Seattle Tug Races

[keith S]

For all those that love to see the tugs that work the Pacific NW in action ( or tugs for that matter), then your day is just around the corner. May 12th will be the Tug races in Seattle out on Elliot Bay. Great oppertunity to see al types of tugs in parade and going fast as they race for the title of fastest tug in Puget Sound. For more information go to the link below.

http://www.portseattle.org/downloads/seaport/Mfest_2007.pdf

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Are the NwRCshipmodelers going to have a display and running pool there this year?

[keith S]

The plan is to be doing that with the aid of Ron B. pool either at peir 66 ( hopefully not there as there is a cruise ship planned to be there that day) or at Peir 62/63 down just a little farther.

[Corner]

The plan is to be doing that with the aid of Ron B. pool either at peir 66 ( hopefully not there as there is a cruise ship planned to be there that day) or at Peir 62/63 down just a little farther.
I'm around 99% sure that it will happen. It’s a good event with lots of people to appease, I'm sure that we will be attending.
The setup from last year should work even if there is a cruse ship there.

[keith S]

No matter what, this is a fun day to spend on the waterfront of Seattle for the day. Tug parade/races, Coast Guard demos, tractor tug dances, and this year will see the new fireboat on parade with all 3 of the past veterans of this job. Not to mention this is still a working harbor with cruise ship activity, barges being moved, ferries commuting, freighters taking/delivering goods, ect... oh yah, model tugs on diplay and demoing as well.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

How thick is the liner on that pool? :)
And what is the simplest way to construct one that won't break up and spill?

[Tregurtha1013]

How thick is the liner on that pool? :)
And what is the simplest way to construct one that won't break up and spill?

My club, the Great Lakes Nautical Society, built a pond much like that one. We use it every year for our regatta in Port Huron. As it turns out the dock we build the pond on there has a slight angle to it. The first time we put it together and started filling it with water it started creeping down the dock, had to have a dock worker there use a forklift to put some big concrete blocks up against the side of the pond so it wouldn't move any further. Was rather amusing.

[keith S]

Umi, liner is one that was donated by one of the plastics companies up north. That one is made of alluminum in 10 foot sections that are bolted together so that the pond can be configured to anything from 10x10 to 20x30'. The thing to remember is that there has to be cross bracing from side to side and end to end. This is done with small heavy duty straps under the liner attatched to braces on the outside of the pool. Keeps the pool from spreading. We have the same problem at this venue with the dock not being flat--deep @ low end and shallow @ high end.

[Tregurtha1013]

Tug boat racing is great fun. Here are pictures I took from the Tug Magnetic in the 2003 and 2004 Tug Races on the Detroit River

[arrow5]

Wonderful , just added that event to my list of "must see" when I win the lottery...heck if I do win I`ll hire a tug for the day, or maybe a month :D . Thanks for pics, they do capture the spirit of the event. I found a video of this on www.tugrace.com

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

We were thinking that we want to set up a pond at the Eugene Model train swap meet next year. And were wondering what people were using for liners, or if 4-6mil poly house underlayment was enough or if the liners you guys are using are thicker or specialized pond/pool liners.

[Tregurtha1013]

Wonderful , just added that event to my list of "must see" when I win the lottery...heck if I do win I`ll hire a tug for the day, or maybe a month :D . Thanks for pics, they do capture the spirit of the event. I found a video of this on www.tugrace.com

Some of my pics are up on the race site. Their is also a tug race at Sault St. Marie every year that is pretty good too. http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/special/sootugrace03/default.htm

[keith S]

We were thinking that we want to set up a pond at the Eugene Model train swap meet next year. And were wondering what people were using for liners, or if 4-6mil poly house underlayment was enough or if the liners you guys are using are thicker or specialized pond/pool liners.

With Ron Bs. pool we use the liner and a couple of extra sheets of regular plastic propolyne as an underliner to prevent any unwanted leaks or permanent "tide changes" ( out going). We have had that happen a couple of times and is a real pain in the aft end.

[Mrs. Toe's]

Oh my...yeah! :D I think the Husband is gonna be adding that event to our schedual!

[Tregurtha1013]

I was puttering around looking for some more tug race pictures and found this one that I had to post. Following the 2003 Detroit River Tug Race Ferriss Marine Contracting had a party back at their tug yard on the Rouge River for everyone that had attended the race on their Tugs Magnetic and Norma B. In this pic you can see the celtic/maritime band Hoolie playing on the stern of the Norma B. In the back ground you can see yours truly sitting on a work float driving one of my model freighters that can be seen in the river behind the Norma B.

[keith S]

I have had the privilage to go out on a couple of the boats that raced in Seattle and Olympia ( Labor Day Weekend). The first time was on the vintage Miki class Dominion ( Ex Patrica Foss ww2 vintage ocean class). Great feeling the prop rotate as there was a definate "wobble" that could be felt. racing a tractor and and ST of the same area we won the race doing 13 knotts!!!!! The tractor had us on the return voyage though. :cool:
The second time was on Western Tugs "Mariner" (twin screw/knozzeled), came in second to the regeining champion ( since then) Crowleys "Hunter". Big boats going fast was a sight to see with water breaking over the bows! The bad thing was everyone else in a small tug/boat had to take on the monster wake that was left in the behind the big boats ( bobing corks!!) :eek: :D .
Last years medium size tug race was was a 3 way finish with the estimated distance between 1st and 3rd was less than 5 feet! One crew even tried to use the pike pole to "extend " the lead at the end. :eek:

[Corner]

Here are a few of the pictures that I took while I was there last year.
Also included is a picture or two of the pool half disassembled, all put in a zip folder for your convenience

Edit: >.< File wouldnt attach.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Here are a few of the pictures that I took while I was there last year.
Also included is a picture or two of the pool half disassembled, all put in a zip folder for your convenience


hmmm I must be missing something... no pictures or file... :p

(but really, I think its a small single drum winch for my sdm..Maybe one will show up at the Bellevue Regatta) :D

[Corner]

Ok I just put it on rapidshare..

http://rapidshare.com/files/29194655/Tug_races_2006.zip.html

Hope that works for you.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Ok I just put it on rapidshare..

http://rapidshare.com/files/29194655/Tug_races_2006.zip.html

Hope that works for you.

An awsome set of images for color and detail referances.
Thanks for sharing those.

:cool: :cool:

[keith S]

reminder the races are this Sat. I will be there at the pond with some of my tugs with Ron B and others. Hope to see you there.

[keith S]

Here are some photos of the models from the tug races. Set up was on seattles Peir 66 with the Ron burchett pool set up with the blue liner. The only bad thing this year waqs that there was a large cruise ship blocking the view of the races. Had to go to the next peir down for those pics. Will do full size tugs tomorrow.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Keith,

Thanks for covering this. It looks like you guys had some good weather.

The uptakes on the Lindsey Foss are gigantic... :eek:

[keith S]

Good weather is when it is not blowing or raining in the PNW. ;) We had a great time. The uptakes are huge on both the Garth and Lindsey ( twins ). Especially when you figure that tug to be in at 156' long. Will have some more photos later tonight. 1 will show the Lindsey (156') and Andrew(105') in a side by side comparison as both are Voith boats. The uptakes on the tricycle tugs are just as big.

[Shaun Hendricks]

I think the Lindsey Foss is sexy! Why aren't I seeing more models of THAT boat? :D

[smart_racer]

Keith, great pic's...thanks

[jerryj98501]

I think Ron Burchett is the only one producing the Lindsey Foss hull and possible superstructure. I have seen a few started. Jerry J.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I think Ron Burchett is the only one producing the Lindsey Foss hull and possible superstructure. I have seen a few started. Jerry J.

I was going to produce a Lindsey/Garth Foss hull, but no one, and I mean not one person had the authority to release any plans for that boat. After about a month of e-mailing contacts, one of them finally sent me to Ron Burchett...
And he offered to sell me a hull... So I sent my client to Ron. :(

[keith S]

Now we will show some of the tugs and the action. main racers were from Foss, Crowley, Harley Marine, Island Tug and Barge, and several private tugs that are indepent contractors and pleasure boats.

[herrmill]

Now that looks like a heck of a lot of fun!

[keith S]

more from the races. :D

[Tregurtha1013]

So they do the Seattle race in heats arranged by HP? They do that up at Sault Ste. Marie and I didn't like it. In Detroit all the tugs run together and the results as to the various HP classes are figured out after the fact. Makes for a much more exciting race to be in, IMHO.

[Kmot]

I wonder if they have tug races in LA Harbor?? I would love to see something like this in person. :)

[keith S]

So they do the Seattle race in heats arranged by HP? They do that up at Sault Ste. Marie and I didn't like it. In Detroit all the tugs run together and the results as to the various HP classes are figured out after the fact. Makes for a much more exciting race to be in, IMHO.

The reason for the seperation in classes is to:
1) stretch the day out :rolleyes:
2) safety first. There are about 35-40 tugs that participate and that much tonage and hp in a small area =s trouble. :eek:
3) safety first. have you ever witnessed the "suction" from the close proxsemity of so many boats running next to each other? 3 years ago the race was so close that the distance between the 3 boats at the end was about 4 feet between them. The boat in the midle was litterally stuck between the other 2 because of the suction/ hole the other boats created. Try to keep the CG out of the picture. One boat did ride up on to the stern of another! :eek: :censored:
4) the harbor is still active for the day. Cruise ships (3) in port, ferries running, freight moving by ship/barge, and the leasure boaters out watching creates alot of traffic in the course. Break them up for reasons 2&3 again.
5) classing them by hp makes for much better veiwing from the spectators end.

I do agree that it would make for a much more interesting race--especially between the big and medium horse power vessels.

[Tregurtha1013]

The safety and suction thing I understand. Pretty much every year we have boats colliding in some way shape or form, sometimes because of something like suction and other times by one tug trying to push another out of the way. The CG and local police are involved in the race here, keeping pleasure boats and such out of the way, and they have adjusted timing to allow for passing lake freighters as i recall so other vessel traffic isn't as much of an issue here.

I'd have to dissagree with the spectators thing. You can't beat the mass of tugs turning the whole detroit river into one big mass of rolling wake. It looks awesome from either perspective.

The reason for the seperation in classes is to:
1) stretch the day out :rolleyes:
2) safety first. There are about 35-40 tugs that participate and that much tonage and hp in a small area =s trouble. :eek:
3) safety first. have you ever witnessed the "suction" from the close proxsemity of so many boats running next to each other? 3 years ago the race was so close that the distance between the 3 boats at the end was about 4 feet between them. The boat in the midle was litterally stuck between the other 2 because of the suction/ hole the other boats created. Try to keep the CG out of the picture. One boat did ride up on to the stern of another! :eek: :censored:
4) the harbor is still active for the day. Cruise ships (3) in port, ferries running, freight moving by ship/barge, and the leasure boaters out watching creates alot of traffic in the course. Break them up for reasons 2&3 again.
5) classing them by hp makes for much better veiwing from the spectators end.

I do agree that it would make for a much more interesting race--especially between the big and medium horse power vessels.

[keith S]

I wonder if they have tug races in LA Harbor?? I would love to see something like this in person. :)

I don't think so, but could be wrong. They used to race them up in SF on the bay in the early fall ( Sept/Oct.) There will be another race for the vintage tugs at the end of the summer ( labor day weekend) in Olympia, WA.

The CG and police do a good job of keeping others out of the race lanes. The nice thing about the 3 different races is that there are several other demos between them. There is the parade, fire/rescue demos, tractor tug demos/dance, CG air & sea rescue demo, oil reponse demo, and plenty of phot opps as the tugs mill around. Once the races are over, they all head back to port (start the dock side parties). The unfortunate thing is that there is no where all the participating tugs can tie up to for personal visits. :(

[Tregurtha1013]

The CG and police do a good job of keeping others out of the race lanes. The nice thing about the 3 different races is that there are several other demos between them. There is the parade, fire/rescue demos, tractor tug demos/dance, CG air & sea rescue demo, oil reponse demo, and plenty of phot opps as the tugs mill around. Once the races are over, they all head back to port (start the dock side parties). The unfortunate thing is that there is no where all the participating tugs can tie up to for personal visits. :(

The demos are a good idea, don't have anything like that here. We do have the parade thing. Following the race the tugs all line up and do a lap around both sides of the river, following that all the tugs tie up in Dieppe Park in Windsor, ON for the awards, BBQ, and for the public to get an up close look.

[keith S]

They quit doing the lap thing a few years back do to the "bumping" that would go on around the bouy ( single turn only). :eek: :censored: :D Now it is just a drag race down the waterfront. Time has been kept, but is always influenced based on the tides. Some years it is an in comming, others it is out going. Rarely is it a slack tide as this is the time of year (may/june) for big tides.

[Corner]

I have one good reason why they all don’t go at once... The little guys get tossed around like crazy...
Here is a GIF that I made up of the fearless getting tossed around after the large tug race...

[keith S]

Seattles annual tug races was yesterday 05/10/2008. Was some great acxtion on the water with a few new boats in the action. I was there with a small group of modelers running boats in the 20x20' pond. Amongst the models we had the Mustang, Island Guardian, Wedell, James E, a Tito Neri, a springer, Western Titan ( still under construction), anda couple of others demonstrating tug and barge work for the public. Had a few of the full size tug companiy officials staop by to check things out. They were impressed with the quality and ability of the models. The only issue they had was not seeing more of their vessels modeled. ;) We told them" well if you want to see more.....................".
The races were delayed to the cruise ship that was at the main peir being lightered at the time. So with the delay, there was a lot of "horse" play going on that included a lot of pushing around. At times, they would double up against a single tug ( usally an ASD type) to see who had more power!
In the large class, the "Hunter" from Crowley was the winner again, retaining the title of "Fastest Tug in Puget Sound". The real race in this heat was between the new ASD tugs, Crowleys "Vigilant" and Foss "America". Both vessels are pretty evenly matched for horse power and size. In the end it was "Vigilant" with a 1 second win over "America". :eek:
The second race had an interesting finish. The winner "Island Star" came across the finish line just a couple of seconds ahead of the Shelly Foss. But when she was comming over to the peir to claim the winners flag, she was coasting at an unusuall speed. As it turns out the blew the main engine just after the race. They ended up needing another tug to help get them out of the entrance of the harbor they were now blocking since they had no power. The boat that moved them was very similar to a Springer ( hhmmmm I have an idea!) :p .
Any ways, here is the start of the photos with the models.

[Tugboat Andy]

Great pics Keith.

Interesting that America is bigger than the 1st generation Foss Tractor. :eek: On paper it appears smaller. Guess I should look at the specs!

[capntroy]

Great pics Keith.

Interesting that America is bigger than the 1st generation Foss Tractor. :eek: On paper it appears smaller. Guess I should look at the specs!

I think the perspective of that photo is causing one of them optical delusions, those boats are almost exactly the same size.

The America is 98'x40', while a Henry/Wedell Foss is 98'x36'. An Andrew/Arthur Foss is actually a little bigger at 107'x38'.

I think the America's greater height makes her appear larger also...

[keith S]

more from the races

[mike_victoriaBC]

Kooks like a fun float! Archie 4 has all the makings of another Springer.
Thanks for posting those -

[mike_victoriaBC]

Looks like a fun float! Archie 4 has all the makings of another Springer.
Thanks for posting those - can't spell

[keith S]

few more