Are you a REAL tug nut?

[Garry and Victoria]

The Happy Hunter is a scale reproduction of a Dutch ocean-going salvage tug to a scale of 1:50. The boat is powered by a direct-drive, i.e. non-geared system, in the form of two high-torque Power 755/40 electric motors. These are low-revving power plants driving a pair of high-performance marine propellers. Fixed Kort nozzles increase thrust, and the boat is capable of carrying out extremely arduous towing tasks and complex maneuvers in conjunction with the bow thruster, which is an optional accessory.

Here's the link http://www.loyalhannadockyard.com/ROBHUNTER.htm

Real towing capacity!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcT69ymOvoA

Just for fun - I have no connection to this product. Looks like a hoot!!!

 

[walldog]

Lets see....Torquedo $2k or better.......Happy Hunter $750.....motor for your dinghy. :lol:

 

[rt11002003]

When I was much younger, I was really into model building. This is one cool vessel.

Watching the youtube reminded me of yesterday's tow. I helped friends move their sailboat, 6000 lbs. plus, from one marina to another. Didn't rig a towing harness, just tied off the tow rope to the aft port cleat on TUGLET. The offset tow rope (and the weight difference) caused the sailboat to guide TUGLET somewhat during a couple of maneuvers. I had been hesitant to do the towing, but found the conditions were great: flat water and no wind at all in most places. Ran into some wake ( a foot high) as we approached our destination; it came from one of the two other boats I saw out on the water; we had about two knots on breeze in a couple of spots. Neither seemed to affect us.

Towed the sailboat at 4.9 knots, one knot less than its hull speed (it's a displacement hull). TUGLET was running at 2000 rpm. Kidded the owners, told them to enjoy the ride, they might never go that fast again. 😀

Gene