Customer Comments

Hi guys, I bought a Vac-U-Tug kit for my son's 13th birthday this past winter. We'd worked together on a couple of other RC projects previously, so he'd gained some basic experience with model construction. The vacu-tug kit was exactly as advertised, and my son did 100% of the construction and painting, with only some guidance and advice on my part. We ordered the heavy-duty motor since it was his intention to build a tow barge, and that has worked out very well. He gets many, many positive comments and admirers when he's operating the tug in the local lake. We've both been very pleased at how robust and sea-worthy the tug is in wind and waves. Ken & Alex.

Checked it out today, everything is there and in good shape. I'm really impressed with the hull, really smooth and follows the lines, not like some others I have built including Kyosho and Graupner! Art

I'm still having loads of fun with my Vac U Tug. I have been taking it out to the pond pretty much every morning, before it gets too hot to play. It's like learning seamanship all over, on a reduced scale, but with the same physics. I always wanted to become a tugboat skipper, and now I can fulfill that wish :-). Some photos and simple barge info: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=714083 I am still working on the steam powered vac u tug. Thanks for making such a great product. Sincerely, Brooks

Hello Phil; Finally got the tug together from Christmas...All I can say it was a pleasure putting it together. Your instruction manual was great and liked the details to all the critical steps...I changed it around as you can see in the picture but it performs exactly as you said it would. I added a battery holder in the hull and some other things. I used sinkers for the ballast, weighing them first for the best ballast then molding them to fit the stern of boat with partitions to keep them separated from the drive shaft. Put some LED lights for running lights and stern deck and some spools on stern deck to simulate a cable run...Thanks for the fun of making it and the pleasure of driving it...Hope to get another of your models in the near future....John

Phil – I have enclosed 3 shots of “ Galveston Bay ”, your tug doctored-up to serve as a rescue & retrieve boat for the R/C clubs that I belong to. We use her to recover boats, seaplanes and amphibians. The only “fee” ever accepted by the skipper of “ Galveston Bay ” is a glass of ice tea or ice water. Of course, Galveston Bay also does duty as a buoy tender setting marks for races. Bob J., Tri-County Barnstormers

Here are a few pics of my little Vac-U-Tug Jr. the Kate Massey. I bought this boat to use as my hydro recovery boat and she has quickly become one of my favorite boats in my fleet. I built a tow rig out of a foam bobber and some brass rods soldered together to make a grappling hook. I just run out to the stranded boat and make a quick loop around it and the hook will grab the rudder or turn fin and pull the hydro back. I use the 4 blade prop and 2 3000mAh NiMH wired in parallel for power. I can get about 5 hours of run time including some towing of my hydro, stranded boats or my barge that measures 48"x12" and is usually ballasted with about 20lbs of weight. The only other modification to the kit was the addition of the towing bollard and reinforcing the deck below the bollard. Massey

The package arrived yesterday. It's even better than I had hoped. What a great kit for kids! My son is a little hesitant to do the cutting/trimming, so I cut, the assembles. First gluing steps tonight. We'll be in the water next weekend for sure, even it's still white before painting. Thanks, John

Great user friendly website…I have to tell you, I recently acquired one of your tugs at a garage sale. The individuals wife was selling it since her husband passed away. Believe it or not she was selling the little boat with radio and all for ten dollars. Even though the little boat was in poor health I gave her thirty five dollars since I couldn’t take advantage of her. (Besides that’s all I had in my pocket.) So I spent the next several weeks lightly sanding and re-gluing the little boat back together. This past weekend was the first sea trial…It did awesome…the little boat saved three boats its first time out. That boat has become a local hero around here, saves us from getting in ponds with water moccasin snakes and baby alligators here in Florida. You will notice I keep calling it the little boat, since its repairs were completed it has not been re-painted or named…It has been out on the water every weekend for the past three months. And talk about easy to control, when I am not using it for rescues, My four year old son is scootering it around the lake. We sail with a local group of modelers and they just loved it. If it wasn’t for the careful record keeping that Mr. Newsome (previous owner/builder of the little boat) kept I would not be able to write you this letter. Tom

I just got my Vac-U-Boat in the mail today and have began assembly. I decided to take a break for a few minutes and thought I would give you a little consumer feed back. I purchased this as a recovery boat for my big gasser and really wasn't looking for a detailed scale model, just something simple. I liked the fact that while this kit has the potential to be as detail and scale as many people may want it still has the ability to be pure utilitarian for others like myself (who are a little tired of going for a swim when the unexpected happens). Having said that I hope you'll understand when I say that I wasn't like a kid with a brand new toy that just arrived. To me it's kinda like buying a set of new tires for your car, necessary but not overly exciting. I mean, I'm a gasoline burner who gets my thrills a very high speeds with lots of noise and big size. However, once I opened the box and began taking inventory I was floored! Yes, your product was packaged very well, but it is the amazing care and attention to detail that has me sending you this feedback. Your design is very simple yet very thought out. This was not a kit that requires me to think or engineer something that should have been done differently. that aside, the care in putting every thing that you have foreseen i would need is what I'm so amazed by. The small piece of sand paper that is shown in the instructions is included? Unbelievable! You didn't just recommend using those little notebook paper clamps in the instructions you actually supplied two small boxes of them! Even down to the three standard paper clips (which I'm not really sure what they're used for yet as i haven't reached that point yet) you actually included them! I'm actually enjoying building the very thing that I did not want to have to build, a recovery boat! I can tell that this is the product of small business and a person who really loves what he does. I get the feeling that when you packed my kit up for shipping it received the same care that you would have for one of your buddies had they ordered one from you. Originally I thought about going with an ARF, quick and dirty, but I'm glad I didn't! Thanks for the pleasant surprise. Now I'm going to get back to my build. Thank You! Zach

My son and I took the tug to the local RC boat club's annual show. It got a lot of favorable attention, and I gave your web address to some of the members. Also, the tug got it's first work call during the show. A nicely built three-motor PT boat was cruising along and suddenly lost power in the middle of the pond; my son used the tug to move it back to shore. Do you happen to have a chart of salvage rates, or is that for an admiralty judge to decide? Once again, many thanks for producing such a fine kit. Cheers, Steve

The Vac-U-Tug should have been my first RC boat. It's great - simple, great instructions, great looking (and it can be finished/detailed at 1:45 to match the Calypso). I got the box today and have the hull, drive etc finished already. Plan to modify and detail out the top to look like an ocean tug. It's really a great kit -more sturdily and logically designed and built than the Billing Calypso and has the potential to be built into a nice looking scale model. Highly recommended for a fun build. Dan

This is a quick note from a happy customer. I have finished my tug, the bathtub "trials" were successful, and I am waiting for warmer temperatures here in NJ to paint it and take it to the local pond. The kit was a pleasure to assemble, and the instructions were crystal clear: all the hard work that you must have put into them makes the Vac-U-Tug a very enjoyable and rewarding project for a first-time RC boat-builder like me. Cheers, Steve

I was able to easily push soggy driftwood around that weighed over 8lbs so I think it will do fine with the Seawind. The wind picked up to almost 20mph. I ran the tug in waves up to 4". It pushed right through them. Running parallel to the waves in the "trough" was scary because the tug rolled. But it never went over. I don't think it can roll over with the ballast so low in the bilge. I was amazed to find it completely dry below deck when I finally brought it in. I highly recommend the Vac-U-Tug as a great winter project and a potential rescue boat. The standard motor and optional 4-blade propeller is suggested. So is an 8.4V battery pack (or larger). I had lots of fun with the tug and look forward to playing with it on those windless days. Bill

Phil, Thanks for the quick shipping, I received the kits on Sat. They are by far the most complete kits I have ordered, and I have ordered car and plane kits in the past. I can't wait to get started building. I will send some photos and try to post them on the yahoo site after they are built. Thanks again for the quality tug kits. Steve

Despite the warning not 'to try this at home', I did. Three 'fishing' trips later, I finally caught one! Wish I'd taken a camera, but... oh well. Just another 'fish story', right? Also just tickled me to death, dang! No one at work believed me either. Paul

Phil, I can't tell you how pleased I was today when my Vac-U-Tug showed off for the Knoxville SMMM Club. After on minor glitch with my pump switch, it performed flawlessly. Ran it for over two hours at the Alcoa TN pond and came home and still had to discharge my 1500 amp battery for several minutes. What a smooth running boat. Not a drop of water inside (was a little concerned about the seal on the hull bottom for the pump). One of the fire cannons is a Graupner unit, the other I made. The mess on the stern is a tow rig that is used to retrieve disabled boats. The doors are sheet plastic, the railing is soldered brass and you will notice I reworked your funnel. Cut the top off, inverted it inside the stack and glued in two pieces of brass tubing. The insignia was taken from the NY city fire dept web site. The lights were out of my spare parts boxes. The towing bits are brass and plywood. The basic boat was built on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The painting and details were added over the next 10 days. My 6 year old grandson likes it better than the Sport Fisherman that I built for him. "Grampa, this really works!" Many thanks for putting together such an easy to build kit at such a great price. Dave

Just a quick note to say that I got the mighty tug finished and in the water at my local pond for shakedown runs. Again, it is a great build. Everything fits together so well it is a dream to build. I ended up carrying two 6 pack sets of cells from my car racing days so my ballast at each end is not very much. I also glued a piece of ply across the hull near the front and put my receiver and ESC up there. This way they aren’t low in the hull but they are well above any potential water that might get inside (none has so far), hence the antenna running up the front of the cabin. Not very rough water anytime yet but it kind of just bobs its way over the little waves we have had so far and kind of just makes you smile or even laugh a little. What a great fun kit. -Barry

Little trick I used when installing the rear ballast. Used BBs in a plastic bag. Soaked in epoxy. Stuffed them under the shaft and set them down a bit. Then used a piece of the tray liner U section to create a tidy little channel around the shaft and to clear the motor. removed the section when epoxy had hardened. Made a task I was dreading very simple. Anyway thanks for the great little tug. I am sure it will be used a lot at the Seawind racing club I belong to in Auckland. We have over 50 boats with 12 to 20 regularly racing every weekend. Cheers! Craig in Auckland, New Zealand.

(This was so nice that I had to show the entire letter!) Dear Philip, Enclosed are a couple photos of my Tug taken on its first shake down cruise. I must say your kit and instructions are the best and most complete I have ever seen. This is the first tug I have ever built and while it was more work intensive than it first appears I had no problems in its construction thanks to your great instruction book. The finished Tug is well worth the effort in building. Your attention to detail in the kit made it pleasure to build. I particularly liked your inclusion of all the clamps required in joining the deck to the hull. The tug floats right on its waterline and sailed right off the building board. At full throttle it settles into its bow wave trough at what appears to be hull speed. I may try your hopped up motor for some heavy towing. So far the only mods I have done are the addition of two bollards mounted on the forward and aft decks. Whenever the Tug is out on the lake it brings favorable comments and questions on What is it? and Where can I get one? All in all I am very pleased with my Vac-U-Tug Jr. and am looking forward to many years of fun with it and then passing it on to my Grandson. Best wishes, Charlie, San Diego

I'll send you another couple of photos by separate email. I really like the tug. It handles even better than it looks. The 4-blade propeller and 8.4V battery push the bow to hull speed in less than 2'. Thanks for the great model. Bill

I've come to appreciate your drive shaft and stuffing box after seeing some other examples. Thanks... Paul

I've dropped one of the 'Vac-U-Tug's before. Not onto rocks, but a floor. Other than breaking the stack off (not the stock one), and causing near heart failure, there was no damage at all. I think it would be kinda difficult to hurt one. Paul

I'm elated with the boat . It performs perfect as I see it. No leaks, just does everything right. I did the fire nozzle and that all works great too. I want to order a duck as soon as I get this boat completely done. Two of my friends have them and they're more fun than canned beer. Just wanted to touch base & let you know how much I like the boat. Wally

Hi the tug is done...the first tests i made in a pool...no wave...but the tug with the 4 blade prop could handle the seawind...the wind was about 5 mph...the tug was dry...^^ was happy...as i say i use the 4 blade prop with 8.4 v batteries...i use 2 more mah...think i could use the tug for...hmmm at least 3 hours...don't know yet...and i don't care...its just for saving my seawind anyway.. i ll keep posting about the tug when i sail in rough waters... have a nice day Hi well the tug can handle the seawind in usual conditions...worked fine...happy cause now i know i dont have to swim anymore have a nice day. wis

I started with a Dumas kit on which you plank and then glass the hull. It was a tuff job and resulted in so many mistakes, that I became discouraged. I got one of Phil's Vac-U -Tug kits, which to an experienced model maker is about a days work, but to me was more. It's a good kit to learn with and inexpensive, plus it gives you boat to play with at the pond while you are tackling the Darby. Now I'm back to finishing the Dumas with a much better attitude! Ryan

I received my kit yesterday, looking forward to assembling this boat. I have never done this before and from what I can see it's a good choice for me.
Kudos for fast response . It got here much faster than I would expect. I usually figure about a month when I order something. Thanks - Wally W.

I've just finished it and it came out nicely. Took me an evening to build it and the following afternoon to paint it. I've run it at out local pond and it's nice, relaxing fun. I'm using a Focus 2 radio with a HiTec SP520 speed controller. Power comes from two 7.2v 1500ma batteries connected in parallel... (read that as 3,000ma @ 7.2v). It will run for hours with this configuration. Your instructions were flawless and the little details you add to the kit (like sandpaper, binder clips, drive shaft lubricant) make a HUGE difference in the "build ability" of the kit. I've been building RC planes, cars, and boats off and on for 20 years, but I could easily give this kit to a raw novice with full confidence that they would have a successful outcome. Sean

While testing the installation of the speed controller on my bench, I thought there was something wrong with it since I didn't here any noise. I found that everything was working perfectly, it's just that the driveline is so smooth on these boats, they don't make any noise. Dean

Just a note to let you know that your Vac-U-Tug Junior made a hit with our four grandchildren this morning. I towed 4 buoys on the subdivision lake for them to race my ODOM and Victoria around. They marveled at the little fella chugging along, pulling the kickboard, dropping off a buoy, then returning to shore to pick up another. Great fun for the whole family! Thanks. Frank

I was so impressed with the instruction manual. Every detail was covered in every way. I must have ten different boats and this Tug is one of the most fun that I own. I just love it! When I placed it in the water, I couldn't believe how well it performed and looked. My buddies made comments like "I have to get me one of these!" Thanks again for such a wonderful and creative boat! Kevin

I finished building my tug this week and sailed it for the first time yesterday. I just wanted to let you know that you have made a wonderful product that is easy to build and even more fun to use. I only have one complaint, that is, when are you going to design Vac-U-Tug Sr.? I love the tug, but cannot wait for a larger version. Thanks again for a great product with easy to understand instructions. Rob

I have inspected the kit I bought and have bought all the necessary radio equipment. Now I just need a little time to build it. Biggest problem is what color? It is the most complete kit I have ever seen. You have a quality product. M.M.

I got the kit Friday and it looks great! Nicely done! I look forward to
having my first slow RC boat project on the water. D.B.