Line Control Model Sailing!______________

This method of controlling a model sailboat uses a line that positions the sail and guides the boats direction of travel. It is a direct, simple, low cost approach to model sailing that gives you precise pointing and directional control. It can be said that Seader Sailboats are to water, what kites are to the air.

Pared down to its two most essential elements, a sailboat requires a method of controlling the sails position, relative to the wind (so it can go) and, controlling the boats direction (so it goes where you want it to).
- This is done by adjusting the mainsheet (a line that holds the sail in position) and the rudder that holds or changes 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.
- The mainsheet, attached to the sail, passes through a fairlead at the stern of the boat and connects to the control line.

When the wind swings the sail, you resist the effort produced by the wind and the boat sails forward. (this direct control, lets you precisely trim the sail)
You then move with the boat through shallow water, or allow the boat to sail off as you continually feed the boat more line.

The tension used on the line to keep the sail trimmed, also maintains the boat on a steady course.

By angling the line, or by changing your position in the water, relative to the boat, and applying the right amount of tension, you can alter the boats' course and even change tack while still maintaining control of the sail.

This is done by friction on the mainsheet as it passes through the fairlead, the more acute the angle, the more grip. Plus, you are always directly connected to the boat and can stop or retrieve it by reeling it in.

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 rig when needed.

It is an active "get out there, get wet, and have fun" method of sailing. The ideal location being tidal flats and shorelines.

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 closer disance (10-20 ft.) is good for speed and quick manouevering. 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 cource.

The speed the boat travels varies with weather conditions and your boats' design. Some of our models that focus on speed will easily beat the common "pond boats" and radio control models of a similar size. Potentially, your design may best anything that we have made. Average speeds are just right for wading in knee deep water. A fast design in brisk weather may send you scrambling to keep up.

As with all things done well, it takes practice. Sailing our boats present a challenge other model types don't.  And that makes it all the more fun. The same mistakes made in a full size board boat apply to sailing our models. A poorly executed jibe (turn) or a sail held at a wrong position can make your model capsize just like the real thing.

With practice you reallize how atuned 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 homepage, to see example models, visit Fairlead.  

home | Fairlead | sailing glossary | prices |

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.

"Board boats" are different than "keel boats".  Keel boats rely on ballast to keep them upright, board boats rely on wide, flat hulls, proper sail positioning and weight distribution of the crew to stay upright. A prototype model, made from a cedar board, was rigged with "scratch" materials found in a kitchen drawer.

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 the typical pre configured models. (you will learn more about sails and foils, if you design your own etc.)

A craft that anyone with modest abilities could learn, using "scratch" materials anyone could find, at little or no cost.
-A craft that puts the world of sailing in the palm of your hand, from knot tying to designing a ballanced sail plan.
Later this ceder sailboat was tested at the beach, sailing first in the sea, and needing a product name, ceder became SEAder, and to follow, the buisness name Seadercraft.

Unlike other "one design" models, our boats can be rigged to practically any fore-and-aft design from ancient to modern times. 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.

The use of common materials make it easy to explore the possibilities. The development of methods and materials used for crafting Seader Sailboats is on going with new ideas coming all the time.

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.

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 through "The Fairlead", our on-line magazine.

Information about Line Control Model Sailing (and Seadercraft) can be found here.
You can also add comments on our open message board.

Visit our photo gallery!

home |Fairlead | sailing glossary |prices|