We started SailorMadeRC after discovering how hard it was to get a competitive IOM boat. Second-hand options were often outdated or damaged, while new competitive boats came with long lead times and high costs. We loved the class, but the path onto the water was harder than it needed to be.
Modern competitive RC yachts need deep mast wells, rigid but lightweight structures, and hull shapes tuned for changing conditions, all of which are challenges for self-built yachts. For most sailors, home-built boats demanded specialist building skills and still struggled to compete against the best hulls in the class. 3D printing changed that: it made high-performance self-build yachts easier to design, refine, and access.
We built our first Alioth with no prior RC sailing or building experience. Club members thought we were crazy. The building community was generous, but the learning curve was steep. Choosing filament, tuning print settings, sourcing components, selecting adhesives, learning build techniques, and getting the finish right took months of study. After helping other club members build their own boats, we saw the same need repeatedly: make the process simpler.
SailorMadeRC makes competitive RC yacht building simpler and more accessible. We started with build kits and have expanded into build accessories and boat stands made with 3D printed parts. We are developing rig and appendage build kits but will continue to point sailors toward trusted specialist suppliers for individual fittings. We are based in Madrid, Spain and ship globally.
We focus on the parts of the build that make the biggest difference: complete kits, reliable components, practical instructions, and proven designs that get sailors racing sooner.
Everything we offer is guided by three principles:
Fun to build
Building should be rewarding, not frustrating. A good self-build teaches you how the boat works, makes maintenance and upgrades easier, and gives you the unique satisfaction of racing something you built yourself.
Our kits and step-by-step instructions are designed to keep the build enjoyable while reducing the points of friction. We preserve the challenge and room for customization that make self-building rewarding, but remove the avoidable complexity that can turn a first build into months of trial and error.
Easy to source
A first build should not require weeks of research. RC sailing yachts can be customized in countless ways, with excellent suppliers for fittings, rigs, and appendages. But comparing options, checking compatibility, and sourcing every part can be daunting, even for experienced sailors.
Our kits bring the essentials into one package, saving hours of sourcing and compatibility checks. That does reduce flexibility, but it makes early builds smoother and helps new builders get through the process with confidence.
Our full kits are designed primarily for first-time builders, with fewer decisions to make and step-by-step instructions to follow. As your skills grow, you can move to our hull-parts-only kits and choose fittings that match your own design preferences.
Fast to race
Self-built should still mean competitive. We work with leading designers to offer tested 3D printed RC sailing kits that perform well against the best boats in their class, so you can be sure to have a fast boat.