Topic: modified tug / powerboat .. A SLEEPER ! (Read 12402 times)

nige2307 · « **on:** October 17, 2011, 10:28:03 pm »

  A serious question which i hope will illicit serious response..( or not)

I have been rebuilding a 32nd scale tug ( steam era)
Have come to conclusion that putting it in water and chugging around sedately,
..... Will not satisfy my needs.....
As much as liked the building, i feel too"young" and irresponsible for chugging around.
SO.. what i am thinking... can i do as car tuners do (ME) and make a "sleeper"( looks standard yet modified for speed)
  best of both worlds and no doubt raise a few eyebrows , dukes of hazard horn tune ..LOUD ! tug boat takes off with rooster tail !
   HOW? hydrofoil?
Would that be the only feasible method given the hydro dynamics with a tug hull ?
  YES i could build a powerboat.. BUT .....!

CAN IT BE DONE? sedate, unoffensive tugboat...... fast n furious drag tug?
  something to be admired AND admonished by tuggers and fast boat builders/owners alike.


Am i " urinating into a prevailing wind" ?

nhp651 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2011, 10:35:25 pm »

sounds like fun, to stir the old fuddy duddies like me up,

lol......what's the tug you have built.......any photos.
neil

Tug-Kenny RIP · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2011, 10:50:53 pm »

A tug hull is rather a wide ship compared to others. Would this cause a bit of drag ?

(unless of course the outriders raise it above water level, then of course the surprise would be gone)

ken

Shipmate60 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2011, 11:02:27 pm »

Yes it can be done with enough power.
One major drawback is the draught of a tug which requires a lot of ballast to get anywhere near her lines.
So you will need a lot of power to lift this weight on a hull not designed to lift as a displacement hull has a max speed which takes the square of the power to increase speed.
This is because it pushes the water in front of it, this water height rises with the speed.
This requires enough power to lift the hull.
Fast electric technology is not useable and the best way is to turn a huge prop at no more than medium speed.
A bit like a 30 inch tug powered by a car blower motor turning a 75mm 4 blade course pitch prop.

Bob

nige2307 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2011, 11:29:07 pm »

THATS my aim ! not chronologically that young myself .. !!
sadly i have no photos ( no camera ) and web cam got damaged ( ok.. i stamped on it in anger, )
the only pics are ....

http://s2.postimage.org/q4r9nlic/Picture_007.jpg

ken.. I would assume the issue of drag to be correct due to shape of hull.
and am thinking foils would raise hull ,lessen drag ?
as long as when on water it looks/acts like a tug outwardly , out of water is not so important.

Would be fun if it was seemingly totally unchanged .

but ..... !

nige2307 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2011, 11:43:10 pm »

BOB.. would foils not lift the hull therefore overcoming displacement issues ?
Failing that, ballast tank/ pump ? would that be viable?
was thinking foils would help with stability aswell.
but good point regarding bow wave.. but if Chuck yager, Derek noble can do sound barrier...
ok, i dont have USAF nor Richard bransons financal backing but ...

NIGE

Shipmate60 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2011, 12:08:13 am »

Chuck and Derek had millions spent on aerodynamic efficiency, you might have noticed they didn't do it in a Tiger Moth or Morris 8.
Wouldn't foils then give away the potential.
Of course it can be done but have to ask WHY.
Most model tugs are grossly overpowered (including mine).
I have had a 48 inch RTTL that on 24 volts was extremely fast, but even that was on a semi displacement hull.
One thing to consider is stopping, with all that weight going fast ahead it will take a lot to stop it.

Bob

boatmadman · « **Reply #7 on:** October 18, 2011, 12:36:19 am »

Why not have a set of foils below the 'tug' waterline so it looks scale and boring, then as speed increases, lift generated by the foils raises the hull?

You would need to launch secretly to preserve the element of surprise!

Ian

nige2307 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 18, 2011, 01:32:07 am »

bob...
WHY NOT?
same could be asked of yourself ? why ? unless its competitive or profitable then why play with the model on water!
my reply though is..... for the fun of it and why not... also because i like speed, have a tug,cant afford to build another boat!
As for stopping.... only if the lights turn red or a blue light flashes.

turning seems more problematic though.!

Ian...
you been sleeping at back of classroom again!!!

Nige

RaaArtyGunner · « **Reply #9 on:** October 18, 2011, 07:28:21 am »

This is reminiscent of putting a six cylinder Holden engine into a Morris Minor.
Slightly exaggerated, but not overly so, the gearbox ends up at the backseat.
Driver in front seat gear changer in back.

nhp651 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 18, 2011, 08:49:35 am »

Quote from: nige2307 on October 17, 2011, 11:43:10 pm

but if Chuck yager, Derek noble can do sound barrier...

I trust you mean Thrust One, and RICHARD Noble

malcolmfrary · « **Reply #11 on:** October 18, 2011, 09:18:42 am »

Foils with enough lift on a tug hull would probably create enough drag to ensure that whatever power was applied, the speed would never rise enough to let them do anything useful.
Best bet is an extremely knobbly 24 volt motor that produces adequate power at, say, 12 volts, but have the ability to switch in an extra battery for warp speed. If it runs two batteries in parallel normally, it is a very feasible job to switch them into series. It still won't scutter like a hydro, but you will be impressed. Make sure it has a good fender on the front.

Tug-Kenny RIP · « **Reply #12 on:** October 18, 2011, 10:00:27 am »

Here you go ...........................

andyn · « **Reply #13 on:** October 18, 2011, 10:09:07 am »

You won't be the first to do it....

My springer looks like any other on the water, can potter about with the rest of them. The black paint hides a 90mm prop in a kort, and has so much power I dragged a Robbe Odin backwards, which has a Robbe 1000 motor in a 100mm kort.....

I'm just starting build of probably the nuttiest tug there is going

Tug-Kenny RIP · « **Reply #14 on:** October 18, 2011, 10:14:58 am »

Now there's a boat NOT designed to go fast.

Invention is the Mother of necessity.

ken

andyn · « **Reply #15 on:** October 18, 2011, 02:17:01 pm »

Got told off at Blackpool for creating so much wake I nearly collapsed the pool... And I have a little idea up my sleeve to make it even faster....

Pirate · « **Reply #16 on:** October 18, 2011, 09:15:34 pm »

Have a gander at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stuart.cox/hembc/photos/index.html
Pirate

nige2307 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 19, 2011, 02:07:12 am »

big motor/prop is looking favorite at moment ! Impressed with springer set up Andy.
BUT... not quite what i have in mind .. pirates link is also on track but....!!!
Think more like...

same size/scale two masts but planked deck and upper deck plus timber plank wheel house ect,etc ..( camera... MUST buy another!!!)

Has THAT been done though? can it be done?

Andy.. how fast is the springer?

nige2307 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 19, 2011, 02:34:40 am »

Ooops... sorry rather ignorant of me to not acknowledge other replies..
RICHARD... not DEREK ... thank you.. P.S like me, you also missed the "E" out of CHUCK YAEGER

!
Hidden hull crossed my mind but idea of having all that lot balanced on a v hull..... Hmmm!

Quote from: malcolmfrary on October 18, 2011, 09:18:42 am

Foils with enough lift on a tug hull would probably create enough drag to ensure that whatever power was applied, the speed would never rise enough to let them do anything useful.
Best bet is an extremely knobbly 24 volt motor that produces adequate power at, say, 12 volts, but have the ability to switch in an extra battery for warp speed. If it runs two batteries in parallel normally, it is a very feasible job to switch them into series. It still won't scutter like a hydro, but you will be impressed. Make sure it has a good fender on the front.

food for thought..
fender sounds good... one that wouldn't sink or disintegrate on impact ! a keepsake!

nick_75au · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2011, 09:03:17 am »

As you are not fussed about underwater shape the best thing would be a rather radical modification, cut off most of the underwater portion of the hull and make it flat bottom running all the way to the stern. At the stern were the hull narrows it will end up with a flat plate, and the prop shaft beneath it. Mind you it will have to be launched like Australia II to keep the other boaters in the dark re: its capabilities.

This will solve the displacement problem thought the topsides would have to be much lighter than a normal build and a light weight NiMH or Li-po battery used, for a little better stability a slight V rather than a flat would help
Nick

andyn · « **Reply #20 on:** October 19, 2011, 11:17:42 am »

Quote from: nige2307 on October 19, 2011, 02:07:12 am

Andy.. how fast is the springer?

It's relatively slow actually, being a springer. For a tug its very fast, for a fast boat it's slow. The impressive bit of it is the huge bow and stern wake, and the fact that with that huge steering kort it can damn near stand on its side in a tight turn. The prop is only turning at 1700rpm, but it's pushing a hell of a lot of water around. It's incredibly powerful too...

Here's the video of its maiden run, about third throttle and way less voltage that it is on now

Andy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AzVOMlW3Mo&sns=em

nige2307 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 20, 2011, 03:53:48 pm »

Quote from: nick_75au on October 19, 2011, 09:03:17 am

As you are not fussed about underwater shape the best thing would be a rather radical modification, cut off most of the underwater portion of the hull and make it flat bottom running all the way to the stern. At the stern were the hull narrows it will end up with a flat plate, and the prop shaft beneath it. Mind you it will have to be launched like Australia II to keep the other boaters in the dark re: its capabilities.

This will solve the displacement problem thought the topsides would have to be much lighter than a normal build and a light weight NiMH or Li-po battery used, for a little better stability a slight V rather than a flat would help
Nick

That certainly would be the way to go if i was doing a new build with speed in mind.
As much as i enjoyed the time spent ( with exceptions) i aint doin it again. yet!
On occasion i felt the urge to go play with the slugs at bottom of garden and dance in the moonlight,
due to stress related madness !

Also, since it started as a "just fettle it" type idea, to 12 month total re-build and
It was all done in the kitchen ! (amazing how much disarray/mess i made)
So any major reworking (mess making) is out....

Ade the Blade · « **Reply #22 on:** October 20, 2011, 09:19:33 pm »

I must admit i love the idea of a sleeper of any type ,take lawn mower racing mad but it works in a very British way so i say go for it think outside the box .i would love to be at the same lake as yourself and not know the tug was a sleeper untill you let rip what a laugh ,As a self confessed petrol head and loving all things with a motor and a big Top Gear fan i would love see a 1.1 canal barge fitted with a big block V8 just to see the results it may go wild and get on the plane or die trying or even a brushless rc barge now who,s going to build the first 40mph rc barge.

Regards Ade

RaaArtyGunner · « **Reply #23 on:** October 20, 2011, 09:56:36 pm »

Really thinking outside the box, why not a sub with a small "boat" conning tower.
Imagine the looks when it sinks but by magic it refloats

andyn · « **Reply #24 on:** October 20, 2011, 10:12:24 pm »

Quote from: RaaArtyGunner on October 20, 2011, 09:56:36 pm

Really thinking outside the box, why not a sub with a small "boat" conning tower.
Imagine the looks when it sinks but by magic it refloats

One of the many projects on my slipway is our tug, submersible... Watch this space......

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Author Topic: modified tug / powerboat .. A SLEEPER ! (Read 12402 times)

nige2307

nhp651

nige2307

nige2307

nige2307

RaaArtyGunner

nhp651

andyn

andyn

nige2307

nige2307

nick_75au

andyn

nige2307

Ade the Blade

RaaArtyGunner

andyn