I would also like to build a Thames sailing barge..........one day!. I have built quite a few static sail models in years past always going for electric powered working models of classic boats/ships if i wanted something to sail ( I have never belonged to a club, I prefer to make my mistakes in private) .......but I have found this forum and the once all conquering model boats forum an absolute mine of information for the sole model boater.
Before I build a sailing barge I've always had it in my mind to try a pilot cutter or some thing like a cornish crabber ( if you ever go to the maritime museum at Falmouth, they have a stick your money in the slot..........have a go at sailing a model boat pond indoors with fans providing the wind) no I don't live there, I reside in the frozen north (so it's not an advert, it was just good fun)
These little models sail really well ( if anyone knows if they are produced as a kit, I'd really like to know) What I liked was the simplified sail arrangement, lack of deck clutter which I believe prevents real sailing boats from performing as well as they could ( lower the deck line better they go......but hey what do I know) but the thing that really puts me off is the mechanics, I've recently returned to the fold after a break of roughly 25 years, while the boat building isn't all that different apart from the use of plastic (haven't got used to that yet but I'm trying SWMBO say's I am anyway) it's the radio control and gadgets that have moved on a pace ( most boats went round in circles when i modelled before and I'm not that old.....no pension in sight yet, and once I realised through these forums that my old radio control which I'd lovingly looked after all these years was defunct, I still got suckered into buying a 27 meg replacement) so thats the bit that puts me off, I've built 80% of my models from scratch i.e from a plan or out of my head from whatever bits and pieces come to hand (not in the strict sense of making every part) so the practical advise is invaluable to me.
I'd really like to see more on the mechanics of sail craft & how to work out what components you need without being a mathematician or a scientist(I work with statistics but find some posts puzzling) surely it wasn't rocket science in the old days when people had to do this for real..come on guys give us a break keep it simple, more please.