Help find parts to repower old model Tug

[Reckless]

hey.. so I've just gotten back into RC... hauled the old Tug off the shelf were it has been sitting for 11+ years

I need to do some basic repairs due to moving damage.. but other then that it's ready for new power

it's a modified Billings Bankert (did I spell that right?) .. basically a whole new deck and SS etc on the billings hull


like everyone else I'm trying to keep the money situation in check (well.. I'd rather spend more money a couple other boats ;) )

this is the charity tug.. it was given to me ages ago to introduce me to the hobby while I was building my own boat ... I wanna do the same thing.. get it back on the water while I build something else, and then give it away to get someone else hooked :D

anyone know where to source a 540-550 brushed motor and ESC for said motor ? cheap is better basically all of my shopping is online as locally there is NIL


also really stupid question ... I'm prolly ending up with a 6v powertrain.. can I use a 2C lipo with it?... I'm thinking something fairly large.. I'd like to get a decent sunday worth of running out of it with 1 charge :D

I also need a dogbone coupler and prop for said model... prop shaft is 1/8th .. prop should be a 1.5 inch ... I want torque more then speed ... so I dunno if I should go 3 blade or 4 blade... or if I can get different pitchs?

[Reckless]

heres a pic of what it looked like coming off the shelf for those interested

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g179/Rallytercel/my%20toys/HQ4.jpg

[toesup]

hey.. so I've just gotten back into RC... hauled the old Tug off the shelf were it has been sitting for 11+ years

anyone know where to source a 540-550 brushed motor and ESC for said motor ? cheap is better basically all of my shopping is online as locally there is NIL

also really stupid question ... I'm prolly ending up with a 6v powertrain.. can I use a 2C lipo with it?... I'm thinking something fairly large.. I'd like to get a decent sunday worth of running out of it with 1 charge :D

I also need a dogbone coupler and prop for said model... prop shaft is 1/8th .. prop should be a 1.5 inch ... I want torque more then speed ... so I dunno if I should go 3 blade or 4 blade... or if I can get different pitchs?

Hi Reckless..and Welcome. That looks like an interesting refurb project.
For a cheap motor, look at the Tamiya 'can' (very basic) from Tower..
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPML4&P=SM
For a cheap speed control have a look at the Associated AI
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKYX5&P=SM although this ESC does get very hot inside a boat. You may well be better to source (a little more expensive) one of the Mtroniks Viper speed controls.
http://www.hobbypeople.net/mfr/mtronc01.asp

I would think a 2c Lipo is likely to give you the run time.. but.. A boat generally needs lots of ballast to come down to the waterline and a SLA 6v might be a better option. What battery came out of the boat?... what bat did you use before?.

For your dogbone and prop, try Harbour Models..
http://www.harbormodels.com/Harbormain/Templates/home.htm
they should have everything you need for the drive train. Oh.. and a 4 blade prop is better ;)

Please keep us updated with your project.. and plenty of pics please! :D

[Reckless]

as for balast.. yeah this hull is really boyant for it's size.. I've still got the old battery but I doubt it'll still hold a charge.. its a 6V 3AH brick... it was funny.. for it to sit "right" the tail sits really low and with it's ideal setup a fast change to reverse would wash the deck with ease.. heh

I think I might spend a little bit on the engine and ESC .. just cause this boat is ment for working and I don't wanna burn up a motor or ESC due to heat due to pushing it hard (or the kid that recieves it for that matter!) .. it's always turned REALLY well and I'm redoing its rudder so it should damn near 360 on the spot... it's always been pretty slow but lots of torque/thrust

as for pics.. definately.. the bridge needs to be partially redone along with some form of rigging/radar comms tower. depending on how things are going .. I might redo the bridge and move the Super structure foward some and convert it to a salvage type with a crane(functional ofcourse!) instead of the big winch. lights.. sounds that kinda stuff...

but gotta make it move again first ;)

[Reckless]

okay... new superstructure/bridge in the works too ;) here is my inspiration .. little bit of interpretation ofcourse... but that's the idea :D

http://www.spanishshipping.com/em/RemolcanosaCinco.jpg

[Huntsman]

Its a super little fat tug.....

If you change it topsides then it won't be.....

Make it look as if it just came off the builders slipway....

:)

[Reckless]

it is! .. I was originally worried about it leaning over turning when I first got it... but by the time it's balasted to sit at it's water line it was really stable. but the stern sits really low and in a hard reverse (like an 'emergency' slow down of a 50+ lb barge!) it washs the deck easy.

as for it's refit... it'll definately get repainted.. but it won't be shiney, satin and clean for this workin boat :D

[Reckless]

okay.. so I decided to play with some cardboard and packing tape and I came up with this sneak peak... keep in mind it'll be double stack.. and with the comms/radar tower and railing etc etc

enough talk, onto sneak peek!

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g179/Rallytercel/my%20toys/HQ0-1.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g179/Rallytercel/my%20toys/HQ1-1.jpg

[Reckless]

so... I've found from an online site a med RPM .. high torque 750 6v motor(for $30!)... any ideas on what amperage this might pull so I can pick some batteries and a ESC?

I'm thinking might have to look into a 10A esc atleast.. but I want one that will do full power in reverse too

if it helps it'll be spinning a 4 blade 1.5inch prop.. direct drive, no gearing. and it'll be working I'll be moving 50+ lbs around

[mfr02]

Just look at the specifications of the batteries and make card mock-ups of the likely ones to ensure they will fit and be accessible. As long as it isn't too heavy, you can't have a battery thats too big in a tug.

[fatboy999]

Hey Reckless, did you know that there is a club in Victoria? Their website is: http://members.shaw.ca/VMSS/ and they have a forum at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VIRCB/ Maybe you can contact someone locally for help finding your parts, etc. As for your motor and esc, I always like to over build my tugs so you won't overwork the smaller components if you get in over your head with a loaded barge! Good luck!

[Reckless]

thank you for the vic site... I just got onto the yahoo board. hopefully I can stay on top of local regatta's

anyone else got any more thoughts on what this 750 motor might pull for amps?.. being a med rpm high torquer.. with the 1.5 inch 4 blade ... I'm trying to assume for the worst conditions so I don't smoke an ESC but I don't wanna ... like say... nosing up to a 100lb barge and givin it the gusto to get it moving (or stopped!)

as for battery.. I'm thinking a 6v 4.5ah brick ... in most cicumstances it'll spend an hour MAYBE 2 a week in the lake .. might shove a 50lb object around... I just wanna be ready for regatta/event weekends ... where heavy working and running almost all day on the single battery may be nessasary

[Rex R]

w/o knowing exactly which motor you have(or are planning to have) from the box that I have handy for a graupner 700 turbo... stall current 75 amps. however the esc that I've been using is rated for 60amps(continuous) and hasn't had a problem yet.

[Reckless]

I am waiting to hear from loyalhanna dockyard for the stats of their 6v 750 .. my other choice is the 6v mabuchi 540 .. which stalls at 20amps

which would be wise to run a 20 amp esc.. but a 15amp should be okay for normal use I beleive.. ofcourse if the prop gets snagged it might smoke said esc ;)

[yacht boy]

I am waiting to hear from loyalhanna dockyard for the stats of their 6v 750 .. my other choice is the 6v mabuchi 540 .. which stalls at 20amps

which would be wise to run a 20 amp esc.. but a 15amp should be okay for normal use I beleive.. ofcourse if the prop gets snagged it might smoke said esc ;)
Unless you put a fuse between the battery and esc, cheaper than a new esc. ;)

[Reckless]

hey... see .. someone who's on the ball ... ya know I should have known that being in the trade I am .. but yeah...

anyways.. an interesting developement today down at the lake. one of the members who's selling off some of his boats to make room and funds for more and I were talking and some how we ended up on the subject that before automotive tech.. .I did small engine and marine tech work. anyways.. he dropped of a 30hp outboard that hasn't run in 5 years to my house just after dinner ... in trade for getting it running (should be a basic tune/checkup it was running fine when it was put away) he's giving me a complete running boat.. radio, batts, charger, powered.. everything ... the design is basically a springer hull without the tug parts aka the push bumpers, or a proper cabin/bridge... it's just got a simple hatch top with a shark fin ... it's affectionately named the shark boat ;)

so.. I shall have something to play with until the exterior remodel of this tug is done.. then all the shark's bits can go in it... and the shark can be remade into a proper springer :D

[toesup]

the design is basically a springer hull without the tug parts aka the push bumpers, or a proper cabin/bridge... it's just got a simple hatch top with a shark fin ... it's affectionately named the shark boat

That description sounds rather familiar...
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1724315

:eek::eek::eek:

[Reckless]

HA!... it's either modeled after that boat.. or that's it! I've only seen it once.. and ofcourse I'm not taking delivery of it till I'm done with the outboard ;)

infact I just checked the post that photo was attached too... that's the boat .. the same guy built/owns the red/yellow one with the boom crane on it.. infact that was the boat he was running out at the pond on sunday :D

[Reckless]

got mail back from loyalhannadockyard

Hello:
You are looking at about 8000 RPM at 12V so around 4000 at 6V. No load on 6v is about 1/2 amp. With that prop, loaded in the water I would expect about a 2 to 3 amp current draw. This should be a much better choice than the 540.

Don

hmmm looks like I shall be ordering one soon.. :D