Looking for a cheap model sailboat with controls

[scm007]

I'm looking for a cheap model sailboat that has a controllable rudder and will actually sail. I need it for a research project I'm working on. If you guys could help me out that would be great. Something like an RC sailboat works fine, except the extra expense of all of the RC components.

[Celestialsailor]

Look!!! You don't have to tell us it's for a project. We are all boys and like to play with model sailboats...he he he.
Seriously...Have you tried e-bay???

[scm007]

Haha, it really is for a project! Although the purpose is for fun. In college I built a robot that learned how to travel between rooms, avoiding walls and such. I want to see if I can build a sailboat that will learn how sail.

[bstreep]

Kyosho makes a "Fairwind" kit that's reasonably inexpensive, and a TON of fun to sail. We have about 10 or 12 in our sailing group, and really enjoy sailing them. We get together and race occasionally - but frankly, 2 with a few beers playing "tag" is as fun as it gets!

[BlueWaterSail]

Here's a link to a retailer that has some of the best prices:

R/C Boats

I personally have a Kyosho Fortune, which sails decently and can be stowed in the car without de-rigging. The sail handling servo controls both the main and the jib simultaneously, but is not powerful enough to pull in the sheets when the sails are filled. It does best in light air, gusts tend to really make it heel, at which point you lose all steering authority and it rounds up sharply.

Prices start at around $160 for a boat with this kind of layout, including the radio. I've always liked the Pro Boat Sanibel, which is well constructed and larger, for around $300.

BWS

[Maren]

Originally Posted by scm007

Haha, it really is for a project! Although the purpose is for fun. In college I built a robot that learned how to travel between rooms, avoiding walls and such. I want to see if I can build a sailboat that will learn how sail.

Have you thought about going with flettener motors? I think the proof of concept has already been done with the Cloudia.