Building the Tubby Tug
by Allen H. Storms
Page 3...
Seat and bow flotation. All interior seam joints have a minimum of 2 layers of fiberglass tape except the transom interior joint with 6 layers of staggered tape. I hate it when the motor takes the transom off of a boat. All interior surfaces are final covered with a layer of glass and resin to seal the plywood.
Concrete blocks to hold the rear seat in place and note the filler to fair out the taped seams.
Glass and resin on the outside of the hull. I used 9" foam rollers ($1.19) and plastic grocery store bags to reuse the roller tray, and plastic painters/food server' gloves to protect my hands.
Bottom glassed with the white oak keel installed. Note the handhold cut into the keel and the water line marked. I increased the keel length to the full bottom length. It may increase turning radius, but it may result in less tiller attention required.
Bulwarks and the tentative deck house beams are rising. It is really getting exciting at this point.
Launch day. Cabin top running lights, horn, handrails, rub rail, bumpers and paint. My first trip was from Seavy Island, Kittery to the I-95 bridge on the Piscataqua River dividing New Hampshire and Maine. She was a little slow coming back against an 8kt. tide, but there was no hurry since I was enjoying the boat! I have a VHF radio and antenna on order along with a solar panel to keep the battery up. I am thinking of a wash down pump on the bow to add fireboat capabilities.