Help me choose a color for the lifeboat on my tugboat?

[Lemosteam]

The tugboat itself will be Tuscan like the prototype, but I was thinking the lifeboat might pop more on the layout with a color other than Tuscan, especially between the tarp cover and the hull of the lifeboat.

What do you think?

Left is Tuscan, middle is a battleship gray, and right is a white hull.



Here is the proto:

[garethashenden]

White is traditional I think. Shows up better than a dark color, which is important if you want to be rescued.

[peteski]

The prototype photo seems to show that the lifeboat is the same color as the tugboat itself, but using some modeler's license I think that a  contrasting color (like white) would look good.  Just like that white life saver hanging on the railing really stands out, giving the boat some color.

[Dave V]

What they said. If you're going to stray from the photo, white's the traditional color for maximum visibility on the water. Gray would be harder to see.

[thomasjmdavis]

I found a bunch of pictures of various LI tugs here-
http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrtugs/lirtugs.htm

Note that in a couple of paintings and illustrations, the artists faced the same question, and opted to make the lifeboats white, while in the photos, they are tuscan, or 'dark'.

The one color photo, of one of the tugs late in life, and some of the illustrations, show the hull above the waterline, and stack as black, or very dark gray, and the hull below the waterline as tuscan.
http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrtugs/lirrgardencitytug.jpg

[John]

https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/media/pennsylvania-railroad-tugboat-wilmington.379547/

[Lemosteam]

https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/media/pennsylvania-railroad-tugboat-wilmington.379547/

Thanks John. Yes, pre 50’s these would have been PRR provided tugs with LIRR heralds on the stack. Which is why the B&W photos are so dark. I don’t think the stack was black based on some other color shades on the note. Note the tent in the port side above the stern. That is definitely black.

@thomasjmdavis , yes that site is where the photo above came from.  The orange one is former Pennsy too, but the date would have been in the late 50 or early 60’s when that color was added to the their engines too. Note the modern round herald too. I think it is the Tichy scheme. Even that pic shows a dark color (Tuscan?) on its lifeboat.

I think I like the white even though it’s not proto. The tarp straps came out great.

[Chris333]

I'll put links so you can zoom in.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EgfhXrkukRPmUxmx7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/X2WZZnMHaeVpBcPAA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/KpUXHTCoaCqeroaK6

[Lemosteam]

Thanks Chris!

Interesting, they painted the lifeboats orange! I also think those orange ones were converted to diesel based on the short stacks. I’m going for the early PRR supplied version, but I am going to deviate with the white lifeboat.

[Narlie]

White is traditional I think. Shows up better than a dark color, which is important if you want to be rescued.

I'll vote for white also. A little contrast. Will show the detail.

[DonSuro]

A little late to the party; Morning Sun Books, PRR: From Hudson to Horseshoe on page 5 shows all lifeboats
pictured to be tuscan

[jjb62556]

White, orange or yellow to be seen on the ocean...