Mini tugboat

[deepwaters]

Hi everbody, This is my first post here. Probably first of many! lol
After much research, many pics and videos, and lots of thought, I have decided to build a mini tugboat.

The Candu E-Z is probably my first choice. I want something 16' or under to fit nicely into my chop for build and storage.

Have any of you done this build or a simular? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Tim

[JimD]

They don't come any cuter. For putting around flat water it will be a lot of fun. If I were going to build a mini tug it would likely be the Hankinson/Sorenson Sweet Sixteen, which is likely to be a far more capable boat, although a lot more building as well.

[deepwaters]

Jim,
I googeled the " Hankinson/Sorenson Sweet Sixteen" and saw pics. She sure IS sweet, but bigger than my entire shop! lol That is one reason I chose the Lil' Candu 14'4". This will be my first "boat" build, but I previously designed and built my first hovercraft, then bought plans and built a second one. I had a blast while the national hoverally was here in ohio, but when the moved it to Iowa, I couldn't make the trip clear out there, so it pretty much took the fun out of it. Then hitting the tree at 60 mph sorta ended the hobby. lol.....in my wife's eyes anyway. So, now it is on to another project. Open waters, not skinny rivers with overhanging tree limbs! :-)

There are a couple of State owned lakes near me that do not allow air powered boats, but the little tug boat will be more that welcome there!

Tim

[JimD]

Jay Benford's Grivit is 14 feet. Again, a far more complex build that will reward the builder's perseverance http://www.benford.us/index.html?pcty/ :

[brucehallman]

Being curious about the Candu-EZ hull shape, I just did a quick computer lofting, sharing herewith:

[deepwaters]

Being curious about the Candu-EZ hull shape, I just did a quick computer lofting, sharing herewith:

Pretty cool Bolger!

[HGreeley]

Two parts ugly, one part charming.

[orbb]

Two parts ugly, one part charming.

That's how I got my wife.

[deepwaters]

Ok, the plans are on the way from Berkeley Engineering. I hope to have them by the end of the week and start working on her this weekend. I am hoping to hook up with somebody that has done a mini Tugboat and is willing to give advise. I am sure anybody that has built one knows of things they would do differentely or problems they could have avoided. Anyone? Anyone?

I promise not to be too big of a PIA!

Tim

[brucehallman]

Ok, the plans are on the way from Berkeley Engineering. I hope to have them by the end of the week and start working on her this weekend. I am hoping to hook up with somebody that has done a mini Tugboat and is willing to give advise. I am sure anybody that has built one knows of things they would do differentely or problems they could have avoided. Anyone? Anyone?

I promise not to be too big of a PIA!

Tim

I noticed while modeling this boat that it has essentially a flat bottom. And, the topsides are curvy as makes sense with a mini-tugboat. Essentially the way I see mini-tugboats is that they are big boy toys. Nothing wrong with that! The success of this project probably has more to do with the 'tugboat' detailing of the topsides, like scale modelers do.

The inboard motor looks like it needs the standard drive shaft bearings, stuffing box, etc..

[JimD]

I would expect some very tough plywood bending at the bow and stern. Aside from that it ought to go together quite smoothly. Nothing bends like occoume (as far as plywood goes) so that is what I'd build with, budget permitting.

[Dave Wright]

MacNaughton does some interesting little tugs with essentially flat bottoms - Bantam and Bufflehead. If going with that type of design, the 18 footer might be worth the additional effort.

[Mich]

Hi Deepwaters (and others) IMHO the 'Tug Along', stitch and glue design of Glen L, is a bit better than the Berkely design.

http://www.boatdesigns.com/16-or-18-...t/products/92/

Check out this thread:

http://www.glen-l.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9460

The slightly curved (rocker) bottom of the TA is preferable,
Looking at photos of the Berkely design, one can see the bow 'digging into' the water as that totally flat bottom has to plough 'through' the water instead af trying to 'glide over' it. (relatively speaking)

Recieved the TA plans, and busy with a balsa model - it is a simple build, and well designed.

The berkely design looks much more 'cute' though, one must admit.

[DCBrown]

I recently started building a Candu EZ. Like you surely did,I spent hours searching plans, pictures,etc. The boats I really liked were twice as long and four times heavyer! This build starts with the bottom,upside down and thats where I'm at,nearly ready to turn over and build the sides. I found that this build doesn't give' instant gratification' like pulling two side planks around a frame and bang! you've got a skiff. A lot of curvy cutting ply,epoxying,grinding to the line,etc. But, a little every day and I'll soon have a nifty toy.
I'm glad to see you here,now there are two of us! I'll try to get some pics up soon,you do the same. I'm watching...... D.C.

[deepwaters]

DC! Awesome to find you here. You are a couple of weeks ahead of me. I am hoping to get the plans by Friday and stop on my way home from work and buy my first plywood.

Oh, this just great having somebody to build with! Keep in touch.

Tim

[deepwaters]

Oh yeah, by the way, (just a warning) lol............ I become a little OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE when I start one of these projects.
Tim

[s1120]

Cant wait to see how the progress goes!!! Ive looked at those for YEARS wanting to build one.

[dirtsailor]

Here's a couple of local tugs (oregon) that come to the Depoe Bay Wooden boat show. The lighter green tug Seaweed is home designed by one of the Coots and is powered by an outboard. The Other tug is powered by an electric engine!

[dirtsailor]

Kinda weird to not hear a motor when a tugs scooting around the harbor!

[deepwaters]

Well, so far this weekend I have made some pretty amaizing progress! The floor is almost done and ready for glass. I still have to install the Chine log on the port side aft. then it is ready to flip over and glass the bottom.

How do I post pics?

Tim

[tomlarkin]

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...-instructions&

[deepwaters]

Deepwaters , have you decided what you are going to use for an engine ?.
Regards Rob J.

Yep, gonna use an outboard. Not sure what horse yet. And.....it will be in a well, under a cover where it can't be seen.

Tim

[DCBrown]

You built the bottom in one weekend? Tim you don't mess around! Maybe I should work a little harder....
D.C.

[deepwaters]

ok, let's try this: I hope I am not breaking any rules here. I made a small video of my tugboat progress. Here is a link to the youtube video: Thanks for watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=febUCq1e3kw

[DCBrown]

Here are pics of my Candu-EZ bottom 6-18-2011.The center keel/skeg is made from a 16 ft. 2X12 ripped on diagonal and glued & screwed together,faired with a 2X ripped on 45 .Cloth and resin over all,paint then flip.
D.C.

[DCBrown]

I forgot to say, Thanks for the video Tim, great work.
D.C.

[deepwaters]

Hey DC, thanks for posting the pics. Looks really great. I dread the glassing part. Several years ago I built a couple of hovercrafts. I did tons of fiberglass/resin on the bottom of them as well. It brings back bad memories! lol

I went with the flat center keel. I like the look of your better actually, but I feared the shallow shore lines I have in this area.

I have to make a slight adjustment to the motor box tonight. I was trying to stay as narrow as possible to have less boyancy loss. It turned out to be a little too narrow for the swing of the motor though. I thought about it in my sleep last night, and have come up with an "easy fix". They are really vague in the plans on how to do the motor well option.

Keep the pics and updates coming. Race ya to the shoreline for lauch! lol

Tim

[tomlarkin]

I have to make a slight adjustment to the motor box tonight. I was trying to stay as narrow as possible to have less boyancy loss. It turned out to be a little too narrow for the swing of the motor though. I thought about it in my sleep last night, and have come up with an "easy fix". They are really vague in the plans on how to do the motor well option.
Tim

Instead of making the box wider, you may be able to just cut down the parts where the motor hits to allow it to swing all the way. I did that, and it worked well:

[deepwaters]

Good point Tom, thanks. Do you have any more pics of the inside of the motor box?

Tim

[deepwaters]

Ok, the bottom is all fiberglassed and painted. Tomorrow, I flip her back over for the last time!

Here is a video update.

Thanks for watching! Tim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1--jr_V07VU

[DCBrown]

Well, my bottom is half glassed. I'm slow but steady. Looking forward to the top sides building.
Keep it up Tim.
D.C.

[deepwaters]

It's beginning to look alot like a boat now! :-) Com'on D.C. Let's go! lol

[JimD]

Exciting! What kind of plywood is that and what's that black stuff?

[DCBrown]

Looks good Tim. Looks like you cut a slot in the motor well sides and bent them out to make room for the motor head. I like that.
D. C.

[deepwaters]

Thanks D.C. I hope it is wide enough now! lol This is quite a learning as ya go project! :-) How is your coming along?

Tim

[deepwaters]

Exciting! What kind of plywood is that and what's that black stuff?

That is 1/4" "BC" from Lowe's. The "black stuff" is actually dark green polyester resin over fiberglass tape on the seams of the plywood. the grain is run vertically to make it easier to bend, so there is a seam every 4' down the side with fiberglass tape over the seams.

Tim

[deepwaters]

Here are some recent update pictures. She is coming along nicely. I went boating with my daughter yeasterday and was checking out lots of small boats, looking at the interior layout. On the way there, I stopped at a guys house that had a totally rebuilt 10hp Johnson for sale on Craig's list. $300.00 later, it was in the back of my truck and on its way to its new home! Today I will check the fit in the motor well and see if there are adjustments needed.

Thanks for looking!

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[s1120]

Looking great!!! Cant wait to see her come together.

[PaulT]

Looks great and fun as well. More pics please

Paul T

[deepwaters]

Ok Boat Guru's..........I set the motor in place to check fit in the motor well. Everything seems to fit fine, but inspite of being a short shaft motor, it seems just a tiny bit low at the prop to me. What do you think? Good fit? See any problems I need to address?

Thanks, Tim

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[jerry bark]

run it like that, it won't matter unless your water is really shallow.

those are great old motors so it should serve you well for the tug.

Jerry

[Stan D]

The motorhead side of me wants more info/history on the outboard. Looks old style with fresh paint.

[deepwaters]

The motorhead side of me wants more info/history on the outboard. Looks old style with fresh paint.

Yep! It's a 1958 Johnson Seahorse. I bought it from the estate of a guy that rebuilt boat motors for 30 years. It was totally rebuilt and painted about a year ago.

Tim

[s1120]

Doesn't look too low, but could be the angle of the pic.

[Stan D]

Low, yes. But not too low. Guessing the HP from the physical size, you should have no trouble at all.

[deepwaters]

Here is a video of the latest updates. The hull is now complete (except for fiberglassing the outside) and time to start on the wheel house and interior.
Thanks for looking!
Tim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQn-PRZvRQo

[PaulT]

Tim:
Thanks for the link to the vid. Lookin good!

[JimD]

Looks like you'll be in the water by August

[deepwaters]

Here is another update: The roof goes on the wheelhouse, again with the wheel house in the "lowered position".

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[DCBrown]

Tim,your "just do it" build attitude is impressive. As I'm sure you know,the house being bonded to the sides is what gives the boat a light and strong assembly. How will you replace the lost cross braceing ? D.C.