American Pusher Tug / Towboat

BigJBB · 11-04-2005

Hello all, I am in the midst of building from scratch, based on the Free Plan in Model Boats magazine of February 2004, an American Towboat. It is coming along quite nicely now and will be in the water very soon.

cheers

Jim

**Bluewavestudios** · 11-04-2005

Looking good,
Will be even better with all the fittings on etc....I have those plans too as I thought this looked like a nice easy fun (and useful) model.
I say useful because there have been many times down my local club pond where boats have died out in mid-water with no breeze to blow them back in, It's usually another member that comes to the rescue to push it back to the side with their boat. That is fun in itself just trying to get lined up right !!!

Keep us posted with the pics

Regards.......Mark.

11-04-2005

Looks good but with the high superstructure I would advise care in any wind. If you have a problem with wind then could I suggest that you add a keel made from clear plastic, a very popular chocolate wrapped in gold paper has a box with a nice sized lid which can be used for that purpose and with it being clear is not seen when the boat is in the water and can be removed for display purposes if held in place with screws in a slot in the side of the lid.

**Bluewavestudios** · 12-04-2005

"If you have a problem with wind then could I suggest that you add a keel made from clear plastic"

Sorry couldn't resist that one, if you have that problem though you may want to add some foghorns too

Regards.........Mark

12-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluewavestudios

"If you have a problem with wind then could I suggest that you add a keel made from clear plastic"

Sorry couldn't resist that one, if you have that problem though you may want to add some foghorns too

Regards.........Mark

There is a much better solution for a wind problem, Don't eat so many heinz beans. You could end up with a DIY Jacouzi.

jiboullet · 30-05-2006

hi Jim,

I'm also interrested in building one of these tug/towboat. Can you let me know where could I find the plans you're using ?
Thanks in advance,
Jiboullet

BigJBB · 31-05-2006

Hello all, in response to Jiboullets' question. The plans were inside the February 2004 Model Boats magazine which you should still be able to get from them as a back copy I should think. Failing that I'd be happy to provide you with more details as it is a very simple form of hull which as has been stated elsewhere does not like the wind! I built in addition a barge of slightly larger proporetions using the same method and have found this to be entirely satisfactory in efen some pretty rough wind and weather. The big draw back is the turning circle is of about 3M radius wwhen even the slightest wind blows. Perfectly acceptable 1.5M radius when there is no wind but just how often does that happen here in Scotland?

cheers

Jim

p.s. if you want more details just send me an e-mail or IM / PM through the forum.

**Bunkerbarge** · 31-05-2006

Jim,

I was tempted by a card one of these about a year or so ago on Ebay but missed out at the end. It was obviously made from the Model Boats plans but had no propulsion. MY intention was to have fitted two independant shafts and drive it pretty much as per a tank, which I would have expected to have made it very manoeuverable.

Whay propulsion configuration did you go for?

BigJBB · 08-06-2006

Hello all, sorry for the tardy reply Richard been rather busy and simply not checked any opf the forums this week

Yes I went with the independent shafts with separate Esc's off of a single 12v 7Ah SLA battery fused with a blade type 10A (couldn't be bothered to test what it actually needs the esc's are 20A rated Actionkit) using 35mm 3 blade brass props. If I were to do ita gain I'd be seriously considering putting in rudders too.
Mine works incredibly well but has a tendency not ot respond to the turn if there is the slightest bit of chop. pushes a single barge which is about 1 1/2 tiimes it own size, weighing in at 12kg laden, with ease. Looks good on the water too.
I hope this inspires the confidences for anyone to give it a go I like it a lot

regards

Jim

**Bunkerbarge** · 08-06-2006

Interesting, I thought it would do well with independant shafts but I hadn't realised how susceptable it would be to wind. Pretty obvious really with such a flat bottom.

Got to be worth while having one at the pond side for any meetings!!