Topic: 14 foot mini tugboat (Read 30550 times)

mermod · « **on:** March 11, 2013, 11:06:11 am »

A while back I promised to do a build log of my 14ft Candu E-Z tug from Berkely Engineering so here goes.........
For anyone that missed the previous post, this is what I'm building.

mermod · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2013, 11:09:13 am »

They are 14 feet 3 inches long, plywood construction coated in glass mat and epoxy resin.
They can be electric, diesel or outboard powered, the plans suggest 10hp.

mermod · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2013, 11:18:18 am »

And heres the start.....4 8x4 sheets marked out and cut to size, as they are left and right mirror images I cut, jigsawed and belt sanded one side then flipped em over, clamped them to the other side and routered the other with a profile/bearing cutter.

mermod · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2013, 11:21:24 am »

While I'm at it, I suggest all boat builders and modellers should get themselves one of these, I hardly use the dremel anymore, thought they might have been a bit of a "novelty"tool but now I could not live without it.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2013, 11:29:46 am »

Now this is going to be a real interesting build!

What motive power will you be using, 10HP outboard?

mermod · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2013, 11:48:13 am »

Hello Martin, thought about that one for a long time, looked at electric, wanted to go electric but still too expensive and too short lived to be practical, about 6 grand for the electrics plus batteries then still only about 10 to 12 hours runtime and an overnight charge....oh, plus another 1000 dollars for a driveshaft and propellor so I looked at a small diesel, once again 6-7 thousand plus shaft and prop so its going to have an outboard in a well, half the price of all the other systems and the modern 4 stroke is extremely quiet and just lift it out for any maintenance.
Plans suggest 10hp but I have seen much larger ones installed ( one with a 50hp honda) but I am aiming for a 15hp for just a bit of extra kick without going overboard, still undecided on brand though.

Neil · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2013, 11:54:54 am »

Quote from: mermod on March 11, 2013, 11:21:24 am

While I'm at it, I suggest all boat builders and modellers should get themselves one of these, I hardly use the dremel anymore, thought they might have been a bit of a "novelty"tool but now I could not live without it.

got one myself Mermod......two christams's ago.........an american Workx version................they are. as you say, invaluable and can do so much...brilliant tools.

neil.

mermod · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2013, 12:06:19 pm »

Hi Neil, I had to clean up some bodyfiller around the shafts on my Abeille Liberte yesterday which is one job I really hate, had the job done in about 20 mins.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2013, 06:18:32 pm »

Quote from: mermod on March 11, 2013, 11:48:13 am

Plans suggest 10hp but I have seen much larger ones installed ( one with a 50hp honda) but I am aiming for a 15hp for just a bit of extra kick without going overboard, still undecided on brand though.

50Hp!!?! - that's a real Tugboat!

Stavros · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2013, 07:00:11 pm »

You will be able to Water Ski behind it with a 50 hp motor

Dave

me3 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2013, 07:09:47 pm »

That is an awesome little tug! I love it. Where did you find information / plans for it?
Reece

Norseman · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2013, 09:34:24 pm »

You''re gonna need a bigger esc

Way to go Mermod .... Respect.

Dave

carlmt · « **Reply #12 on:** March 11, 2013, 09:47:03 pm »

The thought has crossed my mind to scale up my cross channel ferry model to give a small camping boat for use on UK canals.......

Sorely tempted.....

I am going to enjoy following this one

Carl

mermod · « **Reply #13 on:** March 11, 2013, 10:32:31 pm »

Thanks for the comments guys, hey me3 the plans can be found here http://www.berkeley-engineering.com/ and there is a very active page on Facebook under mini tugboats.

mermod · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2013, 10:43:38 pm »

Here is the bottom all cleaned up with chine logs attached and ready for joining together.
alot of people are surprised that it's flat bottomed, but it will be extremely stable in calm waters plus it has a substantial keel.

mermod · « **Reply #15 on:** March 11, 2013, 10:46:14 pm »

All joined together, the rebates along the seams are to allow a layer of glass mat to lay flush with the face of the ply.

mermod · « **Reply #16 on:** March 11, 2013, 10:50:07 pm »

left and right sides all cut out.

mermod · « **Reply #17 on:** March 11, 2013, 10:52:02 pm »

Here we see the side panels joined together, like the bottom I laid some matting into a rebate for a flush join.

I laid some polycabonate sheet on top of the join while the resin was wet, this gives the resin a nice flat finish and saves heaps of sanding.

tobyker · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2013, 11:20:37 pm »

I'm sure that Dynamite Payson or Phil Bolger have done something very like this.

mermod · « **Reply #19 on:** March 11, 2013, 11:42:40 pm »

Quite right tobyker, the design is often compared to the Bolger microtrawler.

mermod · « **Reply #20 on:** March 12, 2013, 07:20:50 am »

Here we have the stem epoxied to the botttom of the hull, I have added the knee to the base for extra strength and beefed up the thickness of the stem aswell.

mermod · « **Reply #21 on:** March 23, 2013, 09:08:07 am »

side panels cleaned up and glued into the rebates.

mermod · « **Reply #22 on:** March 23, 2013, 09:11:06 am »

a shot from outside the hull showing some shape and the stem.I have deviated from the plan a bit and made the stem alot more chunky than designed.

mermod · « **Reply #23 on:** March 23, 2013, 09:13:22 am »

Lower stern panels in place and rubbing strake installed, the whole thing goes together much like a large model kit.

mermod · « **Reply #24 on:** March 23, 2013, 09:15:19 am »

Upper stern panels and support for handrail.

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Author Topic: 14 foot mini tugboat (Read 30550 times)

Stavros