PHOTOS: Remote Controlled Boats Bring History Alive

Bill Huizing began building model boats in 2006 but instead of building from a kit, like most beginners, Huizing went all out and hand carved renowned models, like the from original design plans.

The Morgan model is built to 1/124 scale and weighs 116 pounds. Huizing said the longest part of the project was applying the small copper plates to the bottom of the boat, which took eight weeks. In total, the project took 4,000 hours over the course of two years.

His most recent project, the Puritan, is modeled after the successful 1885 America's Cup defender. That boat took only one year to compete and weighs 33 pounds.

Huizing lives in Summit, New Jersey but stores his model boats at the Mystic Seaport and makes a trip up every so often to sail them. Huizing uses remote control to adjust the sails, sheet lines and rudder on all the boats, and does not have an electrical back-up.

When Huizing is not sailing the ship, visitors can view the Morgan model, which is on display at the .