Scale Boating

Director of Scale Activities: Jack David: wvrcscale@gmail.com

Welcome to the Scale boating page of the WVRCM website! What is a scale boat? Simply put, the WVRCM scale fleet consists of any vessel which is not a pure racing boat. The vessel may be motorized (electric or steam only) or sail and generally represent a full size vessel from another period or a vessel currently in service somewhere around the world. Ships of any scale are welcome. We have several scale events each boating season featuring our popular Parade of Boats and a navigation course so that skippers can test their helmsmanship and navigation skills. Bring your models to the pond, finished or not. We like to compare notes and there’s usually a lot of Q & A time to share ideas and ‘how to’s’. There are a number of websites and scale suppliers to help with everything from complete kits to the smallest parts for all scales. The Useful Links page lists a number of these sites.

WEST VALLEY R/C MARINERS’ SCALE BOATS COME IN ALL SIZES:

2 FEET  to over 8 FEET long!

SPECIAL! Watch for more Fleet Albums!

2024  WVRCM PRESIDENTS DAY FLOTILLA AND PARADE OF BOATS- Lake Park, Litchfield Park, AZ; Saturday February 17, 2024.

The West Valley R/C Mariners 2024 Presidents Day Flotilla and Parade of Boats featured 12 registered skippers who brought a total of at least 18 boats and one Zeppelin (actually a Zeppelin barge!). The weather was beautiful, but Lake Park was a little scummy this year. That didn’t stop the fleet from launching, just had to wipe down hulls following the event! We had a small group of spectators who enjoyed the event- especially the kids!

Held each year since 2001 except for 2020, the WVRCM Presidents Day Flotilla & Parade of Boats is an event featuring electric military, commercial, pleasure and sail vessels. There is a Parade with each boat making a Parade Pass and the Harbor Master/Commentator describing each boat for the crowd followed by free running around the milling oval. The very first WVRCM Flotilla and Parade of Boats was held in 1993 on Labor Day weekend. The Flotilla & Parade of Boats has proven to be a popular format with both spectators and the skippers. In 2001 the Labor Day event was dropped in favor of events on Veterans Day and Presidents Day. The fleet this year represented a good range of boat types with warships, a PT boat, commercial, pleasure craft and of course Barrett Hochhaus's  novelty craft featuring a powered float with a 1/125th scale HINDENBURG.

The 2024 event was distinguished by the age range of the skippers. At least two of the skippers were grandchildren of one of our scale skippers. The youngest skipper was 9 years old and I hate to say who the oldest skipper was- let’s just say 70+. In fact the 9 year old granddaughter of one of our scale skippers actually won an award for Best Pleasure!

This year marks the final year of events that are produced by Jack and Barbara. We have to decided to retire from producing events and “pass the baton” on to others.

The WVRCM thanks all the skippers who attended and especially the residents of the City Of Litchfield Park and the Parks and Recreation Department for providing the WVRCM with a venue for the event.  

 2024 PRESIDENTS DAY FLOTILLA AND PARADE OF BOATS AWARDS

Mark Weitzman: PCF 18 – People’s Choice Award
Mike Davis : Wilton Castle– Skipper’s Choice Award
Brett Harper: U.S.S. Arizona – Best Military
Ron Burns: Canelise– Best Commercial
AB: Alena’s Pontoon – Best Pleasure
Ken Sinfield: George W. Washburn - Engineering Award

Mike Davis : Wilton Castle– Engineering Award

To view photos of the event see the "2024 PRESIDENTS Day Flotilla" Album. 

See Safety Bulletin WVRCM 17-01 below. Important information for all Scale Skippers!

The first article in a new series for all club skippers, scale and sail. The kick-off article is titled:

Batteries, BATTERIES, BATTERIES!