Castlerock Yachtworks

Castlerock Yachtworks https://castlerock.bigcartel.com Specializing in small 3D printed radio control and free sailing model yachts. Build yourself from STL files or from our kitsets 120474057 My Story The MiniMax StoryFor as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by model yachts.As a boy growing up in New Zealand in the 1970s, I devoured every model yachting magazine Icould get my hands on from the United Kingdom. At that time the great classes were boats suchas the Marblehead, 10 Rater and A Class. Radio control was still relatively new and exciting, andthe sport seemed full of possibilities.Somewhere during those years I had a dream that never left me.In the dream, people were racing tiny radio-controlled yachts. The boats were so small they couldbe held in one hand. They sailed on very small courses and looked enormous fun. Decades later Ican still remember it.The problem was that in the 1970s and 1980s the technology simply didn't exist.The radios were too large. The servos were too large. The batteries were too large. Themanufacturing methods were too limited.The idea remained in the back of my mind.Over the following decades I became deeply involved in model yachting, particularly indevelopment and design work. I spent many years sailing and designing in a variety of classesand became one of the early instigators of the Footy Class.The Footy taught me a great deal.It showed that very small yachts could be genuine sailing boats rather than toys. It also taughtme the unique challenges of small boats. Weight becomes critically important. Every grammatters. Wind behaves differently. Water behaves differently. Small design decisions suddenlybecome very important.During this period I also developed what became known as the Mac Rig, a simple swing-rigconcept that remains widely used in Footys today.Throughout all of this, the original dream never completely disappeared.Every few years I would revisit the idea and ask the same question:What is the smallest practical radio-controlled yacht?Not the smallest possible yacht.The smallest practical yacht.A yacht that people could realistically build, transport, store and sail.A yacht that would lower the barriers to entering radio sailing.A yacht that would fit into modern life.Eventually modern technology caught up with the dream.Tiny digital servos became available. Lightweight lithium batteries became available. AffordableCAD software became available. Most importantly, home 3D printing became widely accessible.Suddenly the impossible became possible.MiniMax is the result.At only 220 mm long, MiniMax is probably close to the practical lower limit for a useful radio-controlled sailing yacht. Smaller boats are possible—I have built and sailed boats down to 150mm and even 100 mm—but very quickly the compromises become overwhelming.MiniMax sits in a sweet spot.Small enough to carry anywhere. Small enough to sail on tiny bodies of water. Large enough tobe a genuine sailing yacht.Every aspect of the design has been developed with simplicity in mind.The Mac Rig minimizes parts and rigging complexity.The ballast system uses a simple stainless-steel rod available from almost any hardware store inthe world.The hull opening is sealed with ordinary tape rather than a complicated hatch system.Sails are cut using printable templates.The goal has always been the same:Simpler. Cheaper. Easier. Better.The idea extends beyond the boat itself.MiniMax was designed from the beginning as a globally accessible class. Builders can print boatsthemselves or obtain kits from licensed builders. Future updates can be distributed instantly. Theclass can grow without relying on a single manufacturer.Most importantly, MiniMax is intended to bring people together.Whether that means casual sailing, local fleets, youth programs, STEM education, club activities,pond sailing, indoor sailing, or racing, the goal is the same:To make sailing accessible.To make it fun.To create a boat that encourages participation rather than complexity.Perhaps one day there will be MiniMax fleets all over the world.Perhaps there will be national championships and world championships.Or perhaps MiniMax will simply be a little boat that brings a smile to people's faces.Either outcome is fine by me.After all, this project began with a dream nearly fifty years ago.MiniMax is simply the latest chapter in that story.Fair winds,Brett McCormack 0.01 EUR https://castlerock.bigcartel.com/product/my-story https://assets.bigcartel.com/product_images/428760756/729466656_122226789218285609_4697681554047556972_n.jpg 120474057 new in stock 120473928 MiniMax builders kit MiniMax Builders kit 85.00 EUR https://castlerock.bigcartel.com/product/minimax-builders-kit 120473928 new preorder 120445080 MiniMax Builder STL pack V1.0 MiniMax Official License & STL PackageIncludes<ul><li>All Official STL Files</li><li>Sail Templates</li><li>Full Build/print Instructions</li><li>Access to future updates</li><li>MiniMax class registration/class membership </li></ul>You will need a FDM printer with minimum 220mm high Z axisto complete the model you will need TX/RX ,2 x 2gram servos and a 3.7v 180mah battery.3,2&1mm carbon rod and suitable sail materialI recommend the equipment from Minimumrc.comFiles are supplied manually following registration. Please allow some time for e mail delivery due to time zone differencesThis is a digital product, no physical product will be shipped 25.00 EUR https://castlerock.bigcartel.com/product/minimax-builder-stl-pack-v10 https://assets.bigcartel.com/product_images/428759142/cover+photo.jpeg 120445080 new in stock