A Shipshape Hobby A Foray Into The World Of Radio-Controlled Airplanes Nose Dived, So Now Marion Parker’s A Model Sailor

Marion “Chief” Parker used to build and fly radio-controlled model airplanes.

You know, the little propeller jobs that dive and loop and go Bzzzzzzzzzz.

But there was a little problem. All too often Bzzzzzzzzzz turned into Bzzzzzzz…zzzz…zzz…zz…z…KER-ASHHHH.

“My airplanes wouldn’t stay up,” said Parker, 63.

After a while, that started to get old. And expensive.

So the Spokane Valley man found a new hobby - model tugboats.

“With a tugboat, if you run out of fuel, it still floats,” he said. “If your radio goes dead, it still floats.”

But the model vessels competing Sunday in the Pacific Northwest Model Tug Championships should do considerably more than stay above water. They’ll be pushing and pulling barges through an obstacle course.

Close inspection by onlookers will reveal that they were built with impressive attention to detail. Many sport working horns, lights and water cannons.

Sunday’s event, hosted by the Spokane Model Boat Club, will be at the Washington Water Power Reflection Pond, 1411 E. Mission. More than 60 boats are expected.

Registration is at 9 a.m. The competition gets under way at 10.

It’s free and open to the public.

For more details, call Parker at 924-4255. He is the event coordinator.

These aren’t cute little bathtub toys. Last year’s winner was 60 inches long and weighed 90 pounds. And some of the model tugs can move loads weighing half a ton.

This is the competition’s sixth year. It used to be held at the pond in Manito Park. Then it was shifted to Medical Lake, before moving to the WWP site - which offers the advantage of shallow water.

“Over the years, we’ve only had two boats sink,” said Parker. “And we found one of them.”

Some people hear about the local hobbyists’ fascination with tugboats and express surprise that a bunch of landlocked guys would choose this pastime. But like most hobbies, much of the appeal has to do with engaging the imagination.

Parker calls his basement “the boatyard.”

Sunday’s competition will take place rain or shine. “That’s another nice thing about boats,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about them getting a little wet.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 color photos