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Pond Yachts: How to Build & Sail Them
Description.
This is beautifully illustrated in watercolors, and shows you a bunch of neat detail items to make your model building all the easier and more pleasurable.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Getting a Perspective
- The Rule and why have a Rule
- Designing to fit the Rule: ideas for shape, aesthetics, of hull design, displacement ,and other practical matters.
- Materials needed
- Carving the hull
- Making and fixing the keel
- Making a rudder
- Paint and Finishes for hull, keel, rudder, mast, etc.
- Boat stands
- Going for a sail
- Living with a pond model
- Other boats to build
- Appendices: Glossary, Materials, Miscellaneous Helps
by M. de Lesseps
86 pp., hidden wire-o-binding, softcover
Customer Reviews
This a helpful book very informative and clear language about the principals of design and construction.
very handy for my project
I was expecting the information to be a little more technical
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Wooden mini yacht.
Build a Wooden Mini Yacht this weekend.
- Time Required!: A weekend
- Print this Project
By Thomas Martin
Thomas martin.
When my son was 3 years old, I made a small bathtub boat with him, using scrap wood and a piece of dowel. It lasted much longer and got more of his attention than any dollar-store bath toy, and about six years later we decided to try building a larger boat for the pool and local ponds we fished.
Here’s the result of our experimentation: a simple and worthy pond sailer that’s rigged and scaled like a real yacht. You can build it in a weekend using readily available materials and tools.
Project Steps
Prepare the sailcloth..
It’s hard to find waterproof fabric that’s easy to cut and won’t fray. You can make your own by stretching ripstop nylon loosely over a frame or 2 hangers, and spraying it lightly (in a well-ventilated area) with polyurethane.
First spray up and down, and then back and forth, until the fabric is well coated but not saturated.
Let dry overnight.
Mark and cut the parts.
Download the project plan and print it at full size. Following the plan, measure and mark the mast, jib boom, and mainsail boom lengths on the ¼” dowel. Trace the hull from the printed pattern onto the top and 2 ends of the cedar block; cut templates or use carbon paper. Draw the keel and masthead crane patterns on the brass strips, and draw the bowser (rigging clip) pattern 8 times on the thin plastic.
Cut and drill all the parts. Any fine-tooth saw will cut the dowel, or you can roll it under an X-Acto blade and snap the score. Heavy-duty shears or a hacksaw will cut the brass; be sure to file away the sharp edges afterward. You can saw or file down the hull’s shape, then use a hobby knife or thin chisel to excavate the slot for the keel. Drill all holes, plus pilot holes for the screw eyes (in the hull, just poke pilot holes in by hand with a thumbtack).
Finally, file, sand, and smooth all parts. The more time you spend here, the better — especially if you plan to use a clear finish over the wood.
Mount the keel.
On the underside of the hull, mask both sides of the keel’s slot with tape. Wearing gloves, and in a well ventilated location, mix and spread some 5-minute epoxy into the slot using a scrap stick or wooden match.
Slide the keel into position and hold it there while the epoxy cures. You can square it up using a business card on each side.
Use a gloved finger to smooth the epoxy along the joint line, and fill any voids with more epoxy.
Finish the wood.
Finish the hull uniformly, or for a big-boat look, paint the outside of the hull and stain the deck.
Sand the hull with 100-grit paper over a sanding block, and again with 150-grit. Apply a first coat of paint or varnish, and re-sand with 180-grit before each subsequent coat.
For a stained deck, first paint the hull upside down, then re-sand the top perimeter to remove any overspray. Rub stain into the deck and edge, let dry, and coat with varnish or polyurethane.
For the mast and boom pieces, bevel the cut edges for a more finished look, then sand with fine grit to remove any fuzz. Stain if desired, and cover with at least 2 coats of varnish or polyurethane sealer, sanding lightly between coats.
Assemble the mast and booms.
Cut a slot in the top of the mast and glue in the masthead crane. Once that’s secure, follow the plan to install all screw eyes: 4 to the mast, 1 on the fore end of each boom, 1 more on the mainsail boom (for the boom vang), and 4 to the deck. Screw these in until the shank of the screw is completely into the wood.
Insert the brass brad down through the hole in the jib boom and bend it into a clew hook.
Use needle nose pliers to open the mainsail boom eye, hook it onto the eye on the mast, and close it. This forms the gooseneck, the joint that lets the boom swing from side to side (far left in the photo). Press the mast down into the hole in the deck with the masthead crane centered afterward, and tap it gently down into its hole with a hammer.
Add the sails.
After the sail material is dry, trace and cut it to the plan patterns. Lay the boat on its side on a hard surface with the masts and booms in place and fit the sails to the areas for rigging. For the grommets, cut a small X at each sail corner, insert a grommet up through the hole, press the cloth down around it, and tap the grommet flat with the eyelet tool until it firmly grips the cloth.
NOTE: It’s a good idea to practice setting grommets first with a couple of sailcloth scraps and extra grommets. It’s time for rigging. Knot and cut a short length of dacron line, thread it through a bowser, and string the boom vang. For these and all other knots, add a tiny drop of cyanoacrylate glue immediately after tying; the line is slippery and won’t hold knots otherwise.
Use 5″ lengths of line to tie each sail grommet to its corresponding screw eyelet or drilled hole with a square knot. You’ll need about 10″ for the top of the jib sail, which threads through 2 eyelets before tying off to the uphaul bowser.
Referring to the plans, tie the 4 lower connections on the booms first, and then add the upper lines for tension, so there are no wrinkles in the sails along the booms. Thread a bowser onto the jib uphaul as indicated: for their final tensions, you’ll adjust the jib using the uphaul at the top, and the mainsail using the boom vang.
For the backstay, tie in a long length of line at the masthead crane and install a bowser, routing the line through the eyelet at the stern.
Tighten the backstay and the sails so that they’re fairly tight but the mast is not bowed forward or aft. Finally, add the 2 lines called sheets. For these, cut two 15″ lines. Tie each one through the hole in the aft end of a boom, thread it through the sheet eyelet on the deck just underneath, then through 2 holes in a bowser, through the other sheet’s eyelet, and finally through the last hole in the bowser, doubleknotting the line.
NOTE: It’s important to tie the bowsers exactly as shown on the plan to make them work. The sheets let you adjust the angle (trim) of the sails — slack for downwind sailing or tight for crosswind — letting you cross a pond or pool in any direction that isn’t too close to directly upwind.
This project first appeared in MAKE Volume 20 , page 56.
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Build Your Own Plank Constructed Pond Yacht
A vintage marblehead-class pond yacht designed for radio control..
While growing up in western Pennsylvania, Bruce Richter spent countless hours in his dad’s workshop learning the ropes, building models, and making sawdust before getting sidetracked with garage bands, sports, and college. The urge to build returned around the time he and his wife Jan moved to New York City, although he quickly realized apartment living wasn’t exactly conducive to woodworking. The planets aligned when he discovered WoodenBoat School and Kerbs Boathouse in Central Park, home to over one hundred radio-control sailboats. Since then, Bruce took WoodenBoat School’s pond yacht construction course six times and served as former instructor Thom McLaughlin’s assistant before taking over as lead instructor a few years ago. Bruce has earned several national craftsmanship awards for the Vintage Marblehead RC sailboats he built at WBS. He is former Commodore of the 100-plus-year-old Central Park Model Yacht Club, has served as Class Coordinator of the US VMYG Vintage Marblehead fleet, is designer/art director of the vintage group’s publication The Model Yacht, and occasionally builds guitars. Following a career as a writer/creative director in major New York City advertising agencies and as president/executive creative director of his own marketing services firm, Bruce and wife Jan are beginning their next chapter in life as Blue Hill, Maine transplants.
This course is appropriate for students with some knowledge and experience. Basic knowledge and use of hand tools is required for most shop courses. Basic knowledge and ability to sail is required for most waterfront courses.
This course involves a low level of activity throughout the week including: occasional standing and working, seating is usually available, working on your own project at your own pace is common.
This is a six-day course ending Saturday
Other Sessions: September 1-7
Pond Yacht I: $385 (Includes CNC cut molds, strongback, keelson, planking, fin, and rudder.) Pond Yacht II: $169 (Includes materials to finish the boat other than sails, fittings and electronics.) Pond Yacht III: $35 (Shop supplies to help you continue your project.)
In this course each student will begin the construction of his/her own pond sailboat using the plank on frame process. This practice is similar to those used in building full-sized boats and allows for a flowing hull form that is beautiful on display and swift on the water. The course boat NORUMBEGA was designed by former instructor Thom McLaughlin. The class of this boat is known as Vintage Marblehead (VM) and is still actively sailed today under the guidance of the U.S. Vintage Model Yacht Group. The Marblehead class of small boat originated in 1932 using minimal design requirements of 50″ LOA and 800 square inches of sail. When fully rigged the boat is over 7′ tall, which makes it quite impressive from shore. The boat can be easily dismantled for transport. Construction of this pond yacht will pleasantly challenge and inform the builder. While group and one-on-one instruction will take place daily, students will also make decisions based on blueprints and developing an eye for form. During this week, the boat will be planked, faired, and the fin and rudder will be fabricated. Bruce will also discuss the steps that follow to complete the boat—decking, rigging, electronic installation, and painting.
Students who have started construction of their VM model in previous years at WoodenBoat School are also welcome to participate in this course to finish their boat. This week will be an excellent opportunity for further guidance. It will also provide inspiration to those individuals just beginning their boat and to view firsthand the final steps in construction.
This course is appropriate for students with some knowledge and experience. Basic knowledge and use of hand tools is required for most shop courses.
“Bruce Richter was an excellent instructor. He taught the pond yacht course in a knowledgeable, caring, and professional manner.”
T.S., Wilbraham, Massachusetts
“Bruce Richter taught a great course. I liked that he checked our work each evening and made note of our mistakes to correct the next day. He pulled together regular meetings to discuss theory. I especially enjoyed the pond yacht history lesson! Great teaching skills. Great personality and a sense of humor.”
J.J., Phoenix, Maryland
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Table of Contents
15 free boat plans you can build this week (with pdfs).
- August 13, 2023
Boatbuilding is one of the most ancient forms of craftsmanship still alive today. As long as our ancestors have had a curiosity about exploring open waters, they have been practicing and honing their boatbuilding skills.
To be honest, however, building a boat is no small task. It will require a lot of work and patience to ultimately create a finished product that you are happy with and that is actually seaworthy.
Of course, we have also included a few free boat plans. You can keep in your back pocket for the next time you are asked to build a cardboard boat as part of a contest or lakefront teambuilding adventure.
We hope that these resources help you in your journey to build your own boat!
Photo by SeventyFour via Shutterstock
Free Boat Plans
- The Wanigan
- The Slipper
The Handy Andy
- The Jolly Roger
- The Hobby Kat
The White Duck
- The Sea Midge
The Crazy Cardboard Boat
Why Build Your Own Boat?
Photo by Halsey via Shutterstock
There are a lot of reasons why you should explore building your own boat versus buying a pre-made model. Here is a quick breakdown of the most obvious benefits:
- You will know the ins and outs of your finished boat better than anyone
- It can be a great project to work on with your teenage or even adult children
- You will gain valuable skills molding and shaping wood and other materials
- You can design your boat for your specific needs
- You don’t have to trust the sometimes-questionable manufacturing of mass-produced boats
- You can create a boat that functions as your second home on the water
- You can save money if you source materials mindfully
Of course, most first-time boatbuilders still experience some level of trial-and-error. With patience and perseverance, however, you can craft a one-of-a-kind vessel that has no equal anywhere in the world.
Free Boat Plans You Can Build This Week (with PDFs)
1. the wanigan.
PC Duckworks Boat Builders Supply
The Wanigan boat began as a garvey design, which is one of the older boat plans known to the Americas. Traditionally, these boats were built as work scows and were very popular among American summer camps.
The design itself is very simple, but these boats can carry heavy loads. It can also handle a trolling motor being mounted to the stern so you can cover more ground if you want to use it as a fishing boat.
The creator of this boat plan became aware of some of the downsides of the garvey design, such as the heavier weight that made it less efficient than some other designs. So he combined elements of dory and wanigan designs to create a hybrid.
The main changes include an enlarged beam, tilted lathes to provide a stiffer hull, and knocking off the top strakes to reduce the boat’s overall weight.
The Wanigan text
These additional The Wanigan drawings  may also prove useful for your build process!
2. The Mouse
The Mouse is one of the most compact and nimble boat plans we have found for this list. It is an easy build and also a great boat for two kids or a single teenage paddler.
The original builder began with a one-sheet boat design in an effort to create the lightest and most affordable boat possible. This means it is only suited for calm waters and should not be used in high winds or wavy conditions.
That said, it was built in roughly 12 to 24 hours of work time and doesn’t require a full workshop to construct. The main material that is required for building this boat is quarter-inch plywood. But the builder recommends using one-inch by half-inch pine or something a little sturdier.
The plywood and pine components are held together using a method called ”˜stitch and glue’. This method requires choosing one of the best glues for kayak outfitting , which are typically made of epoxy and glass tape rather than something cheaper like polyurethane.
The Mouse Instructions
Also, here are a few extra useful The Mouse Notes for builders
3. The Slipper
The Slipper is the first of many sailboat plans on our list and it is faster, easier, and cheaper to build than most. It also features a deeper cockpit than many other sailboat designs, which makes it safer for intermediate sailors.
This sailboat plan features dual steering stations so that you can sail from inside or outside of the helm. It also includes a centerboard trunk that hardly intrudes into the cabin at all. So that, it is easier to work around while you are in the cockpit.
The exterior hull and cabin of this sailboat feature a modified dory design using two sheets of plywood ripped to three feet wide before being joined together. The resulting hull is a modified V-shape that reduces drag.
The centerboard of this boat can also be winched up to the level of the top of the cabin or lowered down to alter the draft. This allows you to customize the boat design for a stiffer and more weather-worthy vessel if you need it.
The Slipper was also intentionally designed with an aft cabin that naturally helps to keep the bow pointed into the wind whether you are underway or the boat is anchored in the port.
The Building Slipper
4. The Handy Andy
PC DIY Wood Boat
The Handy Andy is a great little 10-foot portable rowboat for hunting, camping, fishing, and other recreational uses. It is actually the only folding boat design on our list, which makes it best for folks that need the most portable boat plan possible.
This boat features a 42-inch beam and a depth of about 15 inches at the mid-section. It also weighs roughly 80 pounds when assembled and can handle up to three average-sized human passengers.
The design boasts a flat bottom with canvas-bound edges and the primary material used for construction is ⅜-inch marine-grade plywood. Despite its lightweight nature, this rowboat can handle trolling motors or even outboard motors with a maximum of five horsepower.
Once finished, the hull can be folded or unfolded in less than a minute’s time.
This design makes it one of the only boats on this list that can be stored in a truck bed or easily carried by two people to be launched at more remote locations.
5. The Junior
If you are looking for an all-purpose dinghy that can handle almost any use you might imagine, look no further than The Junior free boat plan. It can carry three or four average-sized adults and is much easier to row than a traditional dinghy.
It is also durable enough to be equipped with a small outboard motor. You could even set it up with sailing equipment if you want to use it as a sailing vessel. As we said, this is truly an all-around boat design!
This boat plan requires constructing three frames that will provide the majority of the load-bearing support. The builder recommends using ¾-inch framing with ⅜-inch plywood as the exterior material for this boat build.
Resin glue and flathead screws are also required to hold this boat together. But there is a full list of materials included in the plans we have linked to below. Sticking to that plan should also give you enough leftover materials to construct two six-foot oars for rowing this boat until you install a trolling motor or outboard motor down the line!
6. The Jolly Roger
Channel your inner Captain Morgan when you are following these plans to build your very own Jolly Roger boat. This flat bottom boat design is designed for pond fishing . It can also be a useful yacht dinghy for getting from your dock to a larger vessel anchored offshore.
The plan follows conventional dinghy construction methods but also includes a few modifications that will save you time and energy. The wide design is super stable for boaters of all ages.
The keel, frame, chines, and risers are all cut from ¾-inch oak, ash, or any other trusted hardwood you can get your hands on. For the smaller components, the builder recommends using cedar, cypress, fir, or white or yellow pine.
Because this boat plan is also sturdy enough to handle a small motor, it includes important points for protecting the wooden hull from spark plug damage.
Be careful to follow these guidelines to build the safest boat possible if you imagine installing a motor down the line.
The Jollyroger
7. The Cork
The Cork is another simple rowboat design. This one trends away from the flat bottom plans that we have included thus far. Instead, it features a deeper, V-shaped hull that makes it better suited to more efficient rowing and easier maneuverability.
It can be rowed easily from either seating position and is durable enough to handle up to three average-sized adult passengers. The ends of the boat are identical, which allows for multi-directional rowing.
The list of materials required for this boat plan should cost you between $30 and $50, depending on your location and hardware costs there. The resulting build is lightweight enough for two people to be carried and also to be transported on top of a vehicle .
Inside the boat, the builders use aluminum tubing to secure the struts that hold the seats. This material choice keeps the overall weight of the boat down while still adding the necessary rigidity across the beam of the boat.
8. The Hobby Kat
The Hobie Cat is one of the most iconic and recognizable small sailing vessels ever made. This Hobby Kat plan is your answer to building your own iconic sailboat without spending thousands of dollars.
Your finished boat will be able to handle speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. It will be a super fun vessel for windy days on the lake or bay. The builder was able to construct the hulls, decking, and rudder for this boat while spending little more than $200.
From there, they purchased and installed the mast, boom, sail, and rigging, which brought the total amount spent to roughly $650 (still much less than a name-brand Hobie!). Without the mast and sail, this boat weighs roughly 165 pounds and is constructed using primarily 3/16-inch marine plywood.
You can also elect to build your own mast, boom, and sail if you have the time and skills to do so.
Those elements are not included in this boat plan, but they do offer some recommendations for where to buy these components!
The HobbyKat
9. The Tern
Named after the common seabird found around the world, the Tern is a lightweight and nimble sailboat with a 72 square foot base design. She is made for inland sailing and planes very well in moderate breezes.
The hull design also provides minimal water resistance and the small floor plan makes this boat easier for intermediate sailors to handle. Even though it offers a small footprint, this boat is sturdy enough to handle up to four adult passengers.
One of the best things about this boat plan is that it can be built almost entirely by using only common hand tools.
Of course, you can speed things up if you have power tools and you are skilled enough to use them correctly.
The Tern boat plan includes a 20-foot mast, but you can shorten that length if you desire. The plan includes a complete list of materials and step-by-step instructions on how to plane and assemble each element.
10. The Falcon
As you might expect from its name alone, the Falcon is an incredibly speedy sailboat for its size. It boasts a 14-foot centerboard and can handle two to four passengers, depending on its size and weight.
In tests of the original build, the creators claim that this boat out-distanced many Snipe and Comet sailing vessels as well as pacing evenly alongside longer 18-foot sailboats. When finished, your boat will have a six-foot beam and a total weight of roughly 475 pounds.
For the main framing components, they recommend using white oak and plywood will be the main material used in the hull construction. The hull features a V-shaped that was inspired by larger schooners.
The Falcon is best suited to sailing on bays, lakes, and wide rivers. It is also a boat plan with just under 120 square feet of deck space and it is a great build for amateur craftsmen and sailors.
11. The White Duck
The White Duck is a flat-bottomed rowboat with a total length of 13’6” and a four-foot beam. The cockpit is approximately 15 inches deep all the way around and this boat can handle up to five passengers while maintaining buoyancy and stability.
When fully constructed, it will weigh roughly 200 pounds, but the final weight will depend on the type of lumber you choose for your build. This boat plan features plywood planking over solid wooden frames.
The White Duck is built with a pointed bow that cuts nicely through the water. The flat stern of this boat design will make it easy to attach a small outboard motor with a maximum of six horsepower.
As you might expect from its name, this rowboat is a great option for duck hunting trips. That being said, it is a highly versatile craft that can also be used for pond fishing or casual rowing on your nearby lake.
12. The Sea Midge
The Sea Midge is one of the smallest rowboats on our list and it is ideally suited for one average-sized rower or two small paddlers. It is only about 8 feet in length and offers a 52-inch beam at its widest point.
The Midge’s small dimensions make her ideal for navigating narrower creeks and streams. With an approximate weight of 62 pounds, she is easy to maneuver on the water and can also be much more easily transported than some of the larger boat plans on our list
The Seamidge
13. The Zephyr
The Zephyr is a compact and speedy dinghy sailboat that measures roughly 14 feet long and approximately five feet across. This boat style was originally developed for safely crossing the English Channel. This means it can stand up well in rough waters.
When finished, it is also light enough to be transported on a small trailer or on top of a larger vehicle.
The boat plan calls for using hemlock or fir for the framing and oak or Douglas fir for the keel and chines.
14. The Gypsy
The Gypsy is a small cruising sailboat that is meant to be equipped with an outboard motor for powered locomotion. The original design resulted in an incredibly seaworthy vessel that logged more than 6,000 nautical miles in her lifetime.
It includes a comfortable cabin that makes it well-suited for multi-day sailing adventures. This boat plan includes improvements on the original design that will help you build an extremely durable and long-lasting sailboat.
The Gypsy boat design will help you construct a vessel that can handle a motor up to 25 horsepower so that you can enjoy cruising speeds of up to nine miles per hour.
While it may require a bit more of an investment in time and money, it will also help you produce one of the best boats you can build with a free boat plan!
15. The Crazy Cardboard Boat
PC Saint Dominic Catholic School
Finally, let’s talk about a crazy cardboard boat plan that you can build in less than a day. This is a great boat plan to bookmark for your next teambuilding project so that you can earn bragging rights with your coworkers.
The plan calls for using 1.5 sheets of cardboard. But you can use the remaining half sheet to build your own boat paddle if you want to get creative.
Triple-thick cardboard is best for this boat plan. But you can always double up thinner sheets if that is all you can find.
These plans include an easy-to-follow diagram for marking, cutting, and folding the cardboard sheets to create the hull of your boat. From there, it calls for using contact cement and construction adhesive to seal the edges and corners.
If you are looking to save a little money on this build you could also use duct tape and then wrap the entire design in plastic sheeting to provide waterproof qualities.
Overall, this build is one of the cheapest and easiest on our list. It is also a great project for hot summer camp days on the lake or river!
15 Free Boat Plans You Can Build This Week (with PDFs) – Final Thoughts
Photo by Alexandra Soloviova via Shutterstock
We hope that you now have a couple of free boat plans to inspire you to begin your own construction project.
Don’t hesitate to check out YouTube for some useful boat-building videos when you are getting into the nitty-gritty of these build processes!
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I’m Pete. I am the owner of KayakHelp.com. I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, I grew up kayaking, fishing, sailing, and partaking in outdoor adventures around the Great Lakes. When I am not out on the water, you can find me skiing in the mountains, reading my favorite books, and spending time with my family.
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All boats are built to order
for more information e-mail
Something different a Z scale train layout in a briefcase
11/30/2010 Long Beach CA.
Jack Malone
Today we lost a very good friend, Love you Jack "Godspeed"
Jack and his winning Newport 12 #701
A project in the shop now under construction.
15 ft. Chester Yawl boat
Contact us for more information about our boats E- MAIL Mailing Address: 5264 N. Ventura Ave. Ventura CA. 93001 Want more information about model sailing? look at our links page .
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April 2, 2020
Dumas Pond Yacht Kits
An inexpensive pond yacht kit for at-home model building
If you enjoyed the Bevin's skiff project last week, we suggest something a little more challenging. These are the kits we use to build sailing pond models with students at the museum. This simple and relatively inexpensive sailboat kit from Dumas Products is designed so that even younger children can enjoy the creative satisfaction of building a model boat. Dumas carries a wide variety of model kits that are suitable for model builders of all ages. Just don't forget to order the glue!
Haycroft Pond Yachts are individually hand crafted in a quiet corner of the glorious Devon countryside, using traditional tools and methods of construction.
All of these designs are my own, inspired by classic lines, and are built to enjoyed both on and off the water!
Please feel free to browse the website to view current models, and learn a little more about what we do. You can also make a purchase via my eBay shop below.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/haycroftpondyachts
If you would like to get in touch, please use the ‘ Contact Us ’ page.
© Haycroft Pond Yachts 2022
/haycroftpondyachts
The model yacht company specializes in buying, selling and restoring vintage model pond yachts and model sailing yachts.
We offer a selection of restored, original and unrestored model yachts and steam boats.
We also sell marine art, maratime antiques, yachting photographs, and broker the sale of good quality models boats on behalf of owners.
We undertake selective restorations of model yachts for clients.
Please contact us for further information.
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Creating Historic Model Ship Kits Since 1905
Pond yachts.
$ 23.50
About Pond Yachts
Pond Yachts: How to Build and Sail Them. By M. de Lesseps. An entertaining and practical guide to the nearly forgotten art of designing, building and sailing traditional wooden pond models Profusely illustrated with watercolors and sketches by the author. (86 Pages, Spiral Bound).
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Free Model Boat Plans
Free model boat plans - a compiled list to help you locate free model ship and boat plans for model building - static, scale, rc, power, gas, sailing, steam and submarines..
You can find free model boat plans on the internet. Here is what I've been able to locate so far of decent quality. I've tried really hard to filter out sites that seem suspicious in terms of copyright infringements – I’m trying to hold the standard high.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
A user asks for sources of plans for a classic style pond yacht, preferably with sail plan and rigging details. Other users suggest various links, books, and models for inspiration and information.
Introduction. Getting a Perspective. The Rule and why have a Rule. Designing to fit the Rule: ideas for shape, aesthetics, of hull design, displacement ,and other practical matters. Materials needed. Carving the hull. Making and fixing the keel. Making a rudder. Paint and Finishes for hull, keel, rudder, mast, etc.
Learn how to build a simple and worthy pond sailer with this project plan from Make: Magazine. You will need cedar, dowel, brass, sailcloth, and various tools and materials to create your own wooden mini yacht.
Learn how to build a vintage Marblehead-class pond yacht using the plank on frame process. This six-day course in Brooklin, Maine includes materials, instruction, and access to CNC cut molds.
This flat bottom boat design is designed for pond fishing. It can also be a useful yacht dinghy for getting from your dock to a larger vessel anchored offshore. The plan follows conventional dinghy construction methods but also includes a few modifications that will save you time and energy. The wide design is super stable for boaters of all ages.
Pond Boats by Midlife Models . Builders and designers of contemporary Pond Boats. Handmade one-designs for R/C Sailing. High quality materials, craftsmanship and hardware. Great sailing and beautiful for display. Hull #10, hull #17 and a Yawl sail Ventura Harbor. Our handmade radio controlled boats sail on the pond or in the harbor, and look ...
Some are JPG format. Multi-sheet plans will be provided with separate download links for each sheet. Select a class from the list on the right to see all the model yacht plans available in that class. Each plan will be listed with the boat name and a short description. Click on the product thumbnail to see a larger preview of the plan.
The US VMYG is also a close collaborator with the Vintage Model Yacht Group (United Kingdom). Our organizational goals are the preservation, building, and sailing of older model yacht designs, and the study of the history of the sport of model yachting. "Vintage" primarily means any older model sailboats no longer sailed (or never raced) in ...
maker of pond model yachts. Phone: +07956 922836 E mail: [email protected]
After taking Thom McLaughlin's class on building pond yachts at the WoodenBoat School in 2009, John Stoudt spent the rest of that year into the early winter of 2010 working on this model. It is a 50/800 Marblehead Vintage class design that John built with very thin planks, tacked to wood frames. John also planked the deck. All of the fittings are solid brass.
Ardent - Plan + Article. SKU: MAR3022. Two sheet plans for a classic ply chine sail cruising yacht length 900mm and beam 260mm. Hull lines and rig... £ 20.00 Add to basket.
Dumas Pond Yacht Kits. An inexpensive pond yacht kit for at-home model building. If you enjoyed the Bevin's skiff project last week, we suggest something a little more challenging. These are the kits we use to build sailing pond models with students at the museum. This simple and relatively inexpensive sailboat kit from Dumas Products is ...
Browse the website to view current models of traditional pond yachts and model sailing boats, inspired by classic lines and built to last. You can also purchase them via eBay or contact the maker for more information.
At the high end, you could spend considerably less in materials for a full sized sailboat for 2-3 full sized people! I believe the r-boat pond plans work well (link I posted above) - Art Read and I saw a few of them at the pond yacht races at the Wooden Boat Festival held over the 4th of July weekend here in Seattle.
The model yacht company specializes in buying, selling and restoring vintage model pond yachts and model sailing yachts. We offer a selection of restored, original and unrestored model yachts and steam boats. We also sell marine art, maratime antiques, yachting photographs, and broker the sale of good quality models boats on behalf of owners.
A hand carved wooden pond yacht with stainless steel keel and Dacron sails for free sailing. Made in England and available for £75 plus postage and packing.
Pond Yachts: How to Build and Sail Them. By M. de Lesseps. An entertaining and practical guide to the nearly forgotten art of designing, building and sailing traditional wooden pond models Profusely illustrated with watercolors and sketches by the author. (86 Pages, Spiral Bound).
Free Model Boat Plans from Czech Mo-Na-Ko.net. The Czech MoNaKo is also a hobby and model builder's magazine. They offer three pages of plans - only two of which are currently accessible. The quality of the plans offered varies, so study them carefully and do your own due diligence. The subjects range from battleships, destroyers, cruisers ...
This is a quick overview of the building process that is needed to build a model J boat. Below is a list of most of the materials that were used. WOOD. 2 - 1"x8"x8' pine, aspen, bass or other suitable wood that can be cut into 5/32"x3/8" strips for hull and deck planking.
A model Ship was spotted and recovered from the bottom of the lake, looks like she was set fire to and sunk! but a welcome new model for a young lads bedroom, now called the 'Titanic', his mum will be so pleased!! 5 Tonner Laura sailing at the VMYG day on the lake at Gosport M.Y.C. Keen grandsons on turning pole duty! Spot the Bowman sailing by.
Originaly the pond yacht model compition of the R boat were used to raise funds to sent the boat back to the R Boat Nationals at Larchmont NY back in the mid twenties. With West Coast skipper Matt Walsh at the helm "Pirate" won the R Nationals that year and brought the trophy back to the West Coast.
16′ Cabin Lynx An elegant 16′ catboat suitable for great daysailing and overnighting. The 16-foot Lynx is small enough to single-hand easily, yet the cockpit seats four adults comfortably. Its…. $38,900. Learn More. Arey's custom boats Our DesignsFrom the establishment of the Arey's 14' to today's most popular design, the Open 16 ...
To make headway up-wind a method called "Beating" "Close Hauled" or "Tacking" is used, to do this you will need to sail the yacht with the bow pointing as close to the wind as possible (can be 45 degrees). When the opposite shore is reached, the yacht is put about, (you use a turning pole for this or lift your yacht out of the water and reset ...