rc sailboat plans

Racing Sparrow Model Yacht RC Sailboat Plans

Check out these plans and resources, ranging from a 375mm boat to a 1500mm yacht. Pair these with our eBook guide for a fast, easy, and affordable home build RC yacht.

RS-RG65 - 650mm plans, measures to international RG65 rules

A full forward hull and a straight stern. This boat has proven to be a very fast and competitive racer.

Racing Sparrow 750 plans

The plans that come with the eBook.

Racing Sparrow 3D 760

A 3D printable version that is 760mm. STL files are available in the 3D printing section.

Racing Sparrow 1000 plans

A one metre version, scaled up lines. Bulkhead only plans. Look at the 750 for full schematics.

Racing Sparrow 1500 plans - A scaled up Racing Sparrow

A larger size model yacht. I haven't seen many of these surface. It's a good challenge to build.

Racing Sparrow 375 plans - The smallest sparrow

A miniature RacingSparrow. A great introduction to building with balsa.

RacingSparrow Footy plans

A double diagonal design footy from RacingSparrow.

Logos & Sticker Sheet

Downloadable logos and an EPS file to be sent to a printer and printed out on navy blue cutout vinyl.

Free Book Sample - PDF

A few pages from the eBook absolutely free

Print Your Own Radio Controlled Yacht

Want to 3D Print a RacingSparrow? Well now you can. We offer a set of STL files and instructions.

We have been hard at work designing the original Racing Sparrow to be 3D printable.

It is so easy to print and build and sails really well. We are really happy with how it turned out.

Read more about the model on the   3D Printing page.

Common questions about the plans

What tools do i need to build a racingsparrow.

1. Chisel 2. Craft-knife 3. Drill Bit - 2mm (5/64in)bit 4. Drill Bit - 5mm (3/16in) bit 5. Electric Drill 6. Felt Marker 7. File 8. Hacksaw 9. Hammer 10. Hole Punch 11. Lighter 12. Pen 13. Pencil 14. Pins 15. Pliers 16. Ruler (steel) 17. Sanding Block 18. Scissors 19. Screwdriver 20. Spirit Level (optional) 21. Sponge Brush (several) 22. Vice Grips

Do I need the eBook to build this cool rc sailboat?

No you don't. The book is designed for the newcomer to model yacht building. The book does make it a much simpler process with every detail figured out and covered in the book. Seasoned builders can simply have a go with the free plans.

Are the plans really free?

Yes all the plans are free to download and use as you see fit. The most comprehensive plans are the RS750 A1 full size.

Are there CAD files or 3D files?

Yes there is a 3D printable version of the racing sparrow. Read the page about that model.

Builders eBook

Dive into the world of boat building with our eBook. Discover the craft of hull planking, fibreglass strengthening, and lead keel ballast casting.

Master the art of electrics installation, spray painting, sail making, and tuning of sails. Download a sample today and embark on a rewarding journey of boat construction.

What the builders and sailors say:

Being a complete novice, I purchased your book a couple of years ago and built two racing sparrows. Building on this experience I then went on to build, from scratch, an IOM (Triple Crown design). I've since joined a local club and sail virtually every weekend. I would just like to thank you for your endeavours which have allowed me to enter a world I never thought was in my reach.

John Sterland, Australia

Coming upon your book, "Build your own Radio Controlled Yacht" in the Napier Public Library, I am hugely impressed. The combination of your superb photos and illustrations with your easy writing style make it a standout publication and I hope it does well for you.

Richard Spence, New Zealand

Thanks for an excellent design in your RG65. I trialled her again today in a solid 20 knots gusting higher. Even so in a steep chop and fingers off the rudder she drove upwind remarkably well, balanced perfectly. Very impressed that a model boat can handle that with a large rig. I found the book excellent. Ive built several big boats, plus a few skiffs and without that resource building such a good boat would have been impossible.

Mike Bennett

Build It Yourself - Racing Sparrow

• PDF download
• Detailed plans
• Clear illustrations and photos
• Lists all tools & materials
• Shows centimeters & inches

Look at all these cool boats folk have made at home

There is also a full gallery with a boat load of photos of Racing Sparrow's

Rod Patterson , Christchurch, New Zealand

May 4, 2012

Hamish Coubrey , Auckland

Sep 10, 2013

Hi Bryn, I recently finished building these 2 Racing Sparrow RS750s which i really enjoyed, it was a great project and kept me busy for a few months. They have been for a successful maiden voyage and sail great and now just need a few tweaks in the sail department to get them sailing even better. Thanks.

Bryn the Authors Official 3D Printed Model 760 , Nelson, New Zealand

Dec 10, 2024

Fanie Nel - RS750 , Krugerdorp, South Africa

Apr 5, 2023

Kendal Allcott , Nelson, New Zealand

Feb 11, 2010

Little RS375

Mar 9, 2006

Geoff Lewis , Isle of Wight

Sep 22, 2009

Apr 20, 2020

I bought the racing sparrow book about 18 months ago, didn’t ever think it would take an awful pandemic to prompt me to build it. Now can’t wait to rig and sail it. I opted for flush hatches to run the sheets over the top.

Mike Sohner, 3D printed RS760 , USA

Dec 4, 2024

This is the first official customer complete 3D printed Racing Sparrow. Mike helped me improve the strength of the mast crane with his engineering experience. Super helpful. Thanks Mike!

One Meter RacingSparrow - Garry Angel , France

Jun 2, 2009

Footy Plans

Below are several sets of free Footy plans. Our latest addition is the BUG3, a highly successful design from Roger Stollery in the UK. There's also a new version of "Razor" from Bill Hagerup. He claims the "Razor3" is much better than the original "Razor", but I'm leaving the old plans on the website too. Then there's Angus Richardson's "Moonshadow", followed by Mario Stiller's "Papaya III", Bill Hagerup's "Cobra" and Brett McCormack's "Bob About". Some of these designs are relatively simple to build, others are rather complex! (For an even simpler boat, check out visit Wayne Russell's Bottle Yacht web pages (built with a plastic soda bottle!). See also the Articles page for more inspiration. The WoodenBoat store is also carrying Footy plans for two boats now, search for Brando and Presto .

For those interested in building Ranger, the best source is my article in ModelYachting magazine (Spring 2011, No. 163). The six-page article includes a lot of build pics and very nice drawings done by Jim Linville from my rough originals. The magazine has been distributed to AMYA members, and is available for others from the Ship's Store at theamya.org. Given the difficulty of international mailing, etc., I am posting my originals as requested for those who can't get the magazine. They aren't as pretty, but they are what I build from. Designed displacement is 300 grams. I hope you enjoy the boat.

Razor3 is a better-handling boat than the original (which is now rather old) and the plans are more complete. I also think the narrower beam makes it easier to build. Razor3 is the boat I sailed to second place in last month's Euro GP in the UK.

"Since Razor is a few years old, I thought it was time to post a design that reflects my current thinking. This is a set of plans and a couple pics for my Cobra (the prototype for my entry in the Liverpool Challenge in July, 2008.) It's a bit more complex than Razor, but a better performer, too. The plans are to be printed on 8-1/2 by 14 inch paper. The boat is 300 mm long when built to the plan. The other 5 mm is left for you to make a bow piece to round off the nose as in the pics. I'm posting the same plan I used to build my boat, which means the interior layout, electronics, and rig are left to your preference. Interior bulkheads are not required. Please don't email me for more detailed info...there isn't any! You can refer to the many pics on this site for reference on how others have fitted out their boats. Scott Spacie has done extensive testing of this design, and he assures me that it floats. I hope you'll have fun with it."

I call it Razor. It's intended to be easy to build, so it's a chine design, but I don't think its performance will suffer. I expect it to be a stable boat that is stiff enough to carry more sail than my Halfpint. I built the hull you see in 3 hours. I spray glued the plans to some 1/32 balsa sheet and cut out the panels with a scissors. Then I taped the hull together and superglued the seams. It got a bit tricky at the bow when I glued my fingers to the hull.....but all worked out in the end.

RG-65 Class

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Model Boat Plans Store

Model boat plans for immediate download cad generated and lofted and/or large-scale scanned and electronically cleaned up. 30 day, 100% satisfaction guarantee. never folded, no shipping, no hassle.

Here is a list of my small, but growing collection of high-quality model boat plans. Please have a look!

RC Boat Plans - CAD Generated

Pt boat plans.

There are two "bundles" of these plans:

1. 1:32 and 1:24 in a single zip file. Each consist of two sheets in PDF format. Find out more here .

2. 1:16 ***NEW*** Giant scale on three 36" x 72" sheets. Read more here. For prospective buyers outside the USA: Make sure you have a printer who can handle the paper size!!

They are based on the RC PT boat that I was building, inspired by the old Lindberg kit I had as a teenager. All three are essentially the same design, only in three different sizes. Click the links above for more information.

scale in a single zip file.

Price:

and scale in a single zip file.

Price:

Easy RC Boat Plans

If you're new to model boat building from scratch or just want something easy, try this one. It shares a similar easy-to-build hull construction as the PT boat, but is actually even easier to build.

The boat measures 15 inches long finished and weigh just over a pound (about half a kilo). The size was kept small to facilitate printing onto relatively common paper size.

The plan is laid out with all templates on five 11x17 size sheets and the bulkheads and other templates on two 8 1/2 x 11. The plan can also be printed on ISO-sized paper (A3 & A4). Click the heading or image above for more information . This is a real bargain.

Price:

Civil War Ironclad Plans - CAD Generated

Css virginia plans.

Model ship plan of the first Confederate ironclad AKA Merrimack (or sometimes incorrectly Merrimac). I spent many months researching the vessel and this plan is the result.

The plans show no model construction, but is rather a representation of the real ship as she would have appeared just before the battle at Hampton Roads.

• Hull lines - full sections, buttocks and waterlines.
• General Arrangement views showing:
• Casemate details
• Armor layout
• Steering arrangements etc.
• Details include:
• 30-foot cutter with complete lines.
• Three scales :
• 1:48 (1/4"=1') scale, one sheet 36" X 108"
• 1:72 (1/6"=1') scale, one sheet 36" X 60"
• 1:96 (1/8"=1') scale, one sheet 27" X 36"

, and scale in a single zip file.

Price:

USS Monitor Plans

It would seem weird to offer the CSS Virginia without the USS Monitor, so here it is. The plans come in the same scale as her nemesis, so why not get both?

• Hull lines - full sections and waterlines.
• Rivet details
• Armor and deck layout
• Turret with canvas canopy
• Rudder and Propeller arrangements etc.
• Turret cross section
• 1:48 (1/4"=1') scale, one sheet 36" X 61"
• 1:72 (1/6"=1') scale, one sheet 36" X 42"
• 1:96 (1/8"=1') scale, one sheet 22" X 36"

Early US Warship Plans

Uss olympia, protected cruiser c-6.

Here is a plan set for building the protected cruiser USS Olympia of Spanish-American War fame. This plan can be used for either bread-and-butter model boat construction or plank on bulkhead.

Templates for each construction method is included in the plan set.

You can see Roger Kreiter's model built from these plans here.

• 1/96 scale - 50 X 36 inches
• 1/144 scale - 36 X 23 inches
• 1/96 scale - 46 X 36 inches
• 1/144 scale - 36 X 40 inches
• A separate pdf document (8 1/2 X 11 inch) with each Section Template laid out in full. This document can also be fitted on A4 format paper.
• Midship Section of the ship at 1/4"=1'

scale in a single zip file.

Price:

scale in a single zip file.

Price:

USS Maine, Armored Cruiser ACR-1

General Arrangement Plan in pdf format.
46 1/2 X 33 1/2 inches.

Price:

General Arrangement Plan in pdf format.
32 X 23 inches.

Price:

USS Oregon, Battleship BB-3

General Arrangement Plan in pdf format.
48 X 33 inches.

Price:

General Arrangement Plan in pdf format.
33 X 23 inches.

Price:

USS Texas, launched 1892

General Arrangement Plan in pdf format.

Price:

General Arrangement Plan in pdf format.

Price:

USS Iowa, Battleship BB-4

For any questions or comments about these plans, please use the form on the Contact Page .

More About These Model Boat Plans

They fall into two categories:

CAD generated and computer lofted

The CAD generated plans are of exceptional quality, simply because they have never been printed, scanned or folded. These are the best print quality and accuracy I've ever seen in a set of model boat plans. The first time they are printed is when you take the files to your local print shop. To my knowledge, nobody else offers this service.

Scanned and electronically cleaned up

The down-side with CAD generated plans is that, for a one-man-show, it takes a long time to generate each one of them. I've concluded that it would benefit more people to simply offer scanned plans of these historic ships.

These plans are still excellent quality, and of high resolution. As the originals are over 100 years old, many hours have been spent cleaning them up to a my own high standard

All plans are in pdf format. If there are more than a single pdf-document in the download, it comes as a Zip-file. For those files you will need a zip/unzip program to access the plans. I use jZip because it's free and reliable.

Changing the scale when printing out is tricky with pdf files. I have therefore formatted each document for a single scale. Follow the link for more tips on printing pdf's further down on this page.

At one point I offered the CAD generated plans in several different scales, all individually. It drove me crazy trying to keep track of it all, and try and figure some sort of price structure. I gave up and decided to offer all different scales of the same subject in a single download. It has worked out well.

When you buy these model boat plans you receive a zip file containing multiple drawings at different scales. You get more flexibility in choice of scale, I get less files to track. A win-win.

For any questions, feel free to use the Q&A or the contact form (link below).

• Have the model boat plans printed locally and save money . Click here for printing tips.
• Feel free to ask any questions about these plans. Use the contact form .
• Link to Store policy/Terms Of Use page.

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Testimonials.

Hi There, I bought your PT Boat plans several weeks ago and I am building the 40" version.  I have built the Dumas PT 109 twice over the last 30 years and I have to say that your build is unique and easier!  Good Job!  Thanks for the great plans.

Steve J. San Diego, CA, USA

Just a note to let you know how much I enjoyed building your "Cabin Cruiser". I'm about 90% complete and look forward to 'ice-out' so that I can see how well she performs.

I have scratch built many airplanes but always lacked the knowledge to build a boat. Your excellent instructions provided that needed knowledge and I now look forward to building your PT boat. Thank you, very much.

John S.  Beloit, WI, USA

This has been a real heartwarming project for me to watch my 12 year old son work on this with me. The [PT-109] Plans are great and the parts thus far have all fit like a glove. Well worth the money... You should charge more!

Steve F. Fayetteville, NC, USA

Just writing to say that I bought and down-loaded your U.S.S. Monitor plans. They are beautifully done, the best I've ever seen of an ironclad and have inspired me to build a model of her.

Matt B. San Diego, CA, USA

Took my disc to The Copy Centre this afternoon and had them printed. I was most impressed with the quality of reproduction and it looks like the size would be perfect for an RC model.

Syd K. Vancouver, Canada

I wish to thank you once again for the down-loads on two ships that I'd ordered. The down-loading was most easy to accomplish. I'm NOT a computer whiz so I was indeed happy to see the process was easy.

The super-size Kinko's printout was/is great to have not only for really good, clear details but for a very nice, nearly over-whelming print to stare at.

The print-outs from my own printer are equally useful for "carry around" purposes. I can grub up copy after copy as I carve out the hulls, paint, or cut out some detail that is needed. They are also very handy for note-taking as I progress on the models.

I must say the cost of your down-loads was most reasonable as well. Thank you on this especially since I am retired on a fixed income.

So, thank you for your product that met all my needs in this area. I've nothing at all to find fault with or complain to you about. I am completely happy with the images you provided.

Steven W. Salem, MA, USA

PDF Downloads

The model boat plans are available for download in PDF format for:

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Printing the Plans

Learn more about printing the plans locally. Visit the Model Boat Plans Printing Page for more information (will open in new window).

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Free model boat plans: the MiniX, an easy-to-build radio-controlled sailboat

We set ourselves a challenge: to make a sailing model. In the end, after hours of reflection and work, we discovered that we took as much pleasure in designing and building as we did sailing our yachts. Here is the description of our project and the plans to download. Another article follows with the steps of the realization.

An easy-to-build, eye-catching, high-performance sailboat

Who hasn't dreamed of a little wooden sailboat with a beautiful canvas cover? The idea for this project is a child's dream.

Sailing on a regular basis in "scale 1", we had the idea of having fun by sailing two boats to race in our "spare time". The boats had to meet the following specifications:

• Easy to transport . Measuring just 50 cm, our MiniX doesn't take up much space in a trunk. However, the keel and mast can be dismantled. If need be, the MiniX can even be included in our vacation luggage.
• Able to be thrown into the water "out the back of the car" without complicated implementation.
• No investment that would jeopardize our homes. As this is not a one-off activity, we didn't want to invest in expensive radio controls (our boat's biggest expense). A basic radio control kit is powerful enough to handle "small" sail surfaces.
• Resembling a sailboat at best, hence the presence of the deckhouse and cockpit. These two elements give a sense of scale without resorting to model-building. Above all, a sailboat must be beautiful. Don't we also sail for the pleasure of our eyes?

Modern construction

To keep it light (ready to sail , the MiniX weighs just 800 g), the hull is an extruded polystyrene/epoxy resin sandwich (laminated Depron). While this process is not impact-resistant (though...), the structure and sandwich make it very rigid. Together with the deck, the whole thing forms a kind of egg whose strength is astonishing. It's impossible to apply the slightest twist to the hull, despite its lightness (the bare hull weighs just 260 g).

Our yacht has a chine hull. But this doesn't detract from the look, as the chines are largely rounded and, combined with the straight bow, give the illusion of a beautifully shaped hull. When sailing close-hauled, the stern of the MiniX lifts off, limiting drag in the water.

Technical data

• Overall length (with rudder): 56 cm
• Hull length: 51 cm
• Width: 17.6 cm
• Draft: 25 cm (but this may change...)
• Air draft: 92 cm (mast: 86 cm)
• Operating weight (with sails, servos, batteries and keel ): 800 g
• Bare hull weight (without servos and keel ): 260 g
• Weight of ballast: 240 g (but may vary according to draught...)
• Wing surfaces: Jib= 6 dm² GV= 15 dm²

MiniX drawings

You can download the plans. They're simple and precise. We made our two boats by printing them on a basic A4 printer. Then we simply assembled the sheets by superimposing them and gluing them (repositionable spray glue) to Depron. A sharp cutter is all it takes to build the MiniX with precision.

Just one thing: we've put a lot of heart and soul into building this yacht. We'd be delighted if our experience could be put to good use. Don't hesitate, help yourself! But be so kind as to let us know with a little comment. We'd love to hear from you.

Here you can download the first part of the plan in A4 PDF format .

With this you already have the complete boat. Based on the construction photos, there's not much missing to build the whole MiniX. But since we're taking care of you, here are the sail plans too:

• Mainsail plan

Real sails with webs for their shape.

The construction budget

MiniX doesn't have to be expensive. We've always tried to find a way of "diverting" objects to make our project a reality. So it's hard to come up with an exact budget. It will be higher for someone who doesn't even own the basic tools , and much lower for someone who does it in the back of his already well-stocked workshop.

• 6 mm Depron sheet (2 sheets, 125 x 60 cm)
• Epoxy resin + fillers
• Glass fabric
• 4 mm plywood (a small piece for the keel , keel shaft and rudder)
• Carbon tubes (6 mm for the mast and 4 mm for the booms)
• GV carbon batten (1/10 mm in kite stores)
• Remote control servos kit ( first price: ?60)
• Florist paper for the sails (a good opportunity to give pleasure...)
• Blenderm (surgical tape), available from chemists, to join the sails. Cut the 20 mm roll in half to double its length.

In the end, we estimate a maximum budget of ?120 per boat (calculated in 2021).

Because a construction project like MiniX is above all a team project... And in a team it's good to be complementary.

The MiniX project went through a long phase of gestation - reflection - intellectualization - drawings - exchanges - helping hands to get to this stage. Today, it's sailing thanks to this pooling of skills. We hope you'll enjoy this project as much as we have. And we look forward to hearing from you in the comments or on the forum. Enjoy!