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Line control model sailing Seadercraft..Concept and Development home | Fairlead | sailing glossary | prices |
__Line Control Model Sailing!________________
The line control method of controlling a model sailboat uses a line that positions the sail and guides the boats direction of travel.
With our models, the control line (fishing line) acts as an extended mainsheet.
The control line is kept on a kite spool (or winder) held in one hand, and the other hand
controls the lines tension. When the wind swings the sail, you resist the pull on the mainsheet and hold it where it produces the most energy and the boat sails forward.
The ideal location for sailing can be wherever one can wade in safety and comfort, sandy tidal flats and shorelines of oceans and lakes. A pair of quality water shoes should be worn.
Being in the water heightens the sense of connectivity between you and the model, you are
able to study and respond at close range to the sailing conditions, even make adjustments to
the rigging and centerboard when needed.
This does not exclude you from just sailing from the shoreline, or a dock, the models
can sail 'kite like' for hundreds of feet, and retrieved by rewinding.
Sailing when in the water at a close distance (10-20 ft.) is good for speed and quick
manoeuvring. The greater the distance the less directional control you have, however, as distance increases, line drag (friction) automatically tensions the line and helps to hold the boat on a steady course.
As with all things done well, it takes practice. The basic manoeuvres can be learned in a day, yet each time you sail you will learn more. With practice you realize how attuned you become to wind direction and force, approaching
weather (wind puffs and waves), the sails' shape and the constant attention that is required
to sail any boat regardless of its size.
To find out more about seader sailboats and this unique method of sailing
and crafting visit our,
'Frequently asked Questions' page, to see example models, visit Fairlead.
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__Seader Sailboats, Concept and Development__________
Many sailing schools use detailed model sailboats as an aid in their
'on shore' training sessions. Seader Sailboats were first conceived as a downsized version
with the added ability to demonstrate, in water, the fundamentals of sailing a board boat
using the line control method.
A keel boat must have a sail plan designed to match the underwater (lateral) profile of the hull to achieve a balanced helm. But a boat with an adjustable keel can shift its centre of lateral resistance to adapt to different sail plans. One simple idea followed another, resulting in a humble looking, but fully functional sailing model. It became apparent that the learning value of a model presented as a 'hands on' craft,
was far greater than a pre configured model.
(you learn more about sails and foils, if you design your own.)
A craft that anyone with modest abilities could learn, using 'scratch' materials anyone
could find, at little or no cost. The solid hull design chosen is a good one and does not need to be altered, however,
since boat hulls come in different shapes we have chosen a design that enables you to modify
the hull, if you choose, to produce design-specific sailing characteristics, using simple
woodworking tools. ( We also have a simple woodworking page. )
The decorative aspect of your boat, paint, stains etc. is up to you, we even give you a
few tips. As a 'craft' you are not limited to only using the materials and methods suggested,
but encouraged to develop some of your own ideas and share them with other enthusiasts on-line.
__about Seadercraft___________ ....Just in case you were wondering, the name 'Seadercraft' comes from the wood (cedar), and the sea, (what I sail in).
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