’ll get the old original sails patched & installed ready for water testing in the next week or two.
Given that the mast is now self supporting it should only need a fore & aft rigging support & with no side supports there is also no need for spreaders which is all allowable under the “One Class” rules for the Victoria.(well that’s the theory)
Once I’m sure there are no leaks it will be onto painting the whole boat & making some new sails.
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DEAR MR PEDATOR SIR ….TOP GUN FLIGHT SCHOOL ( sailing section ) is offering you a refresher coarse free of charge under the skillful hands of captain kermit la frog he has put aside his fight against injustice ie crookered judge and uncle G’s bribery to fix race results …just to help you out to get back into it ………………………………………………………………..just sayn
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After the kids took me out for a lovely Fathers Day breakfast, I headed home and got back into pressing on with the “Victoria’s Secret” build.
As you can see from the photos I finished the design & 3D print for the Boom Vang, It’s very similar to the new DF65 design (why re-invent the wheel?) just upside down.
The mainsail is now fitted (just a temporary old original one till I get round to new sails) and the sail-winch setup and functioning.
I will run a second line from the winch for the jib as having two sheets makes for easier adjustments. There will eventually be two bowsies fitted on the rear deck to allow for easy sheet adjustment.
In keeping with the minimum aloft weight possible I have used an IOM style crane for the back stay support & attachment of the main sail.
The next job will be to install the Jib and finish off the sheets etc. That should be done tomorrow if this wet weather keeps up.
Hopefully the bell crank for the rudder will arrive this week & then she should be ready for a test.
The boat is now significantly lighter (with most of the weight gone from the mast & rigging). The minimum racing weight (according to the rules) is 2.04 kg and even with my heavy 5 cell AA NiMH battery installed it only now just scrapes in at 2.0kg, hopefully with the rudder & the jib & a coat of paint, it will make correct minimum weight without any corrector ballast.
Time will tell.
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Sorry to throw a spanner in the works cobber you now have a very serious problem concerning weight in particularly buoyancy you may be aware of the sinkers desire to reign over the canal totally thus he has implemented a sink program all yachts are now to be sunk his attempt to implement this sinking program failed on saturday but he is a determined little buggar so install floatation or sink we all now have air bags installed in ours so possibly this may be the way for you too……good luck ……………………………………………………just say’n
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DEAR MR PREDATOR SIR WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF DAS BOOT sows i can get one from my fleet to keep yours company on the big sail day
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