Tibarus

Just wondering if anyone has built any RC multihulls (Catamarans, Trimarans) I'm thinking of building one of my own and I'm looking for pointers, tips and ideas ^^ (pics if possible)

Thanks,

Robbie

Ultimate48

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Try this site

http://water.resist.free.fr/Francais/Partager.htm

LarryLudwig

I was actually building Hobiecats at the local sailboat shop when I started building sailing models so it was a natural thing to try a cat early on. It worked, but it sailed in a most unattractive manner. It skitttered over the surface of the water akin to a waterbug and lacked totally the grace and beauty of a keel boat. Ok, I am biased, but it offered all the things that you would expect. The acceleration was rapid, and it was something of a thrill to sail something that could actually knockdown, as opposed to a lead bottom money gobbler that was sure footed.

POP-UP created an extremely clever cat that was hinged down the centerline and could break over itself in the case of a knockdown. The masthead float would keep the mast at the waterlevel and by actuating the hinged system you could throw the CG outside the hulls when collapsed and the boat would right itself as you returned it back to the original configuration. Unfortunately they went out of business about 20 years ago, and they are not easy to find.

Trimarans are more popular because they are considerably more stable, but still posess the feel and performance of a cat. If you build a traditional cat, be prepared to short suit your sails, and widen the track of the hulls to give yourself a little extra reaction time to the gusts that will knock you down. Plan on having a boat handy to rescue if you do knock down and a 100% watertight configuration for winch and radio are a mandatory requirement. A mast head float is also something that should be considered just about mandatory, or it will turtle quickly. If not, atleast make the mast section watertight to give you a chance.

I have found that ironically, the model cats don't sail as well if they are made ultra-light as you would with a M or IOM etc. If you give the boat some more weight, bulk mass, as in the glass hulls and framework, you give yourself a better handling boat. Sure, you may give up some performance... particularly acceleration... but you get a more predictable craft and consequently, one that that is more enjoyable as well. That after all is the bottom line.

There are paths to be followed, and you will find a great deal of support from the multi hull guys on the various sites.

Good Luck with your project,

martno1fan

i too like the look of trimarans are there any plans available anywhere of these?.

cowana

I am using and making the ghost train plans - want me to email them to you? I will also send you some pictures. This is a 1m trimaran, with a huge sail area.

martno1fan

that would be cool mate my email is [email protected]

cowana

Sent

martno1fan

not got them yet?correction got them now thanks mate .

Tibarus

I wouldn't mind getting those pics as well, if thats alright =3

[email protected]

Idealist

Try this:
http://community.webshots.com/user/boatbuilder

Plans are available too!

cowana

In [link=http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2277852380013996211yujNBY]this[/link] picture, what are the beams made of that hold the hull together? I don't want to use anything too expensive, like having to buy carbon fibre or kevlar. What can I use?

Tibarus

Wow X3

Those tri's look amaving, do they sail like real tri's?

-Robert

Tibarus

Also are you selling copies of the plans? Are there Kits Available?

cowana

I have emailed a set of the plans to you at [email protected]. I din't design those - there are some free plans and some for sale. However, not many people make tris, and there are not many kits around - i would be suprised if you could get hold of one. It is possible to sail these tris on one hull, with 2 out the water, although tris can capsize (i plan to have masthead boyancy).

In answer to do these sail like real tris:

All R/C monohull boats have a lump of lead on the keel. This makes their responses slow and majestic. As a tri doesn't have this, every gust will make it lean, apparently it is very exilarating sailing one, and the risk of capsize is always a danger. (a fun danger). [link=http://water.resist.free.fr/VideoWRTM40.AVI](See this video)[/link]

I would love to follow your project, and you can follow mine.

Andrew

martno1fan

hi mate you can use aluminium its not expensive!!by the way thanks for the plans you sent of the ghost train any ideas how to size them? what scale did you use im having problems sizing them.any ideas how i can print them onto a 4 paper?.by the way heres a kit i found [link]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/THREE-STARS-Gorgeous-Trimaran-Yacht_W0QQitemZ300060082943QQihZ020QQcategoryZ1409 71QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/link]
and another they are small though.[link]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SARA-Catarmaran-Yacht_W0QQitemZ290031567889QQihZ019QQcategoryZ1409 71QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem[/link]
and another[link]http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=5476[/link]

cowana

What thickness of aluminium? Remembering the shrouds are attached to the outer hulls, they have to be firmly attached. To scale the plans, I viewed them at 100%, print screened into a powerpoint, and printed that. If you want a 1m paper sideview + bulkheads of it, PM me you adress and I will snail mail them to you.

Andrew

martno1fan

hi mate as regards the thickness of alli no idea but you can get ali of all shapes and sizes just what feels right and looks right should work?.also whats wrong with wooden dowel?.i sent you a pm regarding the plan thanks for your help!!.heres another site selling one of those small tris [link]http://www.rchobby.co.uk/rc_model_sail_trimaran_three_s.html[/link]
and another
[link]http://www.rchobby.co.uk/trimaran_rc_sailing_boat_fidji.html[/link]

Tibarus

Those models look greati but just a bit "gimmicky", If i was going to build one however, I'd go the way of "Ghost Train" and "Boatbuilder's" other trimarans.

So RC tris react to the slightest breeze? Hey just like real tris, not being sluggish and "Slow" is one of the better points of Multihull sailing, it's what makes cats and tris fun.

Are any trimarans (from boatbuilder) for sale?

-Robert

martno1fan

i think he has plans for sale i dont think he has boats for sale though.send him a pm im sure he has some plans for sale.by the way are there any sites where i can find anything out about the ghost train?.
mart

cowana

Some pictures: http://radioyachting.com/multihulls.htm

martno1fan

how about some pics of your build mate? what method are you using balsa planks or foam?.how long is the ghost train is it one metre?.heres another site with plans!![link]http://members.chello.nl/~t.iwema/Plans.html[/link]

martno1fan

right guys first i need to say a massive thanks to Ernst Zemann the designer of the trimaran nightmare who just sent me the plans and lots of info on the boat.these drawings were done by Eric Stolz ,he also posted me some interesting links on discussions on the ghost train which may interest you Andy apparently there are some problems with the design of the boat.i also have permission to make these plans available to anyone interested in them check out these links and thanks again ERNST.[link]http://www.rc-network.de/forum/showthread.php?t=48237[/link]
[link]http://www.rc-network.de/forum/showthread.php?t=45060[/link]
[link]http://www.rc-network.de/forum/showthread.php?t=49502[/link]

cowana

Boat = just over a metre. The central hull was balsa planks, and the outer 2 were foam.

This boat is having no jib and a spinnaker!

Should be fun.

martno1fan

hi mate i was told by idealist that the ghost train has some issues !! he sent me plans of the nightmare if you check the links i posted they are available on the last link its a 48" hull.can you take some pics of yours?.if you speak german you can read the threads on the ghost train and its problems also.

cowana

Nope - I don't speak German.

Can someone summarise the main problems of the ghost train?