free rc sailboat plans

Racing Sparrow Plans

Check out these plans and resources, ranging from a 375mm boat to a 1500mm yacht. Pair these with our eBook guide for a fast, easy, and affordable home build RC yacht.

RS-RG65 - 650mm plans, measures to international RG65 rules

A full forward hull and a straight stern. This boat has proven to be a very fast and competitive racer.

Free Book Sample - PDF

A few pages from the eBook absolutely free

Racing Sparrow 750 plans

The plans that come with the eBook.

Racing Sparrow 1000 plans

A one metre version, scaled up lines. Bulkhead only plans. Look at the 750 for full schematics.

Racing Sparrow 1500 plans - A scaled up Racing Sparrow

A larger size model yacht. I haven't seen many of these surface. It's a good challenge to build.

Racing Sparrow 375 plans - The smallest sparrow

A miniature RacingSparrow. A great introduction to building with balsa.

RacingSparrow Footy plans

A double diagonal design footy from RacingSparrow.

Logos & Sticker Sheet

Downloadable logos and an EPS file to be sent to a printer and printed out on navy blue cutout vinyl.

Common questions about the plans

What tools do i need to build a racingsparrow.

1. Chisel 2. Craft-knife 3. Drill Bit - 2mm (5/64in)bit 4. Drill Bit - 5mm (3/16in) bit 5. Electric Drill 6. Felt Marker 7. File 8. Hacksaw 9. Hammer 10. Hole Punch 11. Lighter 12. Pen 13. Pencil 14. Pins 15. Pliers 16. Ruler (steel) 17. Sanding Block 18. Scissors 19. Screwdriver 20. Spirit Level (optional) 21. Sponge Brush (several) 22. Vice Grips

Do I need the eBook to build this cool rc sailboat?

No you don't. The book is designed for the newcomer to model yacht building. The book does make it a much simpler process with every detail figured out and covered in the book. Seasoned builders can simply have a go with the free plans.

Are the plans really free?

Yes all the plans are free to download and use as you see fit. The most comprehensive plans are the RS750 A1 full size.

Are there CAD files or 3D files?

Yes there is a 3D dxf file inside a zip file that you can download for free and use how you want. Some people use this in CAD programs or in 3D modelling programmes to great effect. Look under Racing Sparrow 750 plans on this page. An STL file for 3D printing is in the pipelines. Email me if you want a copy.

While we think 3D printing is great, we believe old-skool strip planking balsa is a wonderfully simple way to make a very lightweight boat with excellent longitudinal strength and beauty.

Builders eBook

Dive into the world of boat building with our eBook. Discover the craft of hull planking, fibreglass strengthening, and lead keel ballast casting.

Master the art of electrics installation, spray painting, sail making, and tuning of sails. Download a sample today and embark on a rewarding journey of boat construction.

What the builders and sailors say:

Being a complete novice, I purchased your book a couple of years ago and built two racing sparrows. Building on this experience I then went on to build, from scratch, an IOM (Triple Crown design). I've since joined a local club and sail virtually every weekend. I would just like to thank you for your endeavours which have allowed me to enter a world I never thought was in my reach.

John Sterland, Australia

Coming upon your book, "Build your own Radio Controlled Yacht" in the Napier Public Library, I am hugely impressed. The combination of your superb photos and illustrations with your easy writing style make it a standout publication and I hope it does well for you.

Richard Spence, New Zealand

Thanks for an excellent design in your RG65. I trialled her again today in a solid 20 knots gusting higher. Even so in a steep chop and fingers off the rudder she drove upwind remarkably well, balanced perfectly. Very impressed that a model boat can handle that with a large rig. I found the book excellent. Ive built several big boats, plus a few skiffs and without that resource building such a good boat would have been impossible.

Mike Bennett

Look at all these cool boats folk have made at home

There is also a full gallery with a boat load of photos of Racing Sparrow's

An icy looking spot for a 375!

Jan 3, 2011

Julian Anthony , Kohuwala, Sri Lanka

Jun 4, 2021

Bryn's fibreglass Racing Sparrow , Wellington, New Zealand

Sep 2, 2008

This red boat is the latest racing sparrow that we've built and put to the test. It has been built for wellington conditions. It has the maximum 1.3kg lead bulb. It has a basic deck structure, no plywood, 1 layer of balsa with a coat of resin-only to save on weight and budget. It uses the more basic hatch construction of plastic sheet taped on with ducktape, very effective and waterproof. The sails are maxed out, being cut very close to the plans, maybe a little bigger, there are no rules about max sail area in the class rules! Another difference on this boat is the mast has been painted black for a different look.

Apr 20, 2020

I bought the racing sparrow book about 18 months ago, didn’t ever think it would take an awful pandemic to prompt me to build it. Now can’t wait to rig and sail it. I opted for flush hatches to run the sheets over the top.

Kevins stunning RG65 , New Zealand

Aug 1, 2013

John Clark , Perth, Western Australia

Nov 22, 2008

Eric Rosenbaum , USA

Feb 2, 2009

Jonathon Gillham , New Zealand

Oct 11, 2018

'Sparrow' based RG 65

May 2, 2020

Matt - Fly Girl 750

Oct 1, 2014

BoatNews.com

Step by step for the construction of the MiniX, everything to build a radio-controlled sailboat

The MiniX is a radio-controlled sailboat for which we provide you with the plans free of charge. Built in extruded and laminated polystyrene, it offers a very pleasant marine behaviour. Here is a step-by-step for its realization.

After presenting you the concept of our MiniX ( you will find here a link to download the plans free of charge ), now let's get down to business and construction. Let's open a shipyard here!

We offer you the fruit of our reflections and a quick follow-up of the realization of our MiniX. These are our ideas and solutions, but there are undoubtedly others. Don't think that everything was solved at first glance! Here are a few hull tests before arriving at the final solution. Behind these skeletons, there are a few hours of bubbling brains.

Here, a small example of cogitation to imagine the functioning of the two servo arms. Will there be enough room to house all the mechanisms?

Cutting of the structure

• Print the plans in A4 format from the PDF file.
• Tape together the sheets to be connected (you have markings on the overlapping planes).
• Glue the sheets with a repositionable spray glue (type 3M) on the 6 mm Depron.
• Cut with the cutter on the lines.
• Print (in duplicate), glue and cut out the two combs that are used to guide the squaring of the couples during gluing.

Gluing of couples

For gluing, we use epoxy resin lightly filled with silica to thicken it.

• Stick the couples on the central ridge.
• Make sure that the assembly is square by placing the skeleton above the plane. Make sure that each pair is square and that the central edge is not warped.

Gluing of top edges

• Make a blank mount to visualize the pressures to be applied.
• The most delicate part is at the back where the Depron is on the verge of breaking. Take it easy. To limit the risk, you can heat the Depron with a hair dryer.
• A piece of string keeps the pressure on the back.
• Beware, under pressure the structure tends to rise. Watch its position carefully.
• Prevent the elastic bands from marking the planking too much by inserting protective wedges (from Depron Falls).

Gluing of the bottom planking

• Like the previous ones, the lower borders are also made of a 8 cm piece of Depron.
• To avoid marking the first planking too much with the rubber bands, it is protected by a Depron fall.
• The joint between the two planks must be ideally placed in the centre of the boat . To ensure a perfect connection between the two, you can angle the joint slightly using a sanding block and fine sandpaper.

Exterior stratification

• The shell is covered with a layer of 86 g/m² glass cloth and a surface layer of 48 g/m² glass cloth. The second layer is placed at 45° to the first to distribute the stress on the fibres.
• Ideally, the same weight of fabric and resin should be used (here 40 g). In reality, we consumed 10 g more resin for "touch-ups".
• An 86 g/m² fabric is placed on the bow and another identical one on the transom.
• To facilitate the installation of the fabrics, the shell is installed on the combs already in use.
• Beware of the bubbles that can form as well as all the dirt that inexorably forms a visible bump in the finish.
• Excess fabric is cut off with scissors once the resin is dry.

Interior Stratification

• It is necessary to hollow out the useless parts: the central bulkhead in the 2 compartments which will receive the electronics as well as the rear part to be able to install the cockpit.
• With fabric, we reinforce the centre of the boat which will support all the efforts: mast, shrouds and keel .

We use glass cloth:

• 86 g/m² for the bottom that rises to the edges.
• 86 g/m² that revolves around all vertical partitions.
• 48 g/m² to double the first lamination.

Construction of the mast

The metal anchor points are fixed to the mast with a binding made with sailing wire and then covered with resin. We used 1 mm piano wire, twisted as we wished, to make the anchoring points. The mast is a 6 mm carbon tube bought in the kite department of a sport shop.

We'll have to fix:

• The gooseneck which also serves as an anchor point for the vang.
• The jib furling system to which the two shrouds and the forestay return.
• The masthead for the main halyard. We have also planned for a possible backstay so as not to be restricted for future modifications (but after a few sailings, it seems that we will never use them...).

Chainplates and mast step

You will notice that we have positioned four shroud locks, where two would have been sufficient. The furthest ones are used to tension the forestay, but we were afraid that the shrouds would interfere with the opening of the mainsail downwind, so we placed two more further forward. In use, the backward position doesn't interfere, we always use the rear chainplates. Note that the mast's 6 mm carbon tube, which is 10 cm long and is embedded in the hull, is enough to make the mast without shrouds. But in this case the forestay is too slack, hence the presence of shrouds (not to mention the unsightliness of a mast without shrouds...).

• The mast step is a tube that we made ourselves by laminating over the mast tube. In order to be able to remove it from the mould, we covered it with cling film . There are also 8 mm carbon tubes with 6 mm inside.
• The chainpads are made by twisting 1 mm piano wire.
• Their gluing is simple if you are careful. Avoid large patties that will be impossible to sand afterwards.
• You're going to need a good eye to get the mast upright..

• The jib boom must not rise towards the sky when it is shocked, otherwise its sail will open at the top and lose all its power downwind. Unlike a mainsail , it is not possible to install a vang. We have therefore solved this problem by installing a vertical rotation axis that blocks the boom upwards.
• The rotation axis (fixed in the hull) is cut in a 4 mm carbon tube (like the boom) while the pivot will be the same 6 mm carbon tube.
• The two parts are assembled with filled resin and reinforced with a 3mm plywood triangle (or whatever you have).
• The axis of rotation will be glued into the bow, itself well reinforced to support the effort.
• It is simpler to be in pairs when drilling to ensure proper alignment (in both planes) so that the axis is vertical.

Keel well and servo support

The keel well is made of plywood . The keel penetrates inside and is held in place with a bolt locking system. The keel well must be well adjusted to avoid play in the keel . The conical shape at the back makes it possible to lock the keel well.

All the mechanics (servos) are distributed on each side of the keel . We have fixed a horizontal support made with a Depron sandwich.

Bridge bonding and coating

The deck is glued to the top of the couples and covered with a glass cloth that goes down slightly on the planks. With a fine coating, a perfect finish is obtained.

The design of the deckhouse was the result of several modelings. But after a few tries, we made a polystyrene mould. The deckhouse is held on the deck only by angles all around the opening, which also provides a semblance of watertightness.

The angles are made of composite (resin + fabric) on a square wood covered with kitchen paper. We used about ten 48g fabrics to make a 0.5 mm thick piece.

It's not our forte, but we've still given our MiniX a little sailboat look.

Ballast moulding

The ballast is made of lead, to realize it, we made a wax mother piece (a candle that we brought to the desired shape. Then plaster casting in 2 half-moulds before casting lead definitively. In each ballast, we have "celé" screws which come to stick in the keel veil.

The keel is made of plywood . The bulb is glued at the bottom.

We groped our way through before finding the right compromise for the ballast position. Three versions of the keel: the last one (bottom) is starting to meet the specifications, and in profile, we can see that the ballast is set back from the keel axis. We came to this conclusion after testing other keels. The junction with the hull works. Well wedged in the keel well, the keel doesn't move a hair.

The rudder blade (see drawing for shape) is cut from 4 mm plywood .

It is then refined at the back and rounded at the front.

Purists will say that the two sides should not be symmetrical so that the water streams do not come off. Moreover, the trailing edge must not be pointed , but on the contrary at right angles, always for water threads. But it is difficult to do this on such a small scale.

In the end, we applied a few coats of varnish to the rudder to ensure a semblance of a watertight barrier.

The sails are built with widths glued with Blenderm (surgical tape that you can buy in pharmacies). The sail "fabric" is simply film that the florist uses to wrap his bouquets. It's incredibly strong and won't warp.

• For the sails to transmit all their power, you must look for rigid ropes (not elastic). We went to a kite shop to find 0.5 mm bitch.
• Customised" fishing clamps ensure the connection with the chainplates and allow the mast to be removed.
• Without the possibility of reducing the mainsail (we have no reefing), the only solution left is to flatten the sail as much as possible to limit its power. So we have a trim and adjustable halyard tension. The vang also allows us to open the sail downwind.
• Pieces of transparent tube (from an aquarium), are forced onto the carbon booms. They are the ones that block the manoeuvres and allow the tension adjustments.
• Tensioners are plastic parts with three holes.

Footy Plans

Below are several sets of free Footy plans. Our latest addition is the BUG3, a highly successful design from Roger Stollery in the UK. There's also a new version of "Razor" from Bill Hagerup. He claims the "Razor3" is much better than the original "Razor", but I'm leaving the old plans on the website too. Then there's Angus Richardson's "Moonshadow", followed by Mario Stiller's "Papaya III", Bill Hagerup's "Cobra" and Brett McCormack's "Bob About". Some of these designs are relatively simple to build, others are rather complex! (For an even simpler boat, check out visit Wayne Russell's Bottle Yacht web pages (built with a plastic soda bottle!). See also the Articles page for more inspiration. The WoodenBoat store is also carrying Footy plans for two boats now, search for Brando and Presto .

For those interested in building Ranger, the best source is my article in ModelYachting magazine (Spring 2011, No. 163). The six-page article includes a lot of build pics and very nice drawings done by Jim Linville from my rough originals. The magazine has been distributed to AMYA members, and is available for others from the Ship's Store at theamya.org. Given the difficulty of international mailing, etc., I am posting my originals as requested for those who can't get the magazine. They aren't as pretty, but they are what I build from. Designed displacement is 300 grams. I hope you enjoy the boat.

Razor3 is a better-handling boat than the original (which is now rather old) and the plans are more complete. I also think the narrower beam makes it easier to build. Razor3 is the boat I sailed to second place in last month's Euro GP in the UK.

"Since Razor is a few years old, I thought it was time to post a design that reflects my current thinking. This is a set of plans and a couple pics for my Cobra (the prototype for my entry in the Liverpool Challenge in July, 2008.) It's a bit more complex than Razor, but a better performer, too. The plans are to be printed on 8-1/2 by 14 inch paper. The boat is 300 mm long when built to the plan. The other 5 mm is left for you to make a bow piece to round off the nose as in the pics. I'm posting the same plan I used to build my boat, which means the interior layout, electronics, and rig are left to your preference. Interior bulkheads are not required. Please don't email me for more detailed info...there isn't any! You can refer to the many pics on this site for reference on how others have fitted out their boats. Scott Spacie has done extensive testing of this design, and he assures me that it floats. I hope you'll have fun with it."

I call it Razor. It's intended to be easy to build, so it's a chine design, but I don't think its performance will suffer. I expect it to be a stable boat that is stiff enough to carry more sail than my Halfpint. I built the hull you see in 3 hours. I spray glued the plans to some 1/32 balsa sheet and cut out the panels with a scissors. Then I taped the hull together and superglued the seams. It got a bit tricky at the bow when I glued my fingers to the hull.....but all worked out in the end.

Frank Russell Design

R/c and model yacht design, plans, boats, sails..

I have been a designer of model and radio yachts since 1968. Boats been built from my plans now number in the hundreds both from both home and production builders. Many of my designs have won State and National Championships in Australia and overseas. New designs are added periodically and occasionally I do receive requests for specific designs. I also from time to time produce free plans.

Most of my older plans Pre 2000 will eventually be available as PDF files of the original large format drawing. The plans are located here:

A more complete list of my designs is here:

Plans are normally drawn on A4 and A3 format. Sections and appendages are normally drawn full size, 1:1. Some fin and bulb drawings are drawn to be printed in two halves and joined after printing. Arrangement drawings are 1:5 and sometimes 1:4.  

Make sure when printing that the “Scaling” or “Fit to Page” option is turned off in your printer setup when you print. I also have the “Print Preview” turned on as well so I can check if the page size is correct. All drawings are in either A4 or A3 size paper.

Each drawing has a 100mm scale which will allow you to see if the drawings are the correct size.

The PDF drawings are usually emailed within a few hours of receiving your order from Paypal by email. DXF and DWG formats are available for most plans. Just ask and they also will be emailed. 

Printed Paper Plans are avialable and are printed from the same plan as the PDF. Please ask before ordering. There is usually an additional postage charge for Printed Paper Plans.

LATEST PLANS:

LOA: 938mm LWL: 915mm BOA: 190mm Disp: 5.1kg

PDF Plan emailed or Printed and posted on 6 A4 and A3 sheets

If you require another format: DXF, or DWG, 2D or 3D or printed paper plan, postage extra.

Ellipsis 36 2023 is a 36 inch restricted class designs based on the Ellipsis IOM design. The 36r design was a request from a UK skipper for a lighter version of the 2017 design for both Radio and vane sailing. This design shuld be more suitable for lighter wind smooth water venues than the 2017.

LOA: 938mm LWL: 915mm BOA: 189mm Disp: 4.4kg

Goth 36 2017 is an 36 inch restricted class design based on the Goth IOM design. The original request came from John Fisher in 2013 who wanted a very light 36r for vane sailing. This design is the third design in the series, which has progressively become heavier and more successful.

New Equinox IOM   Plan : The Equinox is a variant of the Ellipsis… IOM.  The basic  design was produced initially as a 3D printed project that never eventuated for various reasons. Two prototypes were built including a 3D printed boat which was built by John Taylor in the UK.  The design incorporates several features of some of the newer IOM shapes including a fuller higher bow profile and wider stern. The design is well balanced and well behaved like the Ellipsis and should be as easy to plank from wood.

Hulls an components for this design are now available. See IOM COMPONENTS Page.

After payment is made. I will email you the pdf file.

Please ask If you require another format: DXF, or DWG, 2D or 3D or printed paper plan, Postage extra.

Phoenix 4 2020 10r Every new design presents a designer with options to consider and directions to go. After a ten year gap from the P3, all 10r’s had adopted the deep keel, light weight approach and although it did seem to work I after the P5 I though that the Phoenix 4 design although fast went in the wrong direction. I always have thought about what I should have done. So this is P4- 2020, with 2020 hindsight is the result.

LOA 1550mm LWL 1250mm BOA 200mm BWL 180mm, 4.2kg ballast on 600mm Draught and P1 to P3, Marblehead style sail plans on a flat deck.

She even drawn in the same software as the original.

After payment is made. I will email you the pdf file. Plan has A3, A4 sheets and a larger sheet with sections deasigned for laser cutting.

Goth 36 is an 36 inch restricted class design based on the Goth IOM design. The original request came from John Fisher in 2013 who wanted a very light 36r for vane sailing. this design is the second in the series, heavier and more successful.   There is also a later 2017 version which will be published soon.

LOA: 938mm LWL: 899mm BOA: 190mm Disp: 4.4kg

If you require another format: DXF, or DWG, 2D or 3D or printed paper plan, just ask.

UFO Mk2 – A development of the successful UFO with a heavier displacement and larger sail plan. Improved aft sections with the chine removed.

LOA: 1838mmLWL: 1250mm Disp: 15kg SA: 0.978763 m2

PDF Plan emailed or Printed and posted on 12 A3 sheets

Phoenix 8 – 10r:  The Phoenix MK 8 is a larger more powerful boat than the last three Phoenix Mks. The P8 is a return to the simple design, No chines, no raised fore deck and Marblehead rig profiles as used from P1 to P3. This allows simpler light weight construction and fully open soft decks and shared rigs if you have a Marblehead.

LOA: 1650 mm LWL: 1240mm, BOA: 170mm, Draught: 630 – 680mm, Disp 5.7kg, SA: 1.00 m2

The Free updated IOM mast and boom schematic along with FRD IOM Setup Guide

FRD IOM Setup Guide Mast and Booms combined Feb 2020

Epsilon RG65 – 65 2019:    This design is based on the successful Ellipsis IOM concept, that of correct volume distribution rather than fashionable features with the emphasis on simplicity and efficiency.

Plans are PDF format or printed paper plan only. 3D hull and 2D bow and stern sections in DXF or DWG format are available on request.

Equation Marblehead 2019:    This design is based on the successful Ellipsis IOM concept, that of correct volume distribution rather than fashionable features with the emphasis on simplicity This design is the result of two Sailing Marblehead prototypes, The Ellipsis 1c and Ellipsis 2a.

Cerberus – 6m Something more of a challenge from a designers and builder’s point of view. A class I have always admired. This is Ceberus, my first published Six Metre design. This is the result of several requests for a design in the class and also a desire on my part build a six Metre for fun sailing locally. There are a couple of boats that will be built in the UK to join the fleet there. This design is intended to excel in moderate winds and will outperform anything of similar size drought and displacement in Australian conditions. Plans are $30 pdf plans from my PLANS page with other formats available. This design may also be available for 3D printing at a later date.

LOA: 1515mm, LWL :1020mm, Displacement: 11.75kg,  SA:0.682019m2

FREE PLANS:

Goth XPRG RG65 for 3D printing:   Deutsch Benoit has completed these drawings for the Goth XP RG  and has kindly made them available for free download from this site. The file is a zipped file containing all the STL files.

Deutche’s Notes: I’m happy to share with you the 3D model in STL designed for small printers ( diam 13mm & 13 mm hight ) Only the bulb fin need to be printed in 2 half. Holes are performed to insert carbon stick. Hope You will enjoy it.

Be free to put  it on you web site ( just insert my name )  if you are happy of my job (  and do not  hesitate to revert if something wrong ).

Printer parameter are : filling 100% for all elements, Hull thickness 1.2mm, Support normally you don’t need. Just glue with cyano. The mast tube is 12mm outside and 10mm diam inside.

Goth XP RG Benoit update 01

Gothica A class 2017 FREE Click HERE  Gothica A class Plan to download the pdf

GOTH – USOM $FREE Click HERE:  Goth-USOM to Download as pdf

GothiX 10r  –  Ten Rater CLASS YACHT   $FREE  Click HERE:  Gothix-10r to download as pdf

GothiX Youtube Video

GOTH RG – RG65 CLASS YACHT $FREE Click HERE: Goth-RG to Download as pdf $FREE  RG65-Sail-Plans

GOTHIC – M   $FREE  Click HERE: Gothic-M-Plan to Download as pdf

FREE  Marblehead-Sail-Plans

RG-65 Class

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The Model Shipwright

How to build first-class ship models from kits or from scratch using actual ship plans, free downloadable high-resolution ship plans, starting point for scratch-built ship model building.

All the the plans offered on The Model Shipwright  and The Model Shipwright blog are available on this site in high-resolution files. The images on the blog posting are linked directly to the page here with the downloadable files, or you can search from this page by ship type, ship name, or the historical period in which it was built. We put a lot of work in tracking down these plans, and in some cases digitized them ourselves and put in time cleaning up and repairing the images to make them more useful. Feel free to use them for your modeling projects, but please don’t just take them to repost on your site. We have digitally watermarked them to identify them as coming from this site.

Motor Vessels Ships for which the primary motive of propulsion is an engine

Sailing Vessels

Vessels for which the primary motive of propulsion is sails

Oar-powered Vessels

Vessels for which the primary motive of propulsion is rowing

Coast Guard Vessels

We offer plans of U.S. Coast Guard vessels ranging from early sailing cutters of the revenue service to modern motor vessels such as the buoy tender White Sumac.

Ships whose primary purpose is warfare are cross referenced on this page, whether motor, sail, or oar-powered vessels

Cargo Ships

Ships whose primary purpose is cargo transport are cross referenced on this page, whether motor, sail, or oar-powered vessels

Utility Vessels

Ships whose primary purpose is to serve the maritime industry, such as pilot vessels, tugboats, or lighters are cross referenced on this page, whether motor, sail, or oar-powered vessels

14 comments

How detailed are your plans? Can you email me one page showing it?

You can download the plans directly from the website. Go to the page of plans you want, and left-click on the plan image to open the image file. Then right-click on the image and choose “save image as” to download it to your computer. The plans can be opened with any image-editing or preview software. Save it to a removable drive and you can take the drive to a local copy shop to be printed on their large-format printer.

Do you accept donated paper plans? I may thin out my collection.

Send us a message on our contact page, we’re always looking for submissions!

WAGB -10 or WAGB-11 Looking for plans. Can anyone help? Thx

I have a set of some 200+ plans for WAGB-10, what are you looking for?

I am looking for drawings of below main deck layouts of 1700-1800 “Man of War” ships. Do you have any?

Check out our page on the French Man of War Montebello It has several views of the below decks.

does anyone know where I could get plans for a VLCC oil tanker /?

I have some GA plans for some tankers, what are you looking for?

I am looking for the typical or average hull ratios: beam/lenght, beam/keel, beam/depth, beam/draught, tonnage, displacement, and burthen of the various types of Ships during the age of sail. Any recomendations?

One of the best experts on the subject was Howard Chapelle. He probably answers the question in one of his many books on sailing ships. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_I._Chapelle

[…] Ship Plans […]

Anyone know of a source for plans for the Steamer Eastland, that capsized in the Chicago River in 1915?

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14+ DIY Remote Control (RC) Boat Plans [FREE]

My nephew and I had been wanting to build a remote control boat for a while. We finally got around to it one weekend, and it was a lot of fun.

Table of Contents

We started by choosing the right boat. We wanted something small and easy to control, so we went with a basic monohull design. We also chose an electric motor, since they’re less powerful but easier to use and maintain.

The next step was to choose the right battery. We went with a sealed lead acid battery, since they’re cheap but have shorter run times.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Max Imagination (@max.imagination)

Once we had the boat assembled, we took it out for a test run on our local lake. The boat performed well, and my nephew had a blast steering it around.

We’ll definitely be going out again soon to enjoy some more time on the water.

Making remote control boats is a fun and rewarding hobby. The boat and its remote controls can be quickly built as a single project. This DIY project can be done by almost all people, even those that do not have any building experience.

To turn this project into something extraordinary, the internals of the watercraft need to be mechanically designed and built with care to ensure durability.

DIY Remote Control Boat Ideas & Designs

1. home-made remote control boat.

If you’re thinking of making a remote control boat, there are a few things you need to consider. The first is the size of the boat. You’ll need to take into account the dimensions of your pond or lake, as well as the wind conditions. If you’re going to be sailing in open water, you’ll need a larger boat that can handle choppy conditions.

2. Remote Control Boat With Fusion360

The second factor is the type of motor. There are two main types of motors for remote control boats: electric and gasoline. Gasoline motors are more powerful, but they’re also more expensive and require more maintenance. Electric motors are less powerful but easier to use and maintain. 

3. Remote Control Knex Boat

The third factor is the type of battery. Again, there are two main types: sealed lead acid (SLA) and lithium ion (Li-ion). SLA batteries are cheaper but have shorter run times, while Li-ion batteries are more expensive but have longer run times. When choosing a battery, you’ll need to take into account how long you want to be able to run your boat for.

4. Remote Control Airboats for Kids

Finally, you need to consider the type of controller you’ll use. There are two main types: radio controlled (RC) and infrared (IR). RC controllers use radio waves to communicate with the boat, while IR controllers use infrared light. IR controllers are typically cheaper, but they have shorter range than RC controllers.

5. Building a Self-Driving Boat

Radio-controlled (RC) boats are a fun and exciting hobby for people of all ages. Whether you’re interested in racing or simply exploring the waterways, there’s an RC boat out there that’s perfect for you. But with so many different types and models to choose from, how do you know which one is right for your needs?

6. DIY Arduino Catamaran

One of the most important things to consider is the size of the boat. RC boats come in a variety of sizes, from small bathtub toys to full-sized racing hulls. If you’re just starting out, it’s probably best to choose a smaller boat that you can easily control. As you become more experienced, you can move up to larger boats with more powerful motors.

7. How to Make a DIY Remote Control Airboat

Another important factor to consider is the type of hull. The two most common hull types are monohulls and catamarans. Monohulls are traditional boats with a single hull, while catamarans have two separate hulls connected by a platform. Catamarans are generally faster and more stable than monohulls, making them ideal for racing. However, they can be more difficult to control, so they may not be the best choice for beginners.

8. How To Make Remote Control Boat at Home

When choosing an RC boat, it’s important to think about what you want to use it for. Are you interested in racing? Or do you simply want to cruise around your local lake? Once you know how you want to use your RC boat, it will be much easier to narrow down your choices and find the perfect one for your needs.

9. How To Make a Mini RC Boat

RC boats are a great way to have fun on the water. Whether you’re racing against friends or just exploring your local lake, these little boats can provide hours of enjoyment. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your RC boat:

Choose the right boat. There are a variety of RC boats on the market, from simple dinghies to high-speed racers. Pick one that suits your needs and Preferences.

10. How to Make a Remote Control Boat

Get familiar with the controls. Before you take your boat out on the water, make sure you understand how to operate the controls. This will help you avoid collisions and other accidents.

Practice makes perfect. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your boat in different conditions. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at handling it.

11. How To Make a Fast RC Boat

4. Have fun! Ultimately, that’s what RC boating is all about. So relax and enjoy yourself!

How to make a remote control boat

1. design and prepare the shape of the boat.

Design and prepare the shape of your boat. The design needs to be planned before any building can take place. Deciding on the design early can ensure that it will be built correctly. Work on a plan for at least one week to get your ideas together.

The simplest way to design the design is to draw on paper using pencils or markers. A more professional method would use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software which can help with the design process.

2. Design the electronics

Now that the boat’s shape is done, it is time to design the electronics. Please list all your components and decide the best way to put them together. Remember, this task does not have to be complicated and can be completed with ease by following these easy steps:

3) Design & install the onboard controls

Now that you have designed your electronics, it is time to work on the onboard controls. Again, design your electronics to serve the purpose that you want them to.

4) Assemble the electronics for testing and troubleshooting.

Once you have designed all of your electronics, it’s time to sell them together so you can test them before you do any soldering on the boat itself. This step is essential to prevent unexpected problems while building the boat itself.

5) Assemble and install electronics into the boat hull.

Before wiring can be done inside the boat, the electrical tape should be wrapped around all exposed wire connections. This keeps wires from shorting out because they are touching each other while assembled in the boat’s hull.

6) Wire the electronics to their respective locations.

Now that the electronics have been assembled, connected, and wrapped in electrical tape, it is time to wire them into the boat. Begin wiring by starting with a power source of some sort, typically a battery pack. These are easily installed later, so do not worry if your boat will not have one.

7) Assemble the motor, wiring, and electronics onto the boat hull.

Next, it is time to assemble the motor and wiring onto the boat. This is a simple process. The size of your boat will determine how difficult this will be for you. Use your hands to firmly push the motor into place with the wires running through it to ensure that it does not fall off during this process or any after-step.

8) Install float switch and ignition circuit.

The next step is to install the float switch and ignition circuit. The float switch should be placed on top of the motor, as seen in the picture, so that a slight current can pass through it from one side to the other.

9) Install steering controls and electronics onto the boat hull.

It is time to install the steering controls and electronics onto the boat. This step is not a complicated process but will require some force as you push parts into place.

Apply electrical tape to any electrical connections as needed during this step. Once all connections have been made and secured, you can begin wiring inside the boat.

10) Install propeller into boat hull and wiring.

The next step is to install a propeller onto your craft, with wires running through it to prevent any accidental shorts or touching of wires causing damage during use.

Next, wire your electronics for remote operation before proceeding with this step due to potential battery issues that may arise later on in the operation of your watercraft.

Tips for keeping your remote control boat in good condition

Remote control boats are a great way to enjoy the water and have some fun, but they require some basic maintenance to keep them in good condition. Here are a few tips:

• Rinse off your boat after every use. This will help to remove any salt or other chemicals that could damage the paint or other parts of the boat.
• Store your boat in a dry place when not in use. This will help to prevent rust and corrosion.
• Check the batteries regularly and replace them as needed. This will ensure that your boat has enough power to run properly.
• Inspect the hull of your boat regularly for cracks or other damage. This will help you to identify any potential problems before they become serious.

By following these simple tips, you can keep your remote control boat in good condition and enjoy it for many years to come.

So there you have it, the basics of building your remote control boat from scratch. It is not as complicated as it may seem and can be easily accomplished by anyone who decides to build one of these boats.

These are just some basic steps in making a remote control boat, and there are many more ways to make your unique model that others will recognize for years to come.

Hi, my name’s Elena Coolidge. I’m a DIY enthusiast who loves building fun woodworking plans. These DIY plans are fun hobby projects for enthusiasts or even more advanced builders that want to build things like bunk beds, end tables or even a duck box!

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15 Free Boat Plans You Can Build This Week (with PDFs)

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

Why build your own boat, 1. the wanigan, 2. the mouse, 3. the slipper, 4. the handy andy, 5. the junior, 6. the jolly roger, 7. the cork, 8. the hobby kat, 9. the tern, 10. the falcon, 11. the white duck, 12. the sea midge, 13. the zephyr, 14. the gypsy, 15. the crazy cardboard boat, 15 free boat plans you can build this week (with pdfs) – final thoughts, share on pinterest.

• The Wanigan
• The Slipper

The Handy Andy

• The Jolly Roger
• The Hobby Kat

The White Duck

• The Sea Midge

The Crazy Cardboard 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)

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!

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

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

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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!

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!

Enjoyed 15 Free Boat Plans You Can Build This Week (with PDFs)? Share it with your friends so they too can follow the Kayakhelp journey.

Peter Salisbury

Pete is the Owner of KayakHelp.com. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, he grew up kayaking, fishing, sailing, and partaking in outdoor adventures around the Great Lakes. When he’s not out on the water, you can find him skiing in the mountains, reading his favorite books, and spending time with his family.

Model Boat Plans

Good model boat plans can be hard to find. i have listed maritime books, vendors, websites and model boat magazines that include line plans, drawings and blueprints for model boat and ship building..

Model boat plans are harder to come by than you would think. In all my years of model boat building I've never stopped looking for sources of decent plans. I’ve been happily surprised a number of times and disappointed at least just as often.

In an effort to help other hobbyists I've decided to list sources that I think could be useful. How useful will depend on your interest as most sources are pretty specific to an era or narrow subject - sometimes just a single ship. I've tried to add comments to help your determine if a book or plan is worth your time and money.

The Model Boat Plans Store

First, some shameless self-promotion. I'm now offering plans for sale in the store section (use link above). The plans are either CAD generated in PDF format or scanned and carefully edited to enhance the print quality. In either case they are offered at very competitive prices. The best part is that you download them directly onto your computer and print them at home or at your local copy store. Easy as pie as they say. Here is more information on printing PDF plans .

Free Model Boat Plans

This page is a list of websites that offer free model boat and ship plans. I’ve made no effort in distinguishing quality of the plans or difficulty in building a model from them. Some of these plans show model construction, which should make it easier for a beginner to complete.

To qualify to this list the ship plan must have all information necessary to finish at least a hull, as best I can tell.

Please Remember:  Beggars can’t be choosers, so be grateful these webmasters have made these plans available for free. On the other hand, some sites use "free" to draw in traffic, which is pretty cheesy in my opinion. The listed sources are free and, from what I can tell, offer a good product.

Maritime Books

All the maritime books listed has been selected with model boat builders in mind. Many has useful ship plans and other illustrations and photographs that make up great references.

Books with plans can be used directly or to draw up your own plans. Be warned though, books in general are relatively small and can pose problems when enlarging or scanning. Inclusion on this list has more to do with the fact that hull lines are present – not the quality of the print.

Speaking of quality of print – many books have been reprinted in several editions sometimes over centuries, as with the Architectura Navalis Mercatoria .

It is not uncommon that later editions have deteriorated print quality and in some cases the size of the book itself has gotten smaller. So as a general rule, if there is an opportunity, I’d advise you get the older edition even if the condition of the book may be less appealing.

Model Ship Books

These are books geared to builders, usually with "how-to" instructions and often plans. The model boat plans that come this way are either printed in the book itself or as a separate attachment. Having the plan separate is best in my opinion. Unfortunately, they are often printed on poor quality paper and are often folded.

Sometimes you can save big money by buying these books second-hand. Be warned though, in the case of plans being provided as a separate attachment, as they may go missing.

Model Ship Plans

All model boat plans were not created equal. The print may be fuzzy or too light to be legible, incomplete, lines not being true.

Sometimes you think you are getting a plan for a historic ship that, as it turned out, never existed!

In a nutshell, it is all too easy to be disappointed after spending $50 to $100 on a ship plan. Find out how you can minimize the risk of getting disappointed.

Model Boat Magazines

Some magazines include free plans in some editions. This is hit and miss. Don’t subscribe to a magazine hoping you’ll get a free plan you can build from. If you do, it may take years before one you like will show up. Magazines can be good for inspiration, reviews and to gain from other people’s experience. The magazines I've included come with model boat plans on occasion.

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Sailboat Plans

Free Sailboat Plans

A selection of some of the Free Sailboat Plans (pdf) that were published in magazines such as “Popular Mechanics”, "Popular Science" and the "Boat Builder Handbook".

If you need help with lofting out the plans click here for an article here which should help.

• Open Dayboats/Dinghys
• Rowing Boats

Open/Dayboat, Free Sailboat Plans

Everyone who digs boating has heard of the Hobie Cat, the sleek little catamaran that burst on the scene and captured the attention of all the fast-action sailors.

Marked by asymmetrical hulls and special trampoline supports, the Hobie can reach speeds above 20 mph and perform with a rare agility.

But it has one drawback.

It costs mucho dinero.

Thus, we introduce the Hobby Kat, sailboat plans, a build-it-yourself version of the “Hobie” that should cost from half to a third of the commercial version. If you have the moola, of course, go for a Hobie and have the time of your life on the water.

If not, try our Hobby

The homebuilt is not quite the same.

But she sails sweetly and fast—qualities which have made the “Hobie” popular

Even in a light air she’ll slip through the water at a fast clip.

She has no centreboards, leeboards or keel, and needs none.

The inside of each hull has built-in lift, like an airplane wing, so that as the boat heels and one hull digs in the boat is pulled back to windward.

Click Here for the Plans

She can run in very shallow water and the rudders kick up for beaching.

You can carry her on a trailer or even disassemble her.

Many a “stink pot” addict will take a second look at Tern because she planes in modest breezes, is easy to handle, and her streamlined prow arid pod-shaped, “inland scow” type hull offer slight water resistance. Then too, there’s a charm about the tiller of a sailer that’s not matched by the wheel of a motor-powered boat. Part of it is the challenge of making the most of nature’s free-wheeling breezes. Even with her 72sq.ft of sail, this Free Sailboat Plan is remarkably stable, and packs as many as four persons aboard

For thousands of inland lakes, Tern is the answer to sailing water sport, she is rugged and easy to launch

And she’s remarkably easy to build.

Falcon is a small, speedy, sporty sailboat which handles well. Tests on the original Falcon showed that she could easily out-distance boats of comparable size such as the one design class Snipe and Comet sailers.

And she will pace neck and neck with 18 footers with considerably greater sail spread.

This strong, beamy, eight-foot pram may be sailed either cat-rigged or sloop-rigged.

The dagger-board may be adjusted forward to balance the helm when sailing with the addition of a jib sail.

Oars or a small outboard motor may also be used to power this versatile Free Sailboat Plans.

Dart” is a small two or three person sailing craft, designed for use on protected waters such as bays. lakes, rivers or wherever sheltered waters are found. Its construction will repay the builder handsomely and provide a fast sailing craft, light in weight, easily transportable and cheap to construct with all difficult joinery eliminated

It provides thrilling and economical sport.

The 'Crescent', designed by C. T. Allen, is the ideal sailboat for day sailing on a small lake, river, or protected waters of a bay.

Centreboard design (Fig. 2) reduces Crescent's draft, so Shallow is not a problem.

Its broad beam of over 5½ft. makes it an ideal family boat because there is room for a cockpit large enough to accommodate four adults or two adults and three kids, and side and forward decks big enough to stretch out on when sun bathing.

"Jewel" is a 16' Crescent Sailboat being built by Mike Allen from the free sailboat plans by C.T .Allen in the 1958 "Boat Builders Handbook". And what a superb job Mike is doing check out his photos here .

Click Here for the Free version of the Plans

Sailing enthusiasts and backyard boat builders are not likely to find free boat plans for a sailing pram that can be built faster, lighter, stronger, or less expensively than Graefin-10. Two men can begin work on a Friday evening and have a smart, lively 10-ft. 85-pound sailboat in the water by Sunday evening (it’s been done).

Zephyr Is a refinement of a type of boat developed by the English for use in the rough open waters of the English Channel. Not only is it fast under sail, but it can stand up under punishment. And it’s light enough to be easily loaded atop an auto or light trailer.

Breeze-Baby

Skimming off a brisk wind or with the wind abeam, Breeze-Baby actually planes with one person aboard. Despite her rowboat lines that make her easy to build, she handles easily under her simple sail, an ideal first boat. Simple lines are adapted to plywood construction that’s strong, light and that keeps Breeze-Baby’s bilges dry

You can take her with you atop your car or on a lightweight trailer for summer fun wherever you vacation or get in a week-end’s sailing.

Cat’s Paw is easy to build because of the straight-sided hulls. The sheer line is flat and that simplifies building the form. Bow and stern are straight, so there’s no cockeyed bevel to fit and fuss with

She Is an Ideal boat to learn or practice sailing in because she will forgive so many mistakes.

Cabin Cruiser, Free Sailboat Plans

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