All posts by Robert Wood

For Sale: 3 RC Scale Tugboats

Mark Weber is thinning down his fleet of RC tugboats.  Feel free to e-mail him if you’re interested.  All boats are in San Diego.

Tug #1:  Seaport Tugboat with Lots of Upgrades  SOLD

  • Asking Price: $130.00
  • Runs great on 6-7.4v.  6v battery included.
  • Radio:  You supply a transmitter & receiver, and the rest is ready to run.
  • Length: 24″
  • Width: 6″
  • Upgrades:  I gutted and significantly upgrade the original toy boat.
    • Deck:  The deck has been stripped down, filled, and simplified.
    • Towing:  I added a custom towing bit that I 3D printed.  It’s bolted to the deck via big strong washers and can be used for towing.
    • Pushing:  I outfitted the front with an array of fun tires that I salvaged from various toys.
    • Fire monitor:  I created a custom fire monitor system that includes a brass nozzle, water pickup, filter and a receiver controlled switch.  It sprays about 5-6 feet.
    • Motor:  New low RPM motor, perfect for tugboats.  ESC included with Anderson Powerpole connectors.  I’ll knock $20 off the asking price if you don’t want this ESC.
    • Prop & Shaft:  I put in a new prop shaft, stuffing tube, and 3 blade prop.  I was able to fit this nicely to the existing kort nozzle for good power.
    • Servo:  Includes a modern steering servo.
  • I had a lot of fun overhauling and upgrading this boat.  I’m happy to pass it along.  It would be perfect for someone who wants a retrieval boat or a great tugboat to enjoy with the kids.

 

Tug #2:  Springer Push Tug  SOLD

  • Asking Price: $100.00
  • Runs great on 6-12v.  6v battery included.
  • Radio:  You supply a transmitter & receiver, and the rest is ready to run.
  • Length: 19″
  • Width: 7.5″
  • Upgrades:
    • Cabin:  I replaced the previously heavy cabin with this light weight one.  This makes it a ton more stable in the water.  You can paint this cabin to your taste or keep it as is.
    • Pushing:  This design is perfect for retrieving other boats by pushing them into short.
    • Motor:  New 12V motor has plenty of power. ESC included with Anderson Powerpole connectors.
    • Prop & Shaft:  Good power through the kort nozzle.
    • Servo:  Includes a modern steering servo.
    • Lights.  Navigation lights can be powered by attached 3V battery pack with a male JST connector.
  • Here’s a tough little boat that can be handy for pushing in another boat.

 

Tug #3:  Unbuilt Scale Shipyard “Carol Moran” – Harbor Tugboat Fiberglass Kit  SOLD

  • Asking Price: $130.00
  • For sale is a fiberglass tugboat kit called the “Carol Moran.” Scale is 1/48.
  • You can check details on the Scale Shipyard website such as original costs of this kit. Lee Upshaw makes some of the best hulls on the market.
    Most orders from Lee take time for him to create. This is a real gem that’s ready to ship.
  • http://scaleshipyard.com/Catalog%20P…ugs.html#Tug-1
  • INCLUDED:
    • Fiberglass hull, stack and superstructure
    • Fittings
  • NOT INCLUDED:
    • Plans, motor, esc, prop, and anything else not shown in photos.

 

 

 

 

Videos from 2016 Model Boat Parade of Lights


Filmed from David Manley’s RC Yacht.


Filmed from Mark Weber’s dock in our RC harbor.

The San Diego Argonauts kicked off the Christmas season with our own RC Model Boat Parade of Lights around the San Diego Model Boat Pond. Public joined, and we had a fantastic turnout of 20+ boats and around 100 spectators. Our thanks to KUSI for morning coverage of the event!

Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: San Diego Model Yacht Pond

Ideas for easy RC model boat lights.

LED Light Strings http://amzn.to/2f0vI0n
EL Wire (electroluminescent wire) http://amzn.to/2gezGjN

In case you’re new to the mini Parade of Lights, here’s a video from January 2015:

Come join us on a Saturday morning at the San Diego Model Boat Pond or on Facebook.

2017 IOM Mid-Winter Regatta

Hosted By: the San Diego Argonauts Model Yacht Club

When: Feb. 11th & 12th (Marblehead “Run What Ya Brung” on Feb. 10th)

Where: the Mission Bay Model Yacht Pond, San Diego, CA

Notice of Race:  You are cordially invited to participate in the 2017 IOM Mid-Winter Regatta

FORMAT: Fleet Racing utilizing HMS 2016 for scoring and fleet management

SCHEDULE:

02/10/17: Friday / Marbleheads
08:30…….Check-in, Event Measurement, Class & AMYA Certification Check (for IOM’s)
10:30…….Skipper’s Meeting
10:50…….Warning Signal
11:00…….Race (Marbleheads only)
17:00…….No race start after or at the PRO’s discretion.
19:30…….Social Event Non-host dinner @ Fiddler’s Green Restaurant, 2760 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego CA 92106 (619) 222-2216

02/11/17: Saturday / IOM
08:30. . . . . .Check-in
09:30. . . . . .Open Practice
10:30. . . . . .Skipper’s Meeting
10:50…….Warning Signal
11:00…….Race
17:00…….No race start after or at the PRO’s discretion.
17:00…….Phil’s BBQ

02/12/17: Sunday
09:30…….Open Practice
09:50…….Warning Signal
10:00…….Race
16:00…….No race start after or at the PRO’s discretion.
16:30…….Awards Ceremony

Lunch starting at 12:30 Depending on progress of racing there may not be a formal lunch break.
Skippers will have time to have lunch in between heats.

RACE STAFF:

Race Chairman: Robert Hirsch USA
Principal Race Officer: Fred Rocha USA
Protest Committee: TBD
Official Measurer
: Mike Eldred USA
Scoring & Timekeeping: Fred Rocha USA
Administration: San Diego Argonauts

RULES: The regatta will be governed by RRS 2017-2020, this Notice of Race (NOR), the Sailing Instructions (SI) the International One Metre Class, HMS 2016 and The Equipment Rules of Sailing. The Sailing instructions shall prevail in case of conflict with this Notice of Race.

ELIGIBILITY: The Competition is open to all IOM class boats. All entrants must be current members of AMYA or their National Authority and have a valid IOM measurement certificate.

REGISTRATION and EVENT MEASUREMENT: Boats with a valid measurement certificate shall be presented for registration on Friday/Saturday, Feb. 10th/11th between 8:30 and 10:00 at the sailing site for event measurement. No boat shall be eligible for racing until it has been registered and measured for the event.

WEIGHT SPOT CHECKS: At the discretion of the Race Director, spot checks of sailing weights of randomly selected boats may be conducted during the event. In addition, the top 5 finishing boats in each of the racing days may be weighed.

SCORING and RACING SYSTEM: Scoring will be carried out in accordance with the HMS 2016. Promotion/Relegation Six-(6). The number of boats promoted and relegated may be adjusted by notice in the SI’s or at the discretion of the Race Director at the skippers meeting.

PRE-REGISTRATION and FEES: Please this is a must, in order to assure no Radio Channel conflict early on, this really help speeds things up on race days. Also allows us to have adequate amount of food and drinks. Entries are to be made using the official entry form below and forwarded to:

Robert Hirsch
10795 Scripps Ranch Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92131
858.663.5702
rhirsch01@gmail.com

Entry fee is USD$50.00per boat and includes lunch and beverages for the 2 days and Phil’s BBQ (Sat. end of day). Fees are payable by check to San Diego Argonauts mailed to the above address or on line (I will provide a PayPal registration link once the AMYA has it set up).

FREQUENCIES: Permitted frequency bands are FCC-approved surface bands. Transmitters on 75 MHz must be narrow band certified. Radio frequencies will be allocated on a “first come first served” basis. NO CONFLICTS will be allowed. Each competitor is required to have a minimum of three (3) additional frequencies available. 2.4 Ghz radios are permitted and are exempt from rule E2.4 in the RRS.
AWARDS: Prizes will be awarded to the first 5 positions in the final results.
LIABILITY: All those entering or taking part in this regatta do so at their own risk and responsibility. ISAF- IRSA, IOM ICA, AMYA, USA NCA, San Diego Argonauts Model Yacht Club and or any other parties involved in the organization of this event disclaim any and all responsibility whatsoever for loss, damage, injury or inconvenience that might occur to persons and goods, both ashore and on the water as a consequence of entering or participating in the event covered by this Notice of Race.

At all times the responsibility for the safety of their boat and themselves including the decision to participate or continue shall rest with the competitors. By entering this event, it is deemed that you accept these conditions. Competitors are advised to ensure that they have adequate insurance that provides coverage for public liability and their possible injury in the Country and County of this event.

ENTRY DEADLINE: Entries must be received no later than Sun. Feb. 5th, 2017. Late entries may be accepted on site only at the discretion of the Race Chairman. Any late entry will be responsible for entering with an unassigned frequency. Late entry shall be paid in cash. There is no refund.

2017 IOM Mid-Winter Regatta ENTRY FORM

LIABILITY: All those entering or taking part in this Regatta do so at their own risk and responsibility. ISAF-IRSA, IOM ICA, AMYA, USA NCA, San Diego Argonauts Model Yacht Club, regatta staff, and or any other parties involved in the organization of this event disclaim any and all responsibility whatsoever for loss, damage, injury or inconvenience that might occur to persons and goods, both ashore and on the water as a consequence of entering or participating in the event covered by this Notice of Race.
At all times the responsibility for the safety of their boat and themselves including the decision to participate or continue shall rest with the competitors. By entering this event, it is deemed that you accept these conditions. Competitors are advised to ensure that they have adequate insurance that provides coverage for public liability and their possible injury in the Country and County of this event.

CONDUCT: Poor competitor behavior can reflect negatively on the sport, and all competitors are advised that their actions will be under scrutiny by race officials. In the event race officials witness any behavior which they deem to be a breach of good manners or sportsmanship, or which may bring the sport into disrepute, the Principal Race Officer assisted by race officials will protest the party (ies) in accordance with RRS 2 or 69.1.
The PRO, all race officials and observers have been directed to record any incidents which will be dealt with to the full extent available to the Protest Committee. Penalties available to the Protest Committee include exclusion from the race in question or subsequent races, exclusion from the regatta, or other action within the Committee’s jurisdiction.

FEE: USD$50. 00 per boat.
Make check payable to: San Diego Argonauts]

For online/PayPal registrationhttps://form.jotform.com/63554183318963

ENTRY DEADLINE: Feb. 5th, 2017

If you are mailing a check, please Send to:

Robert Hirsch
10795 Scripps Ranch Blvd.
San Diego, CA. 92131
858.663.5702
email: rhirsch01@gmail.com

——————————————————————————————–

Name:
AMYA #:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Phone:
Email Address:
Sail #:
Country:
Hull #:
Hull Design:
Hull Color:
Channel: Primary Secondary Alternate
Emergency phone #:
Emergency contact name:

By signing this entry form I agree to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Race above.

Signature:

Date:

Mail or EMAIL this form with copies of AMYA Card, Boat Certificate and Fee

For online/PayPal registration… look here for the link as soon as the AMYA has it set-up

2016 Model Boat Parade of Lights

Come see the San Diego Argonauts’ lighted remote controlled model boats! We’ll be kicking off the Christmas season with our own Model Boat Parade of Lights around the San Diego Model Boat Pond. Public is welcome. Bring a chair. Enjoy the lights.

If you have a scale model boat, start working on your lights. Be sure to bring a warm sweater, a hot beverage, and a great camera. This is going to be another beautiful event!

Our past Model Boat Parade of Lights were each an incredible success. This year, the San Diego Argonauts will be hosting another mini Parade of Lights at the San Diego Model Boat Pond on

Ideas for easy RC model boat lights.

In case you’re new to the mini Parade of Lights, here’s a video from January 2015:

(Edit December 22, 2016)

On December 14, we had 20+ boats in the water and about 100 spectators!  What an awesome event.  Thanks David Manley for putting together this video filmed from the bow of his RC scale model yacht.

Scale Boating Captain’s Log – November 2016

Scale Boating Captain’s Log – November 2016 – download PDF

by Jeff Sparksworthy

November 5, 2016 –

Ken Taylor ventured on to the wine dark seas and sailed his Francis Barkley, a Canadian Ferry.  She barely made a wake as she slipped through the velvety seas that day.

The pond started the day in quiet splendor, but the waters were soon wake tossed by a torpedo armed cruiser and a variety of civilian craft of every berth and beam.

It was a fine day for a cruise on Jarod Black’s beautiful Carnival’s Festivale. Of course, on every cruise it always helps to have a little muscle that’s “got your 6” steaming with you.

These fine craft thought that they could impetuously rule the high seas with no serious challenge until a ship of a completely different scale appeared on the horizon.

Although she’s in the early stages of a complete refit, Mark Shaw’s massive U.S.S. California could send lots of hurt arcing over to these smaller giants of the waves.

Of course liners and even warships require a little tug now and again so our Mark Weber readies his powerhouse tug boat. However, even if they did indeed need a tow, the docks were taken over by a battle wagon and a heavy cruiser.  The behemoth has new motors and engine controls and a new steering gear.  The ship is probably already 150 pounds lighter than in her vacuum tube remote days.  Even in her current shape, she’s a grand old lady who could still dish it out.  When she’s back in fighting shape we owe Mark a great big re-christening party!

Also on patrol that day was Jeff Sparksworthy’s ever morphing rescue barge on her last cruise before going in for major overhaul. It’s scheduled for new props, improved steering, and festive lighting on its light ship tower.

November 12, 2016 –

Our fleet of amphibians was bolstered considerably this week by the appearance of an entire squadron of ducks.  They kept better formation than most of the captains on the briny deep that day.

Don Johnson’s fireboat was called into action to stave off the flotilla of waterfowl that were suddenly blockading our fair shores. Ron Tindall’s valiant little barge tug was called in to deal with the duck born hazmat situation.  The cleanup fees will be considerable this month (but Ron just spends all his time and money on new boats).

After nearing completion of the nasty hazmat business, the big guns arrived to “keep the sea lanes clear.”

Rob Wood’s Bismarck sailed in with an escort destroyer only to be faced down by a millionaire in his steam yacht and a savvy tug boat captain.

Our precious sovereignty was saved by our plucky old salts, but the gosh darn ducks got away again!

November 26, 2016 –

It was another glorious day on the model boat basin that was graced by sleek (and one not so sleek) warships.  Those two destroyers had a very ungainly fore bearer, the U.S.S. Monitor with its distinctive revolving turret.

These little “tin cans” had a fraction of the Monitor’s 8 inches of iron, but they packed a far larger punch and could steam circles around the Civil War relic.

The exploits of brave little escorts like those of “Taffy 3” gave the U.S. Navy one of its finest hours when these ships repelled a crushingly larger Japanese Task Force intent on disrupting the U.S. liberation of the Philippines in WWII.

YOU’VE SUFFERED ENOUGH – THE ENDd

For more photos and fun, check us out on Facebook.

Scale Boating Captain’s Log – October 2016

October 2016 Scale Division Captain’s Log – download PDF

by Jeff Sparksworthy

October 1-2, 2016 – The San Diego Maker Faire

Well mates, they said it couldn’t be done, but some intrepid Argonauts forsook their usual watery hole and helped staff a booth at the San Diego Maker Faire in Balboa Park to help promote the Argonauts and the Western Warship Combat Club.

2016-maker-fare-wwcc-argonauts-3Hundreds of amazed adult visitors and their busy handed children showed up to marvel at the diversity and durability of the craft on display and to try their hand at Rob Wood’s gunnery range.  The only near constant lament was the fact that we didn’t have the battle pool this year to allow the bloodthirsty little blighters to send ships to Davey Jones’ Locker.

Ron Tindall & Mark Shaw USS California 1937Among the hands on deck were Mark Weber, Ron Tindall, Jarod Black, Little-Big-Dave, Rob Wood, Jeff Sparksworthy, Mark Shaw, and whoever else I forgot to mention.

One of the main goals of the effort was to engender the next generation of Argonauts without having to get involved in any Shanghai-shenanigans.

October 15, 2016 – Beginner Day at the Pond

img_5014Many a hearty thanks goes out to Rob Wood and some fellow Western Warshipers and Argonauts for putting together a fun-filled, hands-on day at the pond for young would be skippers.  The recruiting efforts made at the prior week’s Maker Faire seemed to have paid off in spades in that the average age at the pond went way down while the average IQ almost certainly went up.

img_5021A baker’s dozen or so of enthusiastic young seamen and seawomen tried their hands on the tillers of some generously provided loaner boats to see what life was like looking out on the pond’s calming waters instead of a smart phone or computer game.  Hopefully the magic of remote control will hijack their young minds and they’ll begin to torment their parents to get them a starter boat.

img_5019In the meantime, perhaps the club should consider making this an advertised and scheduled monthly event to try to keep the momentum going.  After all, there’s nothing to be gained by being a dying breed of old salts and surely we can scare up a few old scows and tugs for the young ones to navigate.  There is perhaps no greater joy than being able to share your skills, interests, knowledge, and afflictions (I mean hobbies) with the next generation of water sprites.

October 22, 2016 – Maiden Voyages

Jack Chidgey 96 scale USS MissouriThis last Saturday we were honored to be at the maiden voyage of Mr. Jack Chidgey’s 96 scale U.S.S. Missouri as it was lugged into the pond for ballasting and trial runs by Jack’s son and some hardy mates. Although the superstructure was left safely at home, the pond was graced by the distinctive lines of this fine old Iowa Class Battlewagon.

Jack – shown at the far right has been working on this kit since the 1990s and is justifiably proud of the old gal.

img_5102She rode well in the waves once several tons of iron was added as ballast until a slight overheating issue on the ESC forced him to go back to the hobby store.

Also on the pond for its “second maiden voyage” (we’ll give Ron the facts of life talk later) was the wonderfully fast PT Boat owned by Ron Tindall.  The boat had a bigger wake than most battleships – reinforcing the suspicion that Ron likes fast women (I mean boats).

Pogo Tug Cogged Belt Drive UpgradeAlso present (on what may be a near maiden voyage) is Mark Weber’s powerful tug Pogo (originally built by Robert Schimmel) that was recently refitted with twin belt drive motors with the help of Mark Shaw who knows a thing or two about having a belt from his days in the Navy.

Mark Shaw also stepped up to the plate to fix a couple of minor issues with the wiring of Jack’s Missouri’s motors.  Next week Mark promises to have his 1/12 scale (just kidding…1/60ish scale) U.S.S. California down at the pond for a flotation, steering, and engine test. Someone needs to bring a little bottle of champagne and we’ll need about 6 of you rusty old tars to get it from the truck to the pond.

Glenda & Tom GardnerAnother example of a cross-over maiden voyage is pictured here with the Gardner’s trying their hands at real (I mean powered) boats, proving that there is life before and after sail.  They seem to be enjoying the fact that you can run a powered boat directly into the wind.  We’ll have to carefully inspect their Santa Barbara next week to see if they have snuck in an auxiliary motor!

“Give me a fast ship and a good crew for I intend to go in harm’s way” – J.P. Jones

This weekend things really heated up at the pond with the appearance of an entire fleet of dreadnaughts and cruisers.  If we had had an aircraft carrier and a submarine, we could have held war games!

Also showing its fearsome visage was Dave Manley’s Yamato – which always scares the rust out of our scuppers!

And last, but not least, here’s a little humor to brighten these waterlogged pages now that you’ve suffered sufficiently.

Das Ende