What we cover in our balsa wood boat building eBook
Download a sample of our eBook
Chapters include:
- Strip-planking the hull with balsa wood.
- Fibreglass strengthening.
- Mould and casting lead keel ballast.
- Electrics installation.
- Spray painting and masking techniques.
- Sail making.
- Mast, rigging and tuning of sails.
Build Your Own Radio Controlled Yacht
This book is designed to help you build a RacingSparrow 750 from scratch using minimal materials and a very minimal tool set. When you buy the eBook you download a PDF version complete with detailed plans, clear illustrations and photos. It lists all tools & materials and shows centimeters & inch measurements.
Are there other plans I can build?
You can download these plans for free , 7 differing sizes and designs.
The techniques and materials detailed in the book can easily be adapted to the other plans to get a boat that suits your tastes. Along with the RS750 the other very popular boat is the RG65 designed RacingSparrow. The RG65 can be used to race and measures within the rules.
How much does it cost?
Some modellers manage to build for as little as $50. This might be someone who has some of the materials already or are good at repurposing old things. The authors boat cost around $300 including the radio gear. That was for all the materials described and used in the book.
Download some free pages from the book. View as Two-page view (in Chrome).
Anyone can build a Racing Sparrow
The book has been designed to make a quality model yacht with traditional balsa wood planks. One that looks stunning, sails like it's on rails yet is playful and fun on the water. Also not cost the earth or require specialist tools.
What tools do I need?
Not that many as you can see in the picture. Those are all the tools used in this eBook. One less excuse to build that model boat you've always dreamt about. Get amongst it!
Common questions
Is the book translated in many languages?
The original book is written in English. You can also buy translated versions in French and German.
What radio gear do I use?
For a radio-controlled sailboat in 2023, you need a transmitter, receiver, 4xAA battery holder, and 2 servos (1 for sail arm, 1 for rudder) that plug into the receiver using JR connectors. Waterproof options and different servo sizes for sail arm and rudder are abundant. You can choose from a range of transmitter and servo options, from simple to high tech.
The simple setup NZD$70(cheapest):
Transmitter & Receiver
Servos x 2
Battery Holder
Batteries
The mid-range setup NZD$230 (all waterproof):
Transmitter
Receiver
Sail arm servo
Rudder servo
Rechargeable battery
The no-limits setup: NZD$720
Transmitter
Receiver
Sail winch servo
Rudder servo
Rechargeable battery
Is it that hard to make a boat?
Is pouring lead within my skillset and safe?
Pouring lead can be a safe process as long as the proper equipment and precautions are taken. Heat and fumes can be a bit of a nuisance, but that's what gloves, goggles, and a mask are for! And don't forget to have a bucket of water on standby for added safety measures. Despite the potential hazards, many find pouring lead to be a rewarding aspect of the building process. Lead is a versatile and stable material that can be melted, molded, filed, sanded, and painted/coated with epoxy resin or primer. To acquire lead, consider looking for second-hand fishing sinkers or dive belts.
How much does it cost all-together to build a boat?
The radio gear and servos will set you back a few hundred, depending on what you end up buying and what needs you have. To start the project however, you really only need the balsa to build the hull. This will keep you quiet for some months. I'm willing to bet in that time you will spend time on the internet choosing components for your yacht including radio gear. You will need things like paint, resins and cloth, small aluminium lengths, lots of small and cheap parts which will add up. Most people doing this project may already have most of what they need. The toolset required is very simple. No specialist tools are needed. A craft knife and ruler will get used the most. You won't need to buy any special or expensive tools.
A budget between $300-500NZD would be realistic, this is spread out across typically a 6-12 month project. Fitting this in between the rest of your life!
Some of the boats people have built using this book. Awesome!
You can send us your images and we'll post them on this site.
Racing Sparrow #1 and #2(front)
Bryn the Authors Official 3D Printed Model 760, Nelson, New Zealand
You can 3D print this exact boat yourself! The files are available in the shop. It's really easy to print and super easy to build, all parts have special joins modelled into each part. Even the rig fittings are small sturdy printed parts. The keel has carbon strips inside the prints and the printed bulb shell is filled with lead shot balls. A super simple but cool radio control model. It sails just so well, very fast for its size.
P3 - The third 3D printed RacingSparrow, Nelson, New Zealand
A reconditioned RS750 by the designer Bryn, New Zealand
DKM247 - Proud RacingSparrow Builder/Owner, Melbourne, Australia
One Meter RacingSparrow - Garry Angel, France
Julian Anthony, Kohuwala, Sri Lanka
Bill Cobb, Zurich
Hi Bryn,
I built an RS1000 and had so much fun building and sailing it I decided to build a couple of RS750's for my grandchildren in Zurich. Bit of juggling to get them into a suitcase but the whole project worked well and the boys just love them.
Bill Cobb. - what an awesome Grandad!(Bryn).
Royal Declerk's cool Multi-Hull, Australia
Dear Bryn, I felt I had to tell you, my beautiful 75, "Jack Sparrow" got away from me due to a radio malfunction and sailed off into the distance across Port Phillip bay to be not heard of again, probably on its way to China?? so have made three land yachts for the grandchildren, sail them at Sandy Point ( Gippsland)
My latest model is a foiling catamaran based on the AC45 (another brilliant NZ design)(very sad to see NZ beaten in the cup) and so "Black Mamba" has evolved.
Yet to do sea trials but if it works as intended will be amazing. Best wishes from Royal Declerck.
Bryns first 3D printed RacingSparrow, Nelson, New Zealand
The first official prototype 3D printed RacingSparrow.
You need some spare time, some patience, a little money spread over the project. The eBook project starts off cheap with simple balsa wood, knife and glue required. You could start by trying the small 375 hull to have a practice at planking. I promise you this planking thing gets addictive! With our eBook resource we take out the guesswork and have broken the project down into sensible components/milestones. The design of the hull is done in a way to keep things simple, functional and cheap.