This Radio Control Sailboat Uses 2X4s

When [PeterSripol] was a kid, he made a simple sailboat from a scrap piece of 2×4 and some napkin sails. He’s not 8 years old anymore, but he decided he wanted to make another 2X4 sailboat using the skills he’s learned since he was a kid.

You’ll have to get past storytime and mice, but the build skill is evident. There’s a RC rudder, a keel with lead shot and overall it is a good looking boat for such a simple build.

You won’t learn any electronics watching this video but the mechanical construction to make the wood hydrodynamic was interesting. They compared the boat to an even cruder homebrew boat, a commercial boat and — in some cases — a log.

We wouldn’t have thought to use carbon fiber arrow shafts for the masts. They are readily available, strong, and lightweight. Good idea. The servo mounting technique — while not beautiful — was certainly easy and effective. [Peter] has learned a few things since he was 8, apparently.

While this video is a bit frivolous, sailboats can be important for some offshore sensing where power is at a premium. Of course, our favorite sailboats are in a different kind of ocean. It got us to wondering what else you could make out of a 2×4.

5 thoughts on “This Radio Control Sailboat Uses 2X4s

  1. I’ve been buying 4 shot since I was 13

    recently I went to a gun shop to buy a “keg” of 4 shot

    I was told I needed a firearms license!!

    wtaf???

    it’s not ammunition!!!

    I checked wit the firearms division of SAPOL

    yep, need a current license!!

      1. It’s NOT ammunition, and there are plenty of other uses. For instance, ballasting RC sailboats. Also ballast in RC planes. I’ve got a few pounds around someplace. Bags if lead shot make great conformable weights.THere are non-bouncing mallets that are hollow and have lead shot inside. If I was going to spend more time thinking about it, I could remember other uses.

        I wonder if there are other sources that don’t think it’s ammunition, that don’t require a license. I wonder if you can buy it at craft shops.

        Of course, it’s possible to go too far the other way, but not with just lead shot. Soon, the way politics are going here in the US, private ownership of a nuclear cannon will be legal. Who needs lead when you have uranium?

        If people in Australia aren’t allowed lead shot, the world is going to start to wobble as it all comes over here.

        Come to think of it, in the US I suspect you’re NOT supposed to use lead shot in your shotgun. At least for hunting, because it’s bad for the environment. But it looks like I can mail order it. And I’m sure all the reloaders get lead in other forms for their bullets.

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