Schools + Clubs
A Small Boat with Big Educational Possibilities
MiniMax is more than a tiny radio-controlled sailboat. It is an engaging, hands-on platform for teaching design, engineering, electronics, fabrication, sailing, and teamwork.
At only 22 cm long and approximately 120 grams, MiniMax is affordable to produce, easy to transport, and small enough to sail in swimming pools, fountains, and other protected bodies of water. Its compact size makes it especially well suited to schools, youth programs, makerspaces, sailing schools, and (model) yacht clubs.
Built for Hands-On Learning
Students do more than assemble a finished product. They can participate in the complete process of bringing a working sailboat to life:
- 3D printing and identifying the boat’s components
- Assembling and finishing the hull
- Installing the radio receiver, battery and micro servos
- Building the mast, booms, sails and rigging
- Learning how wind creates lift and moves a sailboat
- Adjusting sail shape, balance and steering
- Testing, troubleshooting and improving the boat
- Learning the rules and strategies of sailboat racing
- Sailing and competing as part of a team
MiniMax brings together science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics in a project students can actually launch, sail and race.
A Flexible Program for Schools
Every school is different, so a MiniMax program can be adapted to fit the available time, equipment, budget and learning objectives.
It can be used as:
- A classroom engineering project
- A robotics or STEM-club activity
- A 3D-printing and fabrication exercise
- An after-school program
- A summer-camp project
- A capstone or team-design challenge
- A sailing and racing program
- A demonstration project for science fairs and community events
A program may involve just one or two demonstration boats, or an entire classroom building and racing boats in teams.
Students Can Work in Teams
A typical school program can organize students into teams of two to four. Each team builds, rigs, tests and races its own MiniMax.
Team members can take on different responsibilities, including:
- Project manager
- 3D-printing and fabrication lead
- Electronics lead
- Hull and assembly lead
- Sail and rigging lead
- Testing and quality-control lead
- Skipper and racing strategist
These roles can rotate so every student gains experience in multiple parts of the project.
More Than Building a Boat
The boat may be small, but the learning opportunities are broad.
MiniMax can introduce students to:
- Buoyancy, displacement and stability
- Aerodynamics and hydrodynamics
- Center of effort and center of lateral resistance
- Mechanical advantage
- Electronics and radio-control systems
- Additive manufacturing
- Material selection and adhesives
- Measurement, tolerances and quality control
- Iterative design and problem-solving
- Weather, wind direction and changing conditions
- Sportsmanship, teamwork and racing rules
When something does not work as expected, students diagnose the problem, make adjustments and test again. That process is one of the most valuable parts of the experience.
An Opportunity for Model-Yacht Clubs
Model-yacht clubs can play an important role in bringing MiniMax programs to their communities.
Experienced club members can help schools and youth organizations with:
- Boatbuilding and assembly workshops
- Sailing demonstrations
- Teacher and mentor training
- Troubleshooting and repairs
- Buoy placement and race-course setup
- Sailing instruction
- Race management
- Community sailing days
- Regattas between schools
- Access to suitable sailing locations
MiniMax gives clubs a practical way to share their knowledge, attract new participants and introduce a younger generation to model sailing.
A Bridge Between Schools and Clubs
The strongest programs bring educators, students and experienced model sailors together.
Schools contribute classrooms, students, teachers and educational structure. Clubs contribute practical boatbuilding, sailing and race-management experience. Local businesses, foundations and community organizations may contribute funding, equipment, materials or volunteers.
Together, these groups can create a program that extends well beyond a single classroom project.
A school might begin by building a few boats, then hold an internal race. Later, several schools could meet at a local pond for an interschool MiniMax regatta supported by a nearby model-yacht club.
Start Small and Grow
A MiniMax program does not need to begin with a large fleet.
A school or club can start with:
- One demonstration boat
- A small group of students and mentors
- A short build-and-sail workshop
- A few team boats
- A classroom or club fleet
- A school championship or interschool regatta
Starting small allows teachers and mentors to learn the process, refine the program and build local support before expanding.
What You Will Need
The basic requirements for a MiniMax program include:
- Access to a 3D printer or a local printing partner
- MiniMax-authorized design files
- Printed boat parts
- Two micro servos
- A receiver and compatible transmitter
- A small battery and appropriate charger
- Mast, boom, sail and rigging materials
- Basic hand tools and adhesives
- A pool, pond or other safe sailing location
- Teachers, club members or other adult mentors
Some equipment—especially transmitters, tools and chargers—may be shared among multiple teams.
Educational Licensing
Schools, youth organizations and clubs should obtain the appropriate MiniMax license before printing boats.
Educational and fleet licensing options may be available for programs that want to produce multiple boats. Please contact us to discuss the size and needs of your program.
[LEARN ABOUT LICENSING] [CONTACT US]
Clubs Can Launch Their Own Outreach Program
If your model-yacht club would like to work with local schools, MiniMax provides a manageable place to begin.
Consider reaching out to:
- High-school engineering and robotics teachers
- Middle-school STEM programs
- Makerspaces and fabrication laboratories
- Community colleges and universities
- Scout groups and youth organizations
- Sailing centers and yacht clubs
- Libraries and community centers
- Science museums and educational foundations
A demonstration boat, a short video, and an invitation to attend a sailing session may be all that is needed to begin the conversation.
The San Diego Argonauts Pilot Program
The San Diego Argonauts are developing a MiniMax-based STEM and robotics program in collaboration with local educators and students.
The initiative is exploring how students can build boats in teams, learn the principles of sailing and engineering, and conclude the program with an organized racing event. The experience gained through this pilot program will help inform resources that other schools and model-yacht clubs can use.
[VISIT THE SAN DIEGO ARGONAUTS]
Help Us Build the MiniMax Education Community
We would like to connect with teachers, students, model-yacht clubs, makers, sponsors and community organizations interested in developing MiniMax programs.
Whether you want to build one boat, start a classroom fleet, mentor a local school or organize an interschool regatta, we would be delighted to hear from you.
