Marine Expo Seattle, Washington

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I was hoping to get a contract to build a custom hull for someone in Tacoma, Washington, however, due to "an incident" that occured in the past, local tug boat companies, and naval architects will not release their plans for fear of them ending up in the hands of China's Ship manufacturing and Industries.
My last hope of getting the plans led me to "Burchett Marine". A company on Vancouver Island that does scale tank testing for the maritime community.
Unfortunately the final word was that no plans were available for use outside previously authorised parties.

Incidentally though, Ron Burchett was planning on exhibiting at the Marine Expo at the Seattle Convention center. He invited me up to Seattle to run on his portable pond. He uses the pond to display his craft, and hobby, and invites the "Northwest R/C Shipmodeler"(the local boat club in Lynnwood) to help populate the pond. I was going up to Seattle that weekend to attend my nephew's baptism, so I accepted Mr. Burchett's invitation, and brought my LA-2 Fireboat along.

Now I know what your thinking,... "Show us pictures!", but I forgot my camera. However one of the Seattle club members, Jerry, was absolutely wonderful and sent me a CD with all sorts of images of interest, including a set from the show. So here are a few select images from the show and they speak for themselves and the craftsmen that built these boats. :cool:

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

The "Ocean Mist" was a real crowd pleaser. The dingy in the back would be dropped on command, and drag the fishing net out. The Dingy and the Ocean mist would than sail a "catch", and then close the purse.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

The Ajax was a large scale VSD tug, the owner custom builds his own drives.
One can not help but be impressed by all the boats that were present at this show. And everyone was welcome to get up close and personally inspect the craftsmanship. :cool:

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

It has been asked before on this Bulletin board, "How can we make model boating more fun within the club, and bring new people to the hobby?"

It is our duty to "awe and inspire".

My thanks to Ron Burchett for the invitation, and the company of the Northwest R/C Shipmodelers of Seattle, Lynnwood, and Bellevue, Washington.

[RGinCanada]

Hi Umi...

Please don't unduly limit yourself...post more pics! :). These boats are an inspiration!

Ray

[3nero]

cool pics post more. but did you ever get those plans

[JADESKI]

Harbor Models used to carry Ron Burchett's hulls, do you know if he still sells them?

Thanks

Mike

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Hi Umi...

Please don't unduly limit yourself...post more pics! :). These boats are an inspiration!

Ray

Really? :rolleyes:
I actually was hoping to "inspire" more participation here,from the Seattle Club. ;)

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I wish I had remembered my camera. There are definetly more than a few. boats not being shown here.

Ron Burchett still makes some hulls. However his business is the hydrodynamic tank testing of new hull shapes, and tweeking the design.
Model boat hulls are purely a side business, and not his focus.

[ropanach]

If I had seen these boats befor I started on mine, I think I would have tried just a little harder to make it perfect. These boats ars fantastic.


Onto encuraging more pepole into this hobby I think a step by step seminar would do the trick, set up at a school with a tank, with a hands on aproch. As a club this would not be to difacult, yes it would be time consuming, you would acualy be drawing in the dads if it were a father and son/dather event. A mild compatition. But you must keep in mind that alot of familys don't have a lot of extra money and would see this to be overwelming, but you would get there enterest. Am I over the top?

[Kmot]

I wish I had remembered my camera.

So, you are human afterall! :p LOL, that is something my wife tends to do also. ;)

[mike_victoriaBC]

Hi Umi - thanks for posting the photos. You're missing ones of your fireboat!! I was hoping to get to this show as well but wasn't able to. I did get to the Foss Cup however and had a look at the Voith drives there. I'm far behind building!!

Look forward to hearing your progress.