WICKSTEED PARK MODEL BOAT CLUB
A BOAT FROM PLASTIC RAINWATER GUTTER

In the August 1999 issue of Classic Boat was an article about the National 18 belonging to Roy Downes, which he had rerigged with a lug mainsail and leg'o mutton mizzen on steeply raked masts. I liked the look of it and thought it would be a good rig for a model, but I needed a hull to put it on.
Calling at Jewsons one day for something for the house, I spotted some plastic rainwater gutter and realised I could make a hull from it quite easily so I bought a 2 metre length.
One metre of gutter forms the basis of the hull. Pieces were cut out of each side at both ends with the bottom panel brought up and glued to the altered sides, wired where necessary and the sides forced apart at the bow to create flare. 6mm by 3mm inwhales were fitted and the sides pulled apart in the middle to increase beam from 41/2 inches to 51/4 inches, which created a pleasing sheer. Beam at the stern was reduced to 4 inches.
The deck, which is 3mm liteply, was extended 3 inches beyond the gutter at the bow and built up underneath.The transom is 3mm liteply faced with 0.6mm ply and 0.6mm ply also forms the sloping side panels. A waterproof hatch in the middle of the deck gives access to the radio gear and another in the transom affords access to the mizzen jack-line and the rudder-head.
Masts are from dowel, the mizzen bumpkin from brass tube and the fin and rudder from hardwood faired to an aerofoil section. The lead ballast is from flashing wrapped in successive layers round dowel, epoxied and faired
with P38 filler.
Sails are from drafting film, the mainsail being panelled and are operated by a Hitec Power servo connected to an arm spanning the hull in such a way that the end of the arm has 71/2 inches of travel.
It sails well being nicely balanced with only a touch of weather helm, but goes best in a good breeze.
Cost, excluding the Power servo, was not more than £25, £14 for the gutter, £5 for one metre of drafting film and a few pounds for the wood, ply and other bits and pieces. I was given off-cuts of lead flashing.

Richard Bass

These 3 photos.were sent to me by Sam with the folowing message

  Hi Martin don't know if this may be of any interest to you or other
club members I have been looking for a small steam
engine and boiler and hapend to see these on ebay .
I thought i would have a look at them as they were locally made. The
guy who makes them asked if i would pass on the details to the club .
The price for the twin is £100 and about £75.0 for the single.I don't
know any thing about steam so cannot coment on quality (etc) ,but from
what i saw they looked ok.
Regards Sam

Thanks Sam
I need all the info going to keep the web site interesting!!!
Palaform is run by one of our
club members
Palaform Ltd
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