SHAPING THE BOAT
- Taper the stern (back of boat) with a knife in a sawing motion, but with straight sides.
- Then round off hull bottom with a sanding block using medium (#80 - 100) garnet paper backed with a block 2 1/2 x 4" any thickness. Make many strokes, rolling the hull to get a round smooth shape. Any gouging of styrofoam can be repaired with spackle.
RUDDER
- Sand the bottom front corner round with garnet paper.
- Use white glue to install it.
MAST AND BOWSPAR
- Point one end of each by twisting and rubbing over garnet paper.
- Install mast by twisting into the styrofoam hull about 2 inches from the bow.
SAIL
- Cut a slanted slot about 3/4 inch from top of mast for the sail to rest into or use making tape to attach the sail.
PAINTING
- The syrofoam must be sealed before painting with a rubber base water soluble paint (like wall paint).
- Then you can use any paint medium for a gloss finish.
SAILING HINTS
- The Rainspout Sailboat sails best if the air current is directly astern.
- Hold a string into the air to determine the direction of the air.
- If people stand too close along the rainspouts they will affect the air flow.
- Indoors the sailing contest can be a blowing event.
- Outdoors the boat will sail with very little wind.
- Another sailing variation is to issue the contestant a full sheet of newspaper and let him fold it into a fan to blow the boat.
- Use masking tape to fasten the sail to the deck if you want to angle the sail setting to help the boat stay of course.
- Fill the rainspouts with water deep enough to clear rudder by 1/2 inch.
RAINSPOUT SAIL BOAT RACING TRACK
- Use tow standard ten foot length rainspouts, or better yet, use two 4 inch half-round rolled edges, rainspouts. (acquired at sheet metal shops)
- Solder on standard ends or seal ends on with putty.
- Use two card tables on a level surface to hold the two rainspouts for racing.
- For outdoor races you will need legs that adjust for irregular surfaces.
