Traveling by air, for most of us, is a hard ordeal to overcome when it comes to bringing along our RC sailboats. Most of us would just leave them at home. In an effort to help us all with moving our hobby to the next step or maybe you are going to set out on an extended business trip. Whatever the reason, here is a topic that made the discussion forum from the Victoria Class. Granted the size of the Victoria makes it one of the easiest boats to travel with, but we are talking about any class, one meter or under here.
What about classes that are over 40 inches in length and higher, how do you travel with your craft. I think there are easy solutions out there but it would be nice to hear about them.
[Ed Note: RC Laser's can be packed with radio gear in a guitar sized travel bag, sails and all.]
Transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: Simon Date: 23 Jun 2001
Comments
Hi, I want to take my Vic up to Queensland. I will only need to transport it there and back which is a total of about 5 hours flight time. I don't want to have to pay heaps of money for a gun box for a one of transportation. What should I do? A Cardboard box with foam? Thanks Simon
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: George Emmert, Las Vegas Date: 24 Jun 2001
Comments
Try this: detach the fin/bulb and rudder. Put them and the Transmitter in your carry on bag, with batteries (Not Installed) Remove your sail rig, just detach the rig, then hang the rig in a clothes zip-up carry on bag...wrap your Vicky in a White Turtle or mock turtle neck shirt, then place the Victoria in the bottom of the clothes bag...carry on board and lay carefully in the overhead baggage area after the other people place their stuff in. Or, use a hang up locker if one is available on the aircraft. I suggest that you take Khaki slacks on a hanger and place along side your sails (clipped to the hanger) then cover those items with you Blue Blazer (buttoned)...then you're fully equipped for almost anything that comes along!!! Have fun - order a beverage, have some peanuts and smile. George E PS: Topsiders (boatshoes with absolutely no socks) optional! PPS: If airline people turn you down, ask for a Golf Club Cardboard box and place the boat in that. Yikes! You're back to the cardboard box thing! I'm smiling here...have a smiley day with rail-down winds
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: Brian Roberts Date: 25 Jun 2001
Comments
I used the original box, plus some extra packing for my 7-hour flight to the 2000 Nationals, worked fine. As George says, carry on the keel and transmitter. The garment bag is a great idea. Pin a pair of sweat suit (track suit) pants to a coat hanger with the foot holes closed up, stuff the boat in one leg and the spars in the other.
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: Charles Sudduth, Addison TX, cnsudduth/#/aol.com cnsudduth/#/aol.com Date: 25 Jun 2001
Comments
Ray and Brian, Both of you have mentioned airline approved. What does it take to get a travel box airline approved? Does the travel box have to meet certain requirements? My travel box is made of 1/4 inch plywood with reinforce joints and brass corners. I have three hinges on the lid and 3 hasps with locks. The measurements are 48" X 12" X 12". It will hold two boats or one boat and my toolbox. The reason it is so big is that I do not want to take the keep and rudder off my main boat because it does not leak. I am afraid that if I take the keel off, it will be to leak. I use zip lock bags full of shipping peanuts and big bubble wrap to fill in the space. It was expensive to build but it fits in my van perfectly when traveling by car. I have not traveled by air with it. I am planning to attend the Nationals and the Vic cup in Atlanta. What do I need to do to get the box airline approved? Thanks.
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: Brian Roberts Date: 25 Jun 2001
Comments
Charles, After you asked I did question the statement, and was told it was a marketing function of gun and bow cases. The case has to have multiple closing points and a locking device, or hasp. No big deal, but cannot get gun/bow out without key.
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$From: rssailtexas/#/yahoo.com Ray Seta Date: 25 Jun 2001
Comments
Charles, Sorry I don't have any technical answer than I must agree with Brian on this that it probably is a marketing thing to add confidence to the buyer. I know with my line of work and travels with Rock Tours, what we call "Road Boxes" are lockable, 1/4 to 1/2 plywood covered with a laminate of some sort and no sharp corners, and usually on wheels for easy transportation for shipping (air or ground). These gun Boxes I speak of our of the same quality and construction. To me the term "airline approved" at least means that the gorilla or some baggage handler, from the Samsonite TV commercial can even throw it around and it's contents relatively safe. Good Luck and we'll see ya at Nationals... Ray
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: R Davis (onemetre/#/comcast.net) Date: 28 Jun 2001
Comments
Working for an airline and being a former "Ramp Rat" I can tell you there's really nothing "airline approved" from a standards standpoint. You must keep in mind anything checked has a chance to be under 10 or so of your fellow passengers things checked. They can be up to 100lbs. Must folks on the ramp don't go out of their way to smash things but things can happen and when they do more structure is better.
A popular way to transport an IOM is via a hard sided golf case. It's not exactly inexpensive but reduces the chances of damage.
Rob
What about classes that are over 40 inches in length and higher, how do you travel with your craft. I think there are easy solutions out there but it would be nice to hear about them.
[Ed Note: RC Laser's can be packed with radio gear in a guitar sized travel bag, sails and all.]
Transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: Simon Date: 23 Jun 2001
Comments
Hi, I want to take my Vic up to Queensland. I will only need to transport it there and back which is a total of about 5 hours flight time. I don't want to have to pay heaps of money for a gun box for a one of transportation. What should I do? A Cardboard box with foam? Thanks Simon
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: George Emmert, Las Vegas Date: 24 Jun 2001
Comments
Try this: detach the fin/bulb and rudder. Put them and the Transmitter in your carry on bag, with batteries (Not Installed) Remove your sail rig, just detach the rig, then hang the rig in a clothes zip-up carry on bag...wrap your Vicky in a White Turtle or mock turtle neck shirt, then place the Victoria in the bottom of the clothes bag...carry on board and lay carefully in the overhead baggage area after the other people place their stuff in. Or, use a hang up locker if one is available on the aircraft. I suggest that you take Khaki slacks on a hanger and place along side your sails (clipped to the hanger) then cover those items with you Blue Blazer (buttoned)...then you're fully equipped for almost anything that comes along!!! Have fun - order a beverage, have some peanuts and smile. George E PS: Topsiders (boatshoes with absolutely no socks) optional! PPS: If airline people turn you down, ask for a Golf Club Cardboard box and place the boat in that. Yikes! You're back to the cardboard box thing! I'm smiling here...have a smiley day with rail-down winds
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: Brian Roberts Date: 25 Jun 2001
Comments
I used the original box, plus some extra packing for my 7-hour flight to the 2000 Nationals, worked fine. As George says, carry on the keel and transmitter. The garment bag is a great idea. Pin a pair of sweat suit (track suit) pants to a coat hanger with the foot holes closed up, stuff the boat in one leg and the spars in the other.
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: Charles Sudduth, Addison TX, cnsudduth/#/aol.com cnsudduth/#/aol.com Date: 25 Jun 2001
Comments
Ray and Brian, Both of you have mentioned airline approved. What does it take to get a travel box airline approved? Does the travel box have to meet certain requirements? My travel box is made of 1/4 inch plywood with reinforce joints and brass corners. I have three hinges on the lid and 3 hasps with locks. The measurements are 48" X 12" X 12". It will hold two boats or one boat and my toolbox. The reason it is so big is that I do not want to take the keep and rudder off my main boat because it does not leak. I am afraid that if I take the keel off, it will be to leak. I use zip lock bags full of shipping peanuts and big bubble wrap to fill in the space. It was expensive to build but it fits in my van perfectly when traveling by car. I have not traveled by air with it. I am planning to attend the Nationals and the Vic cup in Atlanta. What do I need to do to get the box airline approved? Thanks.
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: Brian Roberts Date: 25 Jun 2001
Comments
Charles, After you asked I did question the statement, and was told it was a marketing function of gun and bow cases. The case has to have multiple closing points and a locking device, or hasp. No big deal, but cannot get gun/bow out without key.
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$From: rssailtexas/#/yahoo.com Ray Seta Date: 25 Jun 2001
Comments
Charles, Sorry I don't have any technical answer than I must agree with Brian on this that it probably is a marketing thing to add confidence to the buyer. I know with my line of work and travels with Rock Tours, what we call "Road Boxes" are lockable, 1/4 to 1/2 plywood covered with a laminate of some sort and no sharp corners, and usually on wheels for easy transportation for shipping (air or ground). These gun Boxes I speak of our of the same quality and construction. To me the term "airline approved" at least means that the gorilla or some baggage handler, from the Samsonite TV commercial can even throw it around and it's contents relatively safe. Good Luck and we'll see ya at Nationals... Ray
Re: transporting my Vic without heaps of $$
From: R Davis (onemetre/#/comcast.net) Date: 28 Jun 2001
Comments
Working for an airline and being a former "Ramp Rat" I can tell you there's really nothing "airline approved" from a standards standpoint. You must keep in mind anything checked has a chance to be under 10 or so of your fellow passengers things checked. They can be up to 100lbs. Must folks on the ramp don't go out of their way to smash things but things can happen and when they do more structure is better.
A popular way to transport an IOM is via a hard sided golf case. It's not exactly inexpensive but reduces the chances of damage.
Rob