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RC sailboats have been around for some time and have served as a great means for people to show their ailing skills without being physically present in the water. It is open to both adults and children above the age of 14.
From assembling to sailing, the whole process is an experience worth having. Another impressive thing about RC sailboats is the recognition they have around the world, and it is a known sport by the International Radio Sailing Association (IRSA) which is an affiliated member of World Sailing, the body in charge of sailing as a sport around the world.
As some already know, you don’t have to limit your sailing to your pool at home, as some parks would be happy to have you around one of which is the famous central park.
The Five Best RC Sailboats Are Reviewed Below
Laying your hand on good quality RC sailboat can be stressful, and finding affordable ones that offer the quality we are talking about is another thing entirely. However, we gathered and reviewed some of the best RC sailboats here to make light of your work.
1
DragonFlite 95 950mm / DF95 Class RC Sailboat Plug N Play (PNP)
DragonFlite 95 is one of the best ready to race sailboats on the market, thanks to its impressive performance, and features.
It comes with a highly responsive radio system, and nearly everything you will need to start sailing immediately. However, you have to get some accessories such as radio receiver, transmitter, and batteries separately because the DragonFLite Plug N Play version does not come with them.
This RC sailboat comes with some special components that are not quite found in most RC sailboats, examples are a carbon-fiber keel fin, keel bulb with an advanced design, carbon mast, Mylar sails, etc.
The sailboat gives users an interesting sailing experience thanks to its design and engine, part of which is related to its long, and narrow body. It is also lightweight and it performs excellently on water.
One will expect this lightweight RC sailboat to struggle in windy conditions, however, the makers also had other plans to counter this, and they did that by adding low aspect, lightweight rigs that are designed in line with the sail plan to ensure adequate handling. Therefore, giving you a sailboat that can sail in most wind conditions.
Key Features:
- High torque sail servo
- Metal gear rudder servo
- Ballast
- Carbon fiber keel fin
- Mylar sail
- Pre-installed fittings
- Mast
- Plastic hull material
Specification:
- Brand: Dragon
- Model: DragonFlite 95 950mm / DF95 Class RC Sailboat Plug N Play (PNP)
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to sail
- It is relatively fast
- It can sail in most wind conditions
- Comes with advanced features
Cons
- You have to purchase the receiver, transmitter, and batteries separately.
2
Kyosho Seawind 1-Meter RC Racing Yacht Vehicle
The Kyosho Seawind is a one-meter RC sailboat that boasts of a stylish design and also performs in style. It comes with an advanced remote-control system that operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz making it highly responsive when in action.
The RC boat also comes with a well-designed ABS hull that has a deep fixed keel. This helps the sailboat to stay upright when in water even in windy conditions. It also has metal-geared servos that help to control sail and rudder movement.
It is well pre-rigged so that users will find it relatively easy to raise the sails and mast. It is relatively easy to detach the rudder, mast, keel, and ballast. This makes it easy to move the sailboat from place to place.
Key Features:
- 2.4GHz radio control system
- ABS hull
- Rudder
- Mast
- Metal-geared servos
- Ballast
- keel
Specification:
- Brand: Kyosho
- Model: Seawind 1-Meter RC Racing Yacht Vehicle
Pros
- It is easy to assemble
- Comes with durable parts
- Does well in windy conditions
- Easy to transport
Cons
- The sailboat is quite pricey
3
Dragon 65 v6 Racing Sailboat
The Dragon 65 is an affordable top performance RC sailboat that is both affordable and still delivers. It is built according to international engineering standards; it has an ABS hull, 50 micron A sails, corner reinforcements, battens, and eyelets. The eyelets are kept waterproof by the under deck plastic inserts.
The jib luff is upgraded for ease of adjustment and connection. The fin of the RC sailboat is made from aluminum, and it has a molded plastic rudder, which improves stability. The Dragon 65 comes with an improved digital rudder servo, which improves its performance.
The jib forestay is designed to aid in the consistent rigging of the jib. The rig is full-sized; and the low aspect rig has a ball raced gooseneck with carbon spars. The DragonForce 65 is one of the best ready to race sailboats you can get. The concept and design are unique, and it is suitable for both hobbyists and those who will like to compete.
Key Features:
- ABS hull
- Molded rudder
- 50 Micron Mylar A sails
- Profiled aluminum fin
Specification:
- Brand: DragonForce
- Model: Dragonforce 65 v6 Racing Sailboat 2.4GHz Ready-to-Race (RTR)
Pros
- It has a sail sets to cater for various weather conditions
- The design and quality are excellent
Cons
- …
4
Rage RC B1300 Eclipse 1M Ready to Run Sailboat
The Rage B1300 Eclipse is a one-meter sailboat that offers users everything they need to start sailing. The RTR sailboat comes with every component, including batteries. All you have to do is assemble them and you can start sailing.
The boat comes with an ABS hull and a durable, reinforced rip-stop nylon sail which also features colorful designs. The sailboat comes pre-rigged, which makes it relatively easy to assemble it.
It comes with a drum-style sail winch servo which performs better than the regular standard servos. You can sail without the fear of your boat sinking thanks to the water-resistant deck hatch which is also sealed. This protects the electrical components that are inside the boat which includes the servo. The sailboat is controlled by a responsive 2-channel 2.4Ghz radio system, however, it has a relatively short range.
Key Features:
- One meter ABS hull
- Durable sail
- Ballast
- Sail winch servo
- 2-channel radio system
- Sealed deck hatch
Specification:
- Brand: Rage RC
- Model: B1300 Eclipse 1M Ready to Run Sailboat
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Water-resistant hatch
- Comes with a good servo
- Features a durable sail
Cons
- The radio transmission range is too short.
5
Kyosho Fortune 612-III RC Sailboat
This is another popular sailboat from Kyosho, and it comes with a nearly ready to start sailing package. The sailboat comes with a pre-painted and already assembled high-quality hull which relieves users of the stress of painting and assembling.
The sail is made from a durable polythene material, and some other components on the sailboat such as the ballast are made with environmentally friendly material. It is quite easy to remove and attach some parts of the sailboat such as the rudder, mast, and keel. This makes it easy to transport the boat.
It comes with two servos and a 4-channel 2.4GHz PERFEX KT-21 radio control system. The Kyosho Fortune performs well in fairly cold and windy conditions. Apart from sailing, you can also put this boat up for display as it also comes with a display stand.
Key Features:
- Pre-painted and assembled hull
- Easy to remove rudder, mast, and keel
- Durable mast
- Display stand
- 4-channel radio control system
Specification:
- Brand: Kyosho
- Model: Fortune 612-III RC Sailboat
Pros
- It is easy to transport
- Comes almost ready to race (sail)
- You can remove some parts tool-free
- Comes with a display stand
Cons
- There are complaints about the hatch
- It is not 100% watertight.
Buying Guide Questions
Below are answers to some of the questions that usually come up as regards RC sailboats. It will help you make more informed decisions concerning RC sailboats as well as know where you can take the fun to among other stuff.
What size servo for one meter RC sailboat?
The prominent servo that is present in RC sailboats is the sail servo and there are two styles of sail servos, and you will likely find one of them in 1-meter RC sailboats. They are the sail winch servo and the sail arm servo.
Related: Wondering what the difference is with RC Hovercrafts? Then check out our guide on that topic.
The sail winch servo has a drum like wheel that houses the sail line. The rotation of the drum controls the length of the sail line that is being released or brought in. The main advantage of this sail servo is its small space requirement compared to the other sail servo. It can bring in the total sail line length in roughly three revolutions. However, its reaction time can be slow at times.
The sail arm servo utilizes a long arm to draw the sail line or release it. Its response time is quicker compared to the sail winch servo. It can be used alongside standard servo.
What causes RC sailboat to tip?
Various factors can cause an RC sailboat to tip. Top among these factors is weather conditions. An RC sailboat can tip if it encounters a harsh wind along with heavy rainfall.
Other factors can be mechanical failures, which usually occur as a result of some parts of the RC sailboat failing, or get damaged. If the sailboat collides with another sailboat or obstacle, it may also cause it to tip, this would of course not happen with RC Submarines or RC underwater drones, but those are typically more costly.
What is the length of a certified racing RC sailboat?
Various racing RC sailboats come with different lengths. However, to enter some competitions they have to meet the certified length requirement of the regulating body. World Sailing is the body that governs sailing as a sport around the world and they have a standardized length for sailboats of different classes.
For racing RC sailboats, the certified length is 1,000 mm (1 meter). This is also regarded as the hull length of the boat.
How do I get a permit to sail RC sailboat in central park?
Sailing your boat in central park is a fun activity, and people have been doing this for over a hundred years. So, it is normal that residents, as well as visitors, would want to partake in this activity.
You can get permits to store your sailboat in central park that is in charge of the park. There have rules and regulations that govern sailing in the park. There is a limit to the size of the sailboat you can bring to the park, and there is a designated period in the year when you can store your sailboats and sail.
Insider Tip: if you want to create some cool footage of you controlling your RC sailboat, then these RC Selfie Drones will work perfectly
How to paint an RC sailboat?
It is usually fun to see RC sailboats with impressive patterns and colors different from their original manufacturer design. Most of these sailboats are products of extra work put in by the owners to identify their boats as well as give it an appealing aesthetic view of their choice. There is no harm in wanting to add some spice to your RC sailboat, however, it is important to know how to go about it.
There are various ways people take to paint their sailboats, however, learning people who already have experience in painting sailboats because this will save you a lot of stress, and ensure that you have for yourself a lasting design.
The first thing to do is to draw the pattern of whatever design you want on your boat, then tape areas that need taping using a masking tape that pulls off cleanly after paint without distorting the paint lines. Cover the areas that you don’t want the paint to touch, then apply the spray paint on the boat. Ensure that the paint is well dried before removing the tape.
How do RC sailboats work?
The traditional sailboat does not work like the conventional boat, and this is the same for RC sailboats. That is why is essential to understand how they work before setting out to sail.
Unlike the conventional sailboat, all you have to do to control this sailboat is to use the radio control system where is a feedback mechanism between the transmitter and the receiver. There are two major components of the sailboat that are responsible for steering and moving the sailboat forward; these respective components are the rudder and sail trim.
RC sailboats utilize wind energy to move the boat on water. It does this by redirecting the wind or capturing a sizable amount of wind, enough to propel it forward. To accomplish this, the sailor has to ensure that the sail trim is adjusted properly in the direction that allows it to capture enough wind and move forward. The sail servo controls the degree to which a sail will swing using lines that are attached to the sail. The shorter the line, the fewer the degrees the sail is allowed to sway, and vice versa.
The rudder on the other hand is used to steer the sailboat in different directions. There is a servo that actuates the rudder of the sailboat to accomplish this after the radio system of the sailboat has received an input signal from the controller.
Conclusion
Understanding how a normal sailboat works may be the key to you having a long-lasting time with your RC sailboat. Also, it is essential to always go for products with good quality to prevent avoidable disappointments.
Insider Tip: be careful of the damage that saltwater can cause to RC boats of all kinds if you are not paying attention