Hi Ronald,

Many thanks for a really great idea. I need a couple of simple barges for my large tug - but my list of unbuilt projects gets ever longer.

My good friend Flaxbybuck down the road now has a band saw; so I will explore the pile of wood at the forgotten bottom of my second garage!

With best wishes. Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford BBC. 😁😁😁😁😁😁

Hi Stephen
I have used tugs and dumb barges (up to Four) and had lots of fun, mostly reminding my fellow sailors that the five vessels were connected and should not be sailed through!
You need a large area and from full speed lots of clear water to come to a stop. Changing direction need to be gentle and slow as the barges will seek to cut the corner. My rudders were all fixed for straight but I suppose you could use a servo on each barge.
Of course if the whole lot were to be interconnected solidly under water that might work.
Look forward to seeing how you progress.
dave976

I made my barges by gluing 2x6 or 2x10 lumber together. After glue-up using waterproof glue the barges were shaped using a band-saw and other tools.

They ride in the water very well.

Don't forget wind & momentum.

Light hulls with large side area want to move with the breeze and heavy tows don't want to stop.

Close Haul Towing by Pete Spencer, TillerMarine, Port Dover, Ontario. He also drives a Ville Class tugboat, Loganville.

Note, there is not a train of vessels being towed, but he had one posted awhile back of three in a row. I also saw a video where his 18’ work runabout, is secured to the side of the tugboat while he is towing close haul his twin hulled barge.

Ronald

I would love to see a overhead quadcopter video of the "snaking" around a course.
Barry

Very cool bridle setup.👍

Full size tugboats tow multiple hulled vessels. The first one is very close, I will confirm with the skippers I know.
Marcel sent this sketch to show how the Bridle is shorten see the lower in area of sketch.

Ronald

Hi Fireboat,

I know that I am not alone in finding scale steering completions around the harbour almost impossible exercise in any sort of wind even with any of my large choice of boats.

The mind boggles at any attempt to complete our Club course when towing one or more models. I know the Tin fanatics like to to tow a large barge around some obsticals; - but they are faced with very much larger gaps.

Please let us know how you get on with a " follow the leader" tow around a steering course. You may find the two cable snags one of more bouys.

With best wishes. Dr John F Leeds and Bradford. MBC. 😊😊😐