Hello all... I usually fly, or run powered boats, but I bought this sailboat 15 or 20 years ago. Its a small boat (28" hull) made by a company called Blackstar. I bring it out about once a month and sail the neighborhood pond... Nice and relaxing. My question... Was Blackstar in business long? I bought this at a trade show. Hull is FG and it seems likea nice little rig. I was just curious... Thanks

Hi:
It seems to me that you can improve that sailboat a lot, may be a higher aspect ratio sail, near to the 2.250 sq. centimeters allowed i RG 65 class, and a heavier bulb ( 500 grams) and you will have a very fast boat next time you sail.


Just in case you want something to use time with. If you just want to relax and saty at the neighborhoodpond, keep it as it is right now...but once you taste races adrenaline.......

Tato Lazo.

Blackstar was a joint effort by Chris Lones (sp?) and his brother out of Miami, and they used to sail regularly at Baptist Hospital's lake in Kendall (a Miami, FL suburb). I know they were quite active in the late 1970's and 1980's, and sold quite a few boats through Orange Blossom Hobbies, one of the finest hobby shops in the country (if not the world) at the time. I lost track of them when I got out of R/C sailing in the late seventies, so I don't know when (or if) they got out of the hobby. I remember they made a couple of different sizes of boats that were Chris' own designs. They all had a "family" look, and were very nicely built & finished. As I remember, they had quite a good group that raced the boats as a class on Sunday afternoons. I have often wondered what happened to Chris, and all those who raced the boats they produced, and whether or not they still follow the hobby at all. Maybe they'll come back to the hobby someday soon (like I did).

Enjoy your boat,
Bill Nielsen
Oakland Park, FL USA

Hi, I am Chris Lones and I designed and built along with by my brother Shaun, the Blackstar line of boats. We have designed and built over two thousand boats and about eighteen designs from 18 inches to 80 inches. The one you have I actually designed in 1976, hence the large forward overhang. The boat underwent about 4 major changes and variations from 1983 until we ended it run around 1992.
I am still active in the hobby and still sail at Baptist Hospital in Miami. These days I build a boat I call the R/C 27 which has come a long way from the Blackstar 27 you have. I do find it amazing to see some of the boats I have built over the years and see that they are still sailing. If you ever need anything for the boat let me know. my email is [email protected]

Hello Chris Lones, Welcome! Very nice sailboat. Do you perhaps have a link for us to go to and see, maybe purchase?, your kit? I'm sure alot of sailors would be interested. Maybe we could get a class going............