Stevenage Model Boat Club
Hello everyone…
Stevenage Model Boat club is a friendly, welcoming club that meets twice weekly throughout the year at Fairlands Valley in the middle of the town to sail our model boats. In addition, we have impromptu discussions about the models and share knowledge to help everyone along their boat building journey. Fairlands Valley Park is a large public park with three lakes. We use the middle one: The Millennium Lake. (SG2 0BL) As well as the boat lake, the park has a good café, good parking, paved paths and child play facilities.
Why not come and have a look at our splendid model boats!
Club business
Club business is carried out lakeside most of the time, with the exception of the AGM in January. As well as our sailing activities,we exhibit at a selection of local shows / exhibitions to make our club known to the general public and we visit other clubs. Our members have every type of boat: scale boats, sail boats, fast boats and slow boats; boats made of plastic and GRP; wood blocks and planks; old boats and new boats; boats from kits, boats from bits. Come see the boats and meet us.
When & where do we sail…
- Thursday afternoon from 12.00 – 3.30pm
- Sunday morning from 9am -12 noon throughout the year, subject to weather conditions!
Generally, Thursday is more Scale & Sail, Sunday was mainly I.C boats and fast electric. Currently we are in discussions with Stevenage Borough Council about the use of these types of boat and the speeds they can run at. Watch this space for further news.
You can find location details and contacts on our ABOUT page
If you are thinking of taking up sailing model boats as a hobby, then you should join our club. Membership fees are around £25 a year, and for that you get…
- To join a friendly community
- Have access to the rescue boat, in the long run your boat batteries may run down unexpectedly.
- Get help with building + running your boat
- optional chat with tea in the nearby cafe
If there are any special events being held which may affect access for sailing, members are usually notified in advance.
Furthermore, we have a WhatsApp group for members to;
- share information such as photos & videos taken at the lake
- ask for help, especially with boat construction
- buy & sell boats and bits
There’s a nearby cafe & toilet facilities, and adjacent to it, free parking.
Download the membership application form for Stevenage Model Boat club – you’ll see membership rates here. Open it with suitable PDF reader and complete it by either adding your details and emailing it to the secretary, or print it out and bring it to the lake.
I.C.Boats
Currently, we only have a handful of members running I.C Boats (Boats with internal Combustion engines – diesel, petrol or glow fuel) Typically these are smaller craft, with deep V hulls, tunnel hulls or catamarans. The larger boats that were being run are now going to Offshore Racing events around the country
Fast Electric
Fast Electric boats are very popular, whether tunnel hull, mono hull, or the basic ‘Club 500’. SMBC runs a Club 500 competition through the year, from Spring to Autumn, with members pitting their racing skills against each other using identical boats.
Come and watch the Club 500 racing on Sunday mornings at 11.am – the Championship starts in Spring and runs through till Autumn. Check the Events page for dates.
Scale Boats
Scale and semi-scale boats are most prevalent in the club now. Highly detailed models of naval ships and lifeboats abound, with a good selection of tugs, fishing boats and other work boats. Private yachts, speedboats, airboats and paddle steamers appear from time to time.
Furthermore, a couple of our members have submarines. You don’t always see them at the lake – perhaps they are submerged! Unfortunately the lake bed has underwater hazards, weeds etc so the subs need careful sailing. Older models keep appearing, as does the occasional model that is solely a figment of a vivid imagination.
Yachts
Yachts are popular as they can be sailed all afternoon, with the challenge of skill against the wind with no need to refuel or recharge batteries. However, there are not enough yachts of one design to make for viable class racing. On the water, for casual sailing, are marble heads, IOMs, (International One Metre) smaller ready to go models and semi-scale boats from kits or built from plans. By all means come and have a look at our splendid yachts.
Help with setting up boats and sailing techniques is always available at the lakeside, but the subject is too large for inclusion on this page – more info and links on the Yachts page.
Steam
We all like a steamboat don’t we, but there are only a few steam powered boats at the lake. However these boats are always appealing to other boaters and the public who come to watch. Building a steam boat can seem daunting but the results are very rewarding.
Generally speaking, the cost of building or buying a completed steam powered boat is higher than an electric powered equivalent. However, if you have the skills and access to some engineering tools it’s possible to make your own. Various manufacturers sell steam engine kits
News …
We have a news page updated every month or so to reflect what’s been happening at the lake, new video links, club 500 races etc. Last year (2024) we covered Stotfold Steam Fayre, Model Air at Shuttleworth – which also had model boats on the lake and much more.
At the present time – late February – not much has happened at the lake as the weather has been cold, but getting warmer. Members have been busy building or renovating their models, waiting for sunnier days. Not far off!
SMBC Events…
We are involved in organising and attending various events throughout the year, both locally and further afield. By running some of these events, the club is proud to support the RNLI and Mercy Ships. This is a local charity, funding a hospital ship off the coasts of African countries, providing life saving and life enhancing operations to local people there.
See the EVENTS page for more details of what’s on and what we do. In the event that you want to get in touch contact details are on the ABOUT page, with email addresses.
For Sale…
Sooner or later that cherished boat has to go, perhaps to make way for a new one. We often have a few boats and associated boating paraphenalia for sale. It’s probably cheaper than buying from an online auction site and you can get to see the boats at the lake too!
If you want to sell a boat or some bits, email the web admin with details and it can be listed on our sales page. In the event it hasn’t sold after a month, the listing will be reviewed. Contact details can be kept confidential because of GDPR, unless the vendor is happy to share details. Contact can be made through the web admin – email on the About page.
YouTube Video Channel…
As well as this website, we also run a YouTube channel. This has been going since 2019 and we have over 100 videos to watch. We usually have a new video every couple of weeks. Check it out.
COVID 19…
Currently there are no Covid restrictions in the UK.
If you have coronavirus symptoms: a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, a loss of your sense of smell or taste, get a test and stay at home. If you have attended a session within 14 days and test positive for Covid-19 please let the chairman know as soon as possible.
For more information please see