About

The Springer model tugs can be found world wide. Not many people know that the springer was developed in the west coast part of the United States.  The purpose was to be a "one design" model boat.  Like many one-design models (also applies to real boats) the object is to have identical specifications for everything so while in competition the skill is left up to the operator (driver, pilot, etc.).
     With the "Springer" tug the one design applies to the hull size and shape and anything pertinent to the operation of the model (motor, battery, propeller, and rudder). Al the rest is up to the builder/owner.       However, many owners of "Springer" choose to take different direction and have thir own versions of "Springers".  This site was designed to follow the original "Springer tug" specification but also a good source for those that want to modify ther "Springer" to their own choice.
     So in the links below you will find various information such as the origin of the "Springer" class, some tips on building the "Springer" model, how it relates to real boats, and how to make a "Springer" model tug look like a real boat. In addition, there are some thoughts of building your "Springer" into something historic, fictional, sci-fi, or get you started on "where to go where no man has gone before."   - Enjoy! 

The Springer Model Towboat: 

The Springer towboat (also referred to as a Springer tug) is a fictitious model not based on any particular towboat. This design was created by the Northwest RC Shipmodelers club. The intent was to create a "one-design" model towboat, that is a design which if follows allows competition between boats because the basic design must be followed. Those features controlled by the specification includes hull shape and dimensions, push knee dimensions, single shaft, propeller size, motor voltage, and rudder surface area. (More specific below.)

Specifications (paraphrased from the Northwest site): 

The Basic Springer specifications are very simple. The basic boat is to be 18 inches long and 8 inches wide with a flat bottom. The other specifications are: A 6-volt battery shall power the motor. The propeller shall be 3 bladed and no larger than 40mm in diameter. The rudder shall be a maximum area of 4 square inches. The cabin and other features on deck will be left to the discretion of the builder. 
Hull: profile to conform to original Springer profileBeam: 8 inches +/- .062 inch Length: 18 inches +/- .125 inch Rudder: 4 square inches - maximum single piece construction (salmon tail allowed) Drive: single shaft, direct or reduced drive open propeller (No Kort nozzles or Z drives allowed) Propeller – 3 blades, maximum diameter of 40 mm Motor Type: builders option Motor Battery: 6 volts maximum Gearing: builders option.

Specification Comments by Lew: 

There is no scale to the "Springer" model specifications. Virtually any scale between 1/16 and 1/25 could be used. To consider anything larger than 1/16 scale would make the hull too smaller and anything smaller than 1/25 scale would make the hull too large, both in proportion to real towboats. The scale here follow the lines of small or truckable towboats. The following popular scales relate to a full size (prototype) boat:  

("Real Hull depth" is deck to bottom of hull.)
As 1/24 and 1/25 scale are quite close (72-inch figures are 3.00-inches and 2.88-inches), a 1/24.5 scale could be used in their place. A 1/24.5 scale figure would be 2.94-inches tall. Other scales can be made within this range (1/16 to 1/20). A number of accessories and figures are available in G-scale (1/22.5). This might be a consideration when making a model.  Is a 1/20, 1/22.5, or 1/24.5 scale good for you? Continue reading the next section comparing to a real Truckable Towboat.

Example of a real small (truckable) Towboat: 

First, look at a real truckable towboat.  This one (right) is a good example of a small towboat.  Although it has two engines and drive shafts (looks like Kort nozzels), it is about the right size. The dimensions are as follows: 
Length: 25-feet Width (beam): 14-feet Draft: 6-feet Weight 33,000-pounds Deck house: 8 X 8 X 7-feet (front access) Pilot house: 4 X 7 X 7-feet (16-feet eye level) 
The width (beam) is too narrow for the 1/16 scale as the forth the deck house and pilot house would have to be narrowed by about 3.3 feet making both cabins too narrow. The walkways on both sides should be maintained as there might be some OSHA standards the real boat conforms with. 
Another choice might be 1/20 scale as both cabins would still need to be narrowed by about .33-feet. 1/24.5 would work out very well as the cabin could be widened and lengthened a bit. 
To model something like the one at the right but as a model built to the Springer rules and specifications is quite feasible. Use a single exhaust stack for a single engine boat.  Use twin stacks if you have two engines which are starting to show up.
The only thing that is out of scale is the depth of the hull in the Springer Specification.  Here the 1/16 scale comes closest.  The 1/24 and 1/25 scales are 3 feet too deep.  Even the very large towboats are seldom over 9 feet in draft.  Despite the draft discrepancy I would still go with what looks good for the deck proportions...

So in Lew's opinion the best answer is the 1/24 or 1/25 scale.  There are also "G" gauge figures available from model train hobby shops and online.
However, some of Lew's 3D printed parts are also available in other scales! 

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