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[Odd Job]

Hi Guys
Is there anyone out there that can share their experiences with a paddle tug drive, i.e. what motor used, chain drives, gears. I am looking to run an electric model around 800mm, not sur eon which plans to build from I am just turning the idea over
Cheers
Chris

[TailUK]

I'm prepping a paddle tug build at the moment.I'm hoping to use 2 R/C Tank gearboxes made by Heng Long.  At 6 Volts they should give about the right R.P.M. required.  They could be used directly on the paddle shaft but I'm going to run a rubber belt drive around even sized pullies.  The idea behind this is that with a tweek on the tension the paddle wheel should slip it it gets jammed with weed or sticks and not smash itself up.
Controlling the twin motors should give "Tank steering" (independent forward and reverse on each paddle) a common feature of paddle tugs.  I'll either use 2 mechanical speed controls on seperate servos or a ESC from a tank (effectively a "mixer")  The best option would be a P94 from Action but at £100+ I can't justify it.

[Odd Job]

Thanks for that, I did'nt give that kind of technology a thought, mind you you say that the tank gearbox privides comparible output. I woulod imagine that something in the region of a 3:1 gearing would be suitable. So do you have any idea of the ratio of your drives? & where do you obtain them?
Cheers
Chris

[TailUK]

I did it imperically, I just put 6 volts through them and measured the rpm.  I bought a pair of gearboxes on fleabay for £10.00 and a couple of mechanical speed controllers for a fiver.  I already had the ESC from a tank!

[BarryM]

Chris,
My 'Director Class' paddler was originally driven by chains and metal sprockets. This was a big mistake as the interference generated was sufficient to send the servos haywire. A change to aluminium toothed pulleys and rubber belt drive eliminated this and capacitors on a pair of ancient monoperms, each with its own ESC, enabled it to turn on the proverbial sixpence.
Barry M
 

[NoNuFink]

As a matter of interest - just what is a sensible r.p.m. figure for a model side wheel paddler??

NNF

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

The general consensus is around 125  RPM.  For better advice you can't do better than visit  Paddleducks.co.uk

regards

ken

[NoNuFink]

Thanks for the info 

NNF