Captain John’s Remote Control Fleet “A ship in harbor is safe.

1. Captain John’s Remote Control Fleet  “A ship in harbor is safe. But that’s not what ships are for.” Captain Shedd Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

2. Fleet History Circa 1971, Memo, a frisky little skipper from Mexico at the ripe old age of 5, who spoke not a word of English, entered into a partnership with his neighbor, John, a misguided engineer who was working on a crew to build a helicopter-borne submarine sonar detection system for the US Navy. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

3. Fleet History During a trip to Disneyland, it occurred to these two aspiring ship builders that what the world really needed was a soulful vessel to explore the great waterways of the world. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

4. Fleet History  Since these two enterprising ship builders lived quite literally on the other side of the railroad tracks in the old Mexican / Californian town of Pacoima, there were plenty of junk yards to roam. From their ship yard, a great paddle wheeler was built and stocked with plenty of black eyed peas, whiskey, and a big fat pig. Memo The River Boat Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

5. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

6. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

7. Remote Control Cabin If you wanna be a sailor, you gotta look like one and ya gotta have a proper captain’s cabin. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

8. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

9. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

10. Sailors at the Boston Commons Don't mess with these sailors.  They're on an important mission. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

11. The Tug-That-Could Made from premium quality junk including Starbucks coffee stirrer sticks, foam rubber, bottle caps and rope. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

12. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

13. Garbage Barge On a mission to collect premium quality junk for building more boats.  The two sea gulls, connected to a motor, hover around the barge. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

14. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

15. Pirate Boat Inside this fearsome ship is a walkie talkie and a water cannon pump.   Yer money or yer life, ya nat-brain, pigeon-gut, low life!“ Walkie Talkie & Cannon Control Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

16. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

17. Pirates in Central Park, New York  Look'n fer fat bankers who have too much money. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

18. Mellow Yellow Submarine “We all live in a yellow submarine.” ~ The Beatles Onboard are a working water cannon and a tape recorder that plays Popeye the Sailor Man. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

19. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

20. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

21. Boston Police Plane To save the world from scurrilous scoundrels and vile villains.  The plane is attached to a transparent plastic rod which is mounted on a floating platform.  When it is towed by the pirate boat or sub, it looks like it is chasing the bad guys. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

22. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

23. Young-at-heart SailorsSeaport Museum, NY I wanna be a sailor when I grow up! Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

24. Pirate in a Row Boat Serenading his best friend, the parrot. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

25. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

26. Flower Power Flying Machine  The marvelous men and women and their flying machines.  The balloon is a nerf ball, the wings are shoe horns, the basket is a tuna fish can and the wheels are bottle caps mounted on golf tee's.  The whole contraption is mounted on a transparent plastic rod which is fixed to a platform.  The platform can be mounted on an RC chassis or hull. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

27. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

28. The Engine Room The RC receiver, servos, rudder control and motor control are packed into a Tupperware container. The boats can be quickly interchanged on this hull. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

29. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

30. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

31. Future Captains Lining up to have a go at steering the Mellow Yellow Submarine at the Boston Tall Ships Exhibit. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

32. Have Boats. Will Travel. The fleet requires a dry dock for maintenance.  Traveling to model boat shows means you need to think about packing everything. Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

33. Captain John’s Remote Control Fleet "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." William Arthur Ward Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com