Frequently Asked Questions?

 

               Richard Klatt’s Fishing Trawler             Don Harker’s early WW-2 German S-boat

 

How do I get started in model boating?

The best way to get started is to come and see all the various model boats at the lagoon and talk with MBMB members. You might convince one of the members to let you operate a boat for a short time (at the captain’s discretion).

During the winter months you can join us at our monthly meetings held the second Monday of each month. Members give presentations on different aspects of model boating, as well as show off the progress of their latest projects during “Show-n-Tell”.

 

How Much do the boats cost?

Ready-To-Run (RTR) boats cost as little as $50.00, but you get what you pay for.

Kit boats range in price from about $50.00 to well over $1000.00 The price depends on the complexity and detail of the kit. Some kit may not require much assembly, but more detailed kits require extensive assembly.

Radio Control hardware starts about $50.00 for a basic 2-channel AM radio and servos. More complex computer radios can cost more than $400.00 but offer more functionality.

Scratch built boats vary widely in cost, due to materials used and the number of “bells and whistles”. A scratch built boat could cost nothing or could cost several thousand dollars. Many builders like to recycle used wooden pieces if possible, like old oak window and door frames from a remodeling project. The down side to scratch building is that it takes a lot of specialty tools and more time than most people are willing to invest. Many scratch built boats take hundreds of hours or several years to complete.

 

How long does it take to build a boat?

The amount of time needed to build a boat depends on how much detail you want and other factors. Some kit built boats only need a couple of hours to get ready to run. Where as a scratch built boat can take several hundred hours, or a couple of years, to complete.

 

What types of boats do MBMB members run?

MBMB members run everything from basic RTR boats to scratch built boat that take hundreds of hours to build. Types of boats seen on the pond include fast electrics, Naval ships, sailboats, paddle wheelers, river tow boats, harbor tugs, fishing trawlers, pleasure craft, and submarines.

The most common boats we run are the Soling 1M sailboat (Victor Model Products, see “Links” page), and the Springer Class tug (see “How to...” page).

 

What if I choose to build a boat myself, where do I start?

For most people, it involves locating plans for a specific boat. There are several quality plan services on the web, go to our “LINKS” page and then to the SSMA or the AMYA websites for a list of suppliers. Plans vary in cost from free to well over $100 for more detailed prints.

If there is a specific boat you are looking to build and can not find plans, try contacting the boatyard and/or the naval architect that build the original vessel. Most companies are willing to send out line drawings of their boats (there may be a small fee for coping the prints and shipping/handling).

If all else fail, consider drawing up plans on your own. There are several free CAD packages available to help design your boat.

 

What types of materials are used in boat building?

Wood is the most common building material. Balsa, bass, oak, mahogany, pine, and teak are the more common woods used, but most any wood could be used to build a boat. Just remember to seal the wood properly to prevent mold and dry rot.

Many model boaters also use more modern material like foam insulation, fiberglass, carbon fiber, and various plastics to build their hulls. Aluminum, brass, plastic card stock, and common household items can be used to fashion detail items above deck.

 

What frequencies do you use?

FCC rules require that all surface R/C vehicles (cars and boats ) operate in the 27MHz, 50MHz (with FCC license), 75MHz, or 2.4GHz bands. 75MHz and 2.4GHz radios are the most common. Both AM and FM transmitters are acceptable, though AM radios tend to have more interference issues. All crystal based radios are tuned to a specific frequency or channel. By installing different crystals in the transmitter and receiver, you can still run your boat when there are several boats operating on the same channel (since only one boat can operate on a given channel at a time). Keep in mind that you can only operate on the two channels on either side of your “tuned” channel. However, this increases the risk of interference, we recommend that you only use the channels directly on either side of your “tuned” channel. When buying new crystals, be sure to purchase ones made specific for your radio.

Example: if your radio is tuned for Channel #65 (75.490MHz) you can operate on channel #64 (75.470 MHz), #65, or #66 (75.510 MHz) by purchasing and installing the appropriate crystals. Even though it is not recommended, you could also operate on channel #63 (75.430 MHz) or #67 (75.540 MHz).

Thinking about buying a new radio? Consider buying one of the newer 2.4GHz radio systems, Spektrum, Futaba, and others. They do not require crystal to change frequencies, it is done automatically when the transmitter is turned on. The transmitter scans all of the available frequencies and locks onto an available frequency so no one else can use it. Additionally, the transmitter and receiver are bound together, so they will “talk” only to each other. All around this means little or no interference. By buying one of the newer radios, it frees up existing channels for other to use.

When buying new radio gear, go to the “Frequency” page to see a list of the channels currently in use, and look for a channel that gets little or no use.

 

Where else can I find Information?

Try the local hobby stores or search the internet for more information on model boats. Go to the “Links” page for some of the web resources we use.