A winning raingutter racer stays on an even keel, moves in a straight line, keeps the bow above water and does not drag.
If your boat does all this, it finishes ahead of any boat that can’t. Here’s how to build your winner.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Step 1: Sand the balsa wood hull’s sides and bottom until smooth.
Step 2: Put the mast in, and bend back the mast to “rake” it a little. Take the mast out for now.
Step 3: Seal the hull, using two coats of polyurethane, then sand it smooth.
Step 4: Add the keel and the rudder. Put both on the centerline and at right angles to the bottom of the hull. Put the keel on as far back as you can, just ahead of the rudder.
Step 5: Glue the keel’s narrow edge next to the hull and the angled edge forward. This makes your boat harder to tip and quicker to right.
Step 6: If you paint the boat, keep it simple — spray paint works fine. Three thin coats make an attractive finish. Attach the mast after painting.
Step 7: Trim 1/4 inch off the top and 3/4 inch off the bottom of the sail. Cut a new bottom hole 1/2 inch above the old one. Clip off the bottom corners so they can’t snag the gutter.
Step 8: To keep the sail above the gutter, attach it so that the bottom is 1 1/2 inches above the deck. Glue the sail to the mast so that it can’t move. Attach the sail at right angles to the centerline.
HOW TO CAPTAIN THE BOAT
No matter how well you make your boat, victory demands a skilled captain. An even wind, for instance, moves the boat faster than do frantic puffs.
Practice long, steady breaths. Your breath should hit the sail directly behind the sail and just below the center.
If you’re too high, blowing downward, you will force the bow down, slowing the boat. You’ll blow your chance to win.
Position yourself so that you are blowing from behind the boat and slightly up, using a gentle, steady breath.
take tips from your mom,dad,den leader,and fellow scouts.and make your boat as light as posible.getting fansy will just make it wegh more.
AWESOME! My son won it all tonite! UNDEFEATED!
He’s so happy! Thanks for the tips!
what kind of glue for keel and rudder where to locate and did u cut a groove
I sanded my boat like a smooth L. should I do this or should I make it into a regular L?
lol… iv won the race for the 3rd time now
Paint your boat, polyurethane with two coats and finish with Turtle Wax for the ultimate finish and waterproofing. My son’s boats really fly through the water.
subject:dad
i’m going to try your idea
What tool should I use to make the grooves for rudder and keel; how deep?
My son used this design and won first place in our pack’s regatta. Last year we used the instructions that came with the kit and he was eliminated very early in the competition. Thank you!!!
I WON AGAIN!!!!! 4 TIMES IN A ROW
Since I’m unsure of my Pack’s exact rules, I’m intentionally resisting these “winning” designs because I don’t want to be “that Dad”.
listen kids this is not legal in all derby’s check ur rules first.
What part is illegal? Looks very similar to the directions that came with my kit, other than turning the keel around.
There is nothing illegal about this.
Spraying the bottom with WD-40 is a good alternative to polyurethane. Same water repelling effect.
Spray the WD40 before or after the paint?
And, now… for MORE SPEED? This was our first year in the regatta. The upside down keel is an awesome idea. We screwed up on gluing of the rudder and put it on upside down too, which turned out to lower the drag and boost speed. But first we carved a 1/8″ groove from the bow to the stern, like the Louisiana Bayou speed boats I grew up with. That along with creasing and fixing the sail to the boat (catamaran style), and it flew down the gutter at 3-4 times the speed of the other boats. The fixed sail actually forces the air (we got this from having to do 400 of the Boy’s Life anemometers at family camp) down and back, providing an added boost even greater than a catamaran because the air can travel over the the center of the top of the boat (with a catamaran it just goes into the water via the gap between the hulls). Some parents complained and we were disqualified in the middle of the race for not using (or needing) a 6.5″ mast. My son was crushed. So much for good ideas… be careful on doing too much and becoming a target. Next year we’ll ad a mast/flag pole, but sand it thin to avoid drag.
sounds like your style was catamaran / hydrafoil: both which are styles not allowed in the raingutter regatta because of the unfair competitive advantage. suprised they let you race without the required 6.5 inch mast. love your design specs though. sorry about the disqualification better luck next year to you both, I’m sure you’ll do fine with your knowledge and tips.
cool my dad wont stop sanding it please help i want to win first place help me i won the race
Both my kids used this design and each took first in their age groups. Thanks a lot for the info.
My dad says it sould be good.
i hpoe this works! my boats ussually stink.
Our pack doesn’t use the kits. My son got a piece of wood that wasn’t even cut straight, a block of wood that is splintered, 4 nails and a foam plate. Hopefully we can make something that will at least float. I don’t push winning. As long as he has fun, learns something and enjoys the time spent with his mom is all I look for.
Sounds like a cowboy cadillac.
its awesome though i won with catamaran desighn
I hope this works, it is Saturday (the day of the race) and it is about 5 hours till the race. (3 hours later) I just finished my homework. Then I realize, DANG! I haven’t made my boat yet! I hope I can make this in two hours, I built a cool design with a dremel and sandpaper. I got all the supplies and these awesome instructions! I hope I can win a least 3rd place.
You hope you can win at least 3rd place? Don’t you mean your son?
He broke off the front point where do I get another? The race is Monday. We are starting over. This time we are using the directions.
cool
we already painted the boat can we use polyurethan over the paint?
YES
Wy not just make a catameran
One of the best ways to make your boat go faster, and this is hard to do, is back up. If you get to close to your boat the sail doesn’t pick up the “wind” as well. 2″-3″ from the sail – slow, 10″-12″ from the sail – Fast. Try it, you’ll see.
Totally agree with this comment. My 3 year old “made” a boat this year in our pack’s “family” competition, and I held him up to blow on it. Of course a 3 year old can’t blow much (although he was trying), so I was doing the blowing, and when the boat got 8 – 10″ ahead of me, it went a lot better.
P.S. Our family category is just for fun, so no rules were broken by dad blowing instead of the 3 year old!
I remember when I won 1st place in the rain-gutter regatta. It was AWESOME!
I HAVE WON 3 TIMES
To Make the best Rain Gutter Regatta use the wood to make a catamaran.
this has been very helpful. I think I will win!!!!!!!
how deep do you insert keel and rudder
use super glue
i really dont think it works cuz the wood might be too heavy i would use some thing lighter.
Should the rudder stick out past the back of the boat or should it be lined up with the back. If yes to sticking out how much should it?