Illusion 12 Mini Racing Sailboat - Lost my mind and got one

[seabisquit]

was looking for a cool kayak trailer on craigslist today and ran across this little boat on Craigslist, my kids and I have enjoyed and laughed at the Illusion 12 racing videos on youtube before and thought they were really cool, just a giant remote control racing sloop but controlled by a person sitting down in the darn thing, and I did just find out this is a rare two seater . So anyway, I know/knew nothing about them but picked it up anyway.

Anyone ever goof around with these, it'll need new sails and lines - and is stripped down to hull and all the hardware in bags and boxes - I'm going to be searching the globe for info. Went ahead and joined the one Yahoo group I found.

Looks like a hoot



https://www.flickr.com/photos/124201309 ... 5794088901



https://www.flickr.com/photos/124201309 ... 794088901/


https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Ill ... hotostream

[jeadstx]

I have seen pictures of those before. Should be interesting to sail.

John

[seabisquit]

Name this,, thing,,, what on earth is this hardware for (not for daysailer - for Illusion - hence this post being in Misc) First correct answer get's a prize

[imghttps://www.flickr.com/photos/124201309@N04/14522745838/in/set-72157645794088901[/img]


https://www.flickr.com/photos/124201309 ... 5794088901

Regards!!

[jeadstx]

Looks like it is for a traveler for where the mainsheet block and cam attaches to.

John

[GreenLake]

as John wrote, it's the car for the traveler.And it is upside down. The two blocks would attach to the control lines, giving them a 2:1 purchase, and the ring is to attach the mainsheet block, but it needs to point up for that.

[seabisquit]

Thanks for input! - the prize is a cold drink - there is NO way that big 'ol thing goes onto my little boat. As a matter of fact I've been scouring the globe for examples of Illusion rigging and it seems that quite a bit of these little racers forgo any type of car or pulley and just use a fixed line - as seen in this attached example




https://www.flickr.com/photos/124201309 ... 5794088901


Thanks again, I'm still scouring the globe but have yet to find all the detail I need, since mine is a rare two seater 15' even ordering sails will now be a chore since my mast and boom are a bit bigger -- okay back to the O'day!

[jeadstx]

If you want to reduce cost on the initial sails for the Illusion, you might want to consider Poly Sails. They're good for small boats and not too expensive. http://www.polysail.com/

John

[Kleanbore]

The Illusion Mini 12 is a popular boat in the UK. They have a class association and a Yahoo group. It is used by disabled sailors by converting the foot pedal rudder controls to stick. Given the amount and low CG of the ballast the boat takes a lot of pressure and turns it into motion. I think the poly sails would pull apart pretty quickly if the breeze pipes up.