RE: Gennaker?
well 2 key issues I can see first hand. One is around furling or unfurling the Gen as you can't really sail your RC boat with that sail up. A all or nothing switch could do that with a similar system then on full size boat but with a close sheet circuit and an end point to stop the furling or unforling. Then it's the question of controlling that sail. there you can look at boats equipped with a genoa but you typically need 2 winch for that alone.. this combined with the unforling system and the normal sheeting systems for your jib and main and you end up with a rather complicated and heavy solution. Not impossible but you'd want to have a pretty big boat 1.6 or 2m long to justify the weight and the room needed inside the hull. not the answer you were looking for but there you go... unless someone knows or has seen an innovative way !!! Good luck. G
Posted on: 9/11/2012 3:32 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11225436

fitting foils on a built Mini40
Hi, Any of you out there ideas on how I can proceed to fit foils (going for simple here so the foils will be straight) to an already build Mini40. my trimaran is an old French design Cobra which was inspired from the full size orma 60 but suffers from volume at the forward section of the floats. So the sole purpose of these foils is to reduce the nose diving and make the boat a bit easier to sail. I was thinking to put them at 30d of angle how can find the position in the float to drill a hole at the top side and the bottom side for the tube through the float ? Disable have you done something like this before ? Cheers, Gilbert
Posted on: 6/21/2012 11:13 AM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11126740

RE: Plans for catamaran or trimaran
actually just found one on page 2 here http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5101037/tm.htm - sorry his name is Idealist not disabled.
Posted on: 3/10/2012 12:29 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10994362

RE: Plans for catamaran or trimaran
yes if you search this forum you should find something - didn't keep the links but I've seen them before and look for a guy with disabled as his login he's pretty good in designing and building multis... good luck.
Posted on: 3/10/2012 12:26 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10994361

RE: RC multihulls?
Idealist, with your experience in building tri would the original drawing of these simply magnificent boat work in model version. I know in France we tried this before quite a few years back at the time of the orma 60 and the cobra (mini40) was born and it didn't work well as though it looks great ashore on the water the boat didn't have enough volume forward and was a handful to keep up right as I tested then in endurance racing. scratch design like the adzif worked so much better with the volume more forward.2m of these beauty would be some spectacle on the water alright... how much would you be looking for 1/10 drawings and do you think they'll work as well in that scale as the full size one ?how do you think they'll work on the sea with more choppy waters than lack condition ?
Posted on: 12/26/2011 5:05 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10877228

RE: seawind sails
surely somebody must have these measurement -PLEASE !
Posted on: 8/9/2011 1:21 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10663015

RE: Volvo 70 line drawings?
yes those chines looks good - even in IOM a lots of the newer design have these chines too and skippers who sail these boats claim it gives them more power after a tack and more drive upwind...
Posted on: 8/8/2011 2:45 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10661477

RE: Two DM2 IOM's Launch
thanks quite impressive - they sure look well built. And I like the design too. I personally find NZL and AUS design very good. I've had a TS2 from Craig, a Vapour from Carl and I was tempted by the tempest from Carl but got Alec of Blackmagick old V6 which is designed by Ian Vickers. Best of luck with your design - I'll put the details on our website if you want. Gilbert
Posted on: 8/8/2011 2:34 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10661468

RE: Two DM2 IOM's Launch
they look good - well done on the design. They have some air of resemblance to the V6 I race the forward section is more like the old italico. Are you gonna produce them commercially ? Did you get a chance to race them against other well known designs to see how they compare ? I really like the design on your last pic. How did you managed to do this ? Cheers, Gilbert
Posted on: 8/7/2011 4:21 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10660093

seawind sails
Hiya, would anyone have the various measurements of seawind sails main and jib. luff length & cord length at various hight position from the luff. foot length etc... Cheers. Gilbert
Posted on: 8/7/2011 4:13 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10660079

RE: Volvo 70 line drawings?
looked quite good actually - your own design ? Well done it looks quite well balanced and able to to handle a bit of wind too. - what's the actual length of your boat ?
Posted on: 8/7/2011 4:06 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10660066

RE: My IOM won't go straight
All good advices but have you also checked the fin keel and the rudder to see if they are absolutely aligned and with no twist. A fiend of mine who bought his IOM from a profesisonal boat builder had a serious twist in his rudder - a bit like a prop. And though it was built by a pro and in carbon after few months sailing the twist appeared. no reason found as the builder built plenty in the past with no issues... it was probably a monday rudder !!!
Posted on: 4/2/2011 12:14 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10438427

RE: Kiwi Mini40 Trimaran build log
I second Idealist view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3D_7vCowa8&feature=related and my favorite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZDS3miKQCc&feature=related I started sailing RC boat contrary to most not in IOM or M or 10R but mini40 20 years ago and though I race IOM and race monohulls I haven't stopped loving Trimarans... quite simply the best !!!
Posted on: 3/28/2011 3:34 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10428702

RE: Illbruck VO60 build
wow, great work... hadn't been on this forum for a while and to see the progress, well done
Posted on: 12/14/2010 3:05 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10197179

RE: RX ??
forgot to mentioned that my packs of 800 and 850 mah are 78gr for 7.2v as I use AAA size battereis. I also use AA size battery for my tri and cata which are AA Nimh LD of 2100mah...
Posted on: 11/27/2010 8:58 AM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10162294

RE: RX ??
I race IOM boats and with the RMG winch I only use one single battery pack to power the Rx and the winch. I typically use 6 cell NIMH LD 800 or 850 mah which gives me plenty of power with 7.2v to the winch and then the wnich regulates the voltage to 6v to power the Rx and rudder servo. The 800 or 850 mah is enough to power my IOM for up to 4 hours depending on wind, water condition and rig used. I assemble the pack myself - I buy them in bulk or 20/30 and then I match them to assemble them by pack of either 5c for 6v or 6c for 7.2v. Pretty much all the RC sailors in Ireland now use my battery pack so they're light and go the distance. Let me nkow if you want more info... Enjoy
Posted on: 11/27/2010 8:29 AM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10162260

RE: small drum wheel for Hitec sailwind HS-785HB
I think the option of limiting the stick is what he went for at the end cos I got him the Hitec 785 which is a drum wheel system. Pity Hitec don't provide other size drums cos that would allow for different throw !!! I'm gona get him the HItec 765 to try out then cos they're quite cheap... Thanks for your response. for my IOM and other bigger RC boats I only use RMG winch which are simply the best but way too big for the seawind... Cheers fellow sailors
Posted on: 11/27/2010 6:54 AM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10162190

RE: small drum wheel for Hitec sailwind HS-785HB
sorry if it is a stupid question but I've never used armwinch - can you adjust the throw ? is it through the trim tab beside the stick on the transmitteur ?
Posted on: 10/28/2010 7:42 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10100903

RE: Illbruck VO60 build
Hi Orca, I wish you the best in your built - the VOR 60 & 70 are in my own view one of the best monohull designs in terms of performance and look. We have Illbruck 60 here in Ireland but she's slightly bigger at 2.5m long. You can see the pics on my IOM class website www.iomireland.org (click on HOME then select big RC boat in the drop down menu, then click on Ilbruck to access the gallery.) enjoy A few things to bear in mind if you're hoping to get ur VOR60 design to sail in the IOM class. draft, weight, keel weight, rigs and sail area. Anyway wish you the best and share pics of your build. Atb
Posted on: 10/24/2010 6:22 AM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10090017

RE: small drum wheel for Hitec sailwind HS-785HB
Thanks for your response - I'm not sure about the space available inside as I don't have the boat - it's for my brother who bought a Seawind. I think it is supposed to have a standard size servo with a arm to control the sails. It's a pity Hitec don't offer different size drums cos it wouldn't cost that much extra to offer few sizes - I reckon 3 drum size should cover most applications - and it would make that sailwinch more userfriendly and probably used by more people size it's not possible to adjust the throw electronically varying winch size would be the cheap alternative. I know howes but I wanted to avoid buying another one.
Posted on: 10/24/2010 6:14 AM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10090010

RE: Kiwi Mini40 Trimaran build log
Excellent video Ernst. Trimarans have to be the kings of the seas, so majestic, so elegant and so extreme. I saw Sopra in my last hols in my parents home in Bretanny. She was moored in Port-la-foret , she looks the business alright but you can see how she's already an "old" design compared to the Groupama, or BP latest designs. Still the sensations onboard must be fantastic. Today we raced at the second last day of our Autumn series here. I sail on a Corby 25 so relatively small yet with the waves we had and by pumping at the right time we manage to bring the boat over 10knots on regular basis and reaching just over 11 knots at time on the down leg with a .75 kite. it was a great feel but nowhere need the pretty 20 knots speed and over on a tri. I spend 3 months on a 13m trimaran designed by a friend who decided get it built and I remember coming close to the UK coast and with a gale force warning in place we decided to get into a port and I manage to helm the boat at an average speed of 21 knots on a 2 sail reach and it was magical already.
Posted on: 10/10/2010 8:08 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10060274

RE: trimaran plans
Thank you Ernst for your response. My mast is a carbon fibre diam 10mm which could be a bit on the light side. Don't have much choice on this Cobra design and I'm looking to put a strut in hope to fix this issue and enable me control the main leech. But I like the idea of a mast well as you describe. I understand the concept of a mast well but why the ball bearing at desk level ? Does the mast rotate ? On my previous IOM I had a mast well too but no ball bearing. The big problem with this cobra design is that it was based on the successful 60 foot trimaran of the time but the weight distribution is completely different from the full size trimaran. It looks great ashore but once on the water when hit with a gust the bows tend to dig in as there isn't enough volume forward. So in my rebuilt I changed the weight distribution to put as much as I could towards the back of the main hull. I'm alone here doing multi but I don't care I still enjoy it so much when I get to put my tri on the water.
Posted on: 10/10/2010 7:51 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10060246

RE: trimaran plans
quick question : I see from these pics that there is no strut in front of the mast to counteract the kicker and keeping the mast straight. On my Tri (not a Ernst design but a 20 year old French design Cobra) the mast is deck stepped and on my first sea trial after rebuilding it I couldn't control the leech of the main. It was too open and I was loosing too much power in it. So to close the leech I tighten the kicker but all it did is bent the mast as the pressure was pulling the leech tighter. The solution is to put a strut in front of the mast to the deck to keep the mast straighter. So how do you keep the mast relatively straight and have an effective control of the leech of the main through the kicker without bending the mast ? is it because the mast is in a mast well or is it that you're using a really stiff mast section ? cheers, Gilbert
Posted on: 10/9/2010 2:54 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10057885

RE: trimaran plans
Fantastic Trimaran designed by Ernst & built by Phanchita. Looks well balanced on one float and with plenty of power. The arms seems quite stiff as the platform is not twisting when on one float. Just a fantastic design and well built.
Posted on: 10/9/2010 2:40 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10057869

small drum wheel for Hitec sailwind HS-785HB
Hi, I'm looking for a smaller dumwhell for the Hitec HS-785HB the standard wheel is too big, I'm looking to pull half the distance - it's for a seawind. Can't find anywhere a smaller wheel that would fit this winch - it seems there is only one size and there is no throw adjustment to adjust the no of turns. anyone ?
Posted on: 10/1/2010 7:00 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10041301

RE: Mini40 multihulls future development route?!
This is great news that the multi is still alive and that such events are being organised. I enjoyed the video and the pics - and really miss not being able to sail one of these multi right now... Although since I came to Ireland over 16 years ago I haven't raced multi and I miss it hugely - my old faithful Cobra (french design) is grand and look ok but a heavy built and lack of forward volume in the floats really limits her potential. And my replica of Jet Services IV is great on the eye but not a racing machine. So for the past 6 years or so my rc activity has been in rebuilding a RC sailing activity here in Ireland. Our boat is the IOM class : small, not too expensive and very competitive. I have to say that the most extreme rc sailing has to be with no doubt the rc multi - the delicate combination of acceleration, speed, distance and avoiding to capsize are essential in winning races. Having the right boat and sails to power it must also be good. In no other RC sailing class I have felt these element to be so prominent. I miss the endurance race we use to have in France like the 5 hours of angers and somewhere else I can't remember in Iles de france. And it is the the contribution of designers and builders such as Ernst - and other passionate that this magnificant class is kept alive. Unfortunately I don't have the boat building skills I need to build such beautiful boats as those which took part in this event. And to help overcome my fear of building a titanic type of boat i surf the forums in search of ideas and inspiration. I have already built a tri of my own design based on my learnings from racing them a few years back - made of styrofoam but it never saw a starting line or even water as acetone got the best of one of my float and the second broke during a fall on the snow as I was bringing it home to work on it. Maybe some day I'll have the money and the time and will power to start again - But my building skills are quite a good bit behind my sailing skills and I have a great project in mind to use a 2m here for an event with the aim of promoting RC Sailing in this country if you know of a good platform (to sail on the sea) at a very modest price - let me know. I don't need rigs, sails or electrics I'll be able to add / build them to them myself. Anyway it's great to see events such as this race taking place and gathering skippers from few countries to race together... well done to the organisers and skippers.
Posted on: 7/9/2010 9:06 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9855057

RE: 33rd America's cup - Multi dual cat or tri ???
I agree with you - whilst these superb and rather extreme boats are a spectacle to see they have no place for the america's cup which should be a repeat of 2007 which attracted huge crowds and kept the interest throughout the LVC and then the AC with Alinghi. This 2 horse race which spent more time in court then on the water is too much like the AC of the US vs AUS where Denis Connor ran off with the cup with his cata vs the giant monohull of the ausies... It was a time to forget and this is a repeat.... It is a pitty for the america's cup and LVC. To be honest I can't see many other syndicates pooring the kind of money them two did (the rumour is c€150-€200m each)... makes you wonder... Anyway I think everyone is waiting for this little game to be over in order to get the AC back on its track with similar monohull (actually they don't have to create new ones - just use the one they have already built). It is so much more interesting. The problem nonetheless is the winner will take the cup home and right now I fear it will fly over the pond to the US... without taking anything away from spithill ability and skills I think BMW Oracle was just simply the better boat/sail vs Alinghi. The design and technology seems to play a bigger part of the end result then the men sailing them. At the end of the day in a match like this with quite radically different boats it is most likely that one of them will work better then the other making the hole race much less interesting then. I wouldn't rule out Alinghi yet thought they need something very special to win race 2. Tomorrow will tell ...
Posted on: 2/13/2010 6:18 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9501575

RE: 33rd America's cup - Multi dual cat or tri ???
The biggest difference upwind was the pointing ability of the BMW oracle given by their wing mast. After giving a penalty to Alinghi they got stuck and alinghi sailed back to cross the line and take a big 600m lead but then once BMW Oracle powered up they managed to close that lead with marginally faster speed but with the biggest gain being their pointing ability produced by that wing mast vs "traditional sails". I know a few have tried wing mast on RC multi but I didn't the same results as the wing mast being a bit heavier and maybe the reduce scale is not producing the same benefits as for full size wing mast ??? I know I have a wide mast (25mm wide) on my 1.7m Jet Service catamaran which is also rotating but it is aluminum and only 1.8m tall so I'm not sure of it's benefits on speed vs a traditional mast apart from the look. I would love to try a 2.5m carbon mast on her to see the difference.
Posted on: 2/12/2010 5:15 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9498964

33rd America's cup - Multi dual cat or tri ???
You may know that this 33rd america's cup will be on multihulls and what multis !!! over 27m long, with huge sail area for Alinghi and a massively tall (68m) wing-mast for BMW Oracle's Tri. So here we're back again on the eternal dual of Cata vs Tri. From my experience of RC multi the Catamarans though with more potential being lighter they are much more extreme to helm as they capsize quickly but if you sail to conservatively you go too slow. At a contrast the Trimarans are a bit more stable, potentially more powerfull and typically heavier but one of their biggest advantage is their tacking ability as they can swing on the main hull without slowing down too much vs catamaran which have to be back on their 2 hulls to tack making it next to impossible to tack without speed. Today was no exception with BMW Oracle winning the first race. :((( though I love tri I would love for the cup to stay in europe but now I am afraid it might be a one horse show as Alinghi finished a massive 10 minutes behind. They need to pull something magical out of their hat to close that gap. I saw over 2 knots in speed difference in favour of BMW so we'll see if Alinghi can pull it again. I hope so...
Posted on: 2/12/2010 1:03 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9498304

RE: Mini40 Trimaran - Nightmare MK VIII - First Production Boat Launched Today
WOW - just simply WOW brilliant design from what I've seen and excellent build. In good hands this tri has to be a winner !!!
Posted on: 2/6/2010 7:21 PM by Author "GLX" in the forum "RC Sailboats"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9482525