Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: Colin1475 on April 06, 2018, 03:56:45 am
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Hi I'm building a mmm portgarth and considering fitting a bow thruster , are there any rules as to fitting position?
Also I have been looking at the raboesch range which seem pretty robust but Any recommendations for other makes ?
This scale stuff is new too me as I build model power boats (petrol powered) have been for the last 18 odd years so I'm going too have a go at this tank steering, any recommendations on speed controllers for this type of set up , the action p94 20 amp seems to be ideal for this
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When I built the Model Slipways Loyal boat, I added a Raboesch bow thruster. It has screws that can be removed vertically to work on the motor, so I located it under the small forward hatch. I used a second ESC to control the thruster. It is run by the left stick on my TX, in the left/right motion. Throttle of the boat's single motor is up/down on that stick. It works very well.
The plastic paddle that came on the thruster soon broke. As you can see in the picture, I replaced it with a brass paddle, epoxied to the shaft. No more problems.
You will find the bow thruster gives much greater maneuverability to your boat. Enjoy.
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Hi,
If you PM me your email address I will give you some tips on how and where to locate your bowthruster in the Portgarth hull. I built a Portgarth some time ago with my own made bowthruster and the difference in manouverability is amazing. Hope this helps.
Regards, Pete.
P.S. If you can get to Balne Moor on sunday you will see the experts and great tugs at work.
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Hi Colin,
It depends whether you want to make a tug just to sail and be assisted by a bow thruster or whether you want to be able to turn quickly if you're in a towing competition etc. If the former, then the Raboesch will do the job, just! The Portgarth is a heavy tug when ballasted to sail.
At Balne Moor we have a lot of towing competitions and need to be able to "lean" on the tow and physically push it around. Attached is a photo of the type of bow thruster Pete is talking about. It is fitted to my MMM Ormesby Cross. It is a horizontally mounted 42mm plumbing pipe with a 3" prop tube mounted at an angle with a 35mm racing prop on one end and a 1100kv outrunner brushless motor on the other. It is a powerful system and not only turns the tug quickly, but also is capable of pushing a heavy tow into harbour etc.
As to your other point, I would strongly recommend the P94 from Action :-)) . I use one in all my tugs. It works brilliantly as a tank steer controller, but can also be set up as a mixer if you do not master the "black art" :}
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If you are just sailing and 'light' towing, and want greatly increased manoueverability, the Raboesch unit will do more than 'just' suffice, IMHO. I put one in my 'Denton', based on a Smit Nederland. Without the thruster, I could spin her on the spot with twin screws and her Becker rudders, but using the thruster as well spins her faster. If I'm towing and want to change the tug's angle on the tow, a quick puff on the thruster will do the job.
I also put the thruster on the left stick, with a bit of practice it's a doddle to move her around. I think I may even be able to get her to crab sideways, in Voith or ASD fashion, something to work on in the summer at the lake.
My paddle didn't break as such, but I found it slipped, so a little epoxy was applied to keep it in place. I also put a grille over the thruster tunnel openings, a small bit of fine garden netting epoxied into place.
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In my experience, the more you can push, the quicker the berthing (or was that birthing, in my case?j. :o Either way, the more oomph you have when you are pushing a towed vessel, the better - you can choose whether to use it, but it’s there when needed. :-))
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The posts cover most of the ideas I was going to pass on so good luck hope you get it sorted.
Cheers,Pete.
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Thanks for all the help chaps I have ordered the raboesch unit with the props. I'm not into towing but at our lake where we race the petrol it seems like there is an interest in scale taking off, I for one am hooked as I have just bought a completed smit Nederland and kitted it out with mtronics speed controllers and twin mfa 919d motors , I'm quite surprised how long she lasts on twin 5000mah 7.2v sub c nimh packs, so much more enjoyable than petrol lol also changed the stock plastic crap props for 2 counter rotating 48mm units from Simon at protean design and what a difference they made, first time I used that company and the service was second to none. Pm'd my email to you fastfaz
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Well you have been down the same road as I and I also ended up fitting Simons excellent bronze props which are superb