Glen-L.com

With no replies in a different thread, I'll try this again here...

A little help, please. I'm weeks deep into the planning of a Tubby Tug. Plans are here, ideas are being formed. Now, if only it wouldn't keep snowing and warm up a bit. But realistically, I'm still a few weeks, both weather-wise and financially, from beginning. However, I need my ducks mostly lined up. Question on steering: I've seen a number of options, and the most logical and compact seems to be a Uflex or Teleflex push/pull cable system. However, there seems to be concerns about having adequate space for proper installation along the transom. Can folks let know their solutions? One additional question, where can I get one of those wooden steering wheels that fits the modern helms? Thank you everyone.

Jim, Juneau Alaska

Jim, one of the members is out of town for the w/e that can & will share how he did it on his TT

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Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

Here is another post on the wheels also

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15151

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

I rigged up a hydraulic steering system for my TT from scrounged parts which works well and has held up for the last 4 years with no problems..will get some pics posted this weekend.

You've chosen a great project...the Tubby Tug is a real gem and handles well on the water.

Regards,

Steve Hansen

Thank you everyone, I look forward to seeing the options. A few other options I'm considering include lengthening the boat and adding a curved stern. There appears to be a decent lengthening spot at the tangent coming off the outer curve coming from the bow. By simply making a reference point then pulling the plans back 12 inches should give me a slightly longer hull. That point is also where the seat/cabin frames come in, so there should be no changes to any framing members. The rounded stern will be a much more difficult project. The couple of examples already documented should give me a good starting point. If I can manage to order in 12 foot plywood into Juneau I should be golden, but the costs may be prohibitive.

12' panels are factory scarfed together....it's easy enough to scarf them yourself...and much cheaper!

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

Factory scarfed? Did not know that. I don't know what marine ply costs other places, but it's $58 per 4x8 sheet here. I've never tried to scarf together two sheets, I'm sort of scared I'd ruin both pieces. But it's certainly worth consideration. I don't mind too much to simply block them together, but I would prefer a much cleaner joint.

There have been some posts on here of how to do scarf joints with a router and jig to carry it. One bit of advice I'd give is to plan your scarf joint to fall in an area that does not require a pronounced bend in the panel. The scarf joint will not be as stiff as a butt blocked joint, but it will still be somewhat less flexible than the surrounding wood.

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Noah was a first-time boatbuilder

Fortunately the only scarf joint I'd do would be on the flat bottom, no curves to worry about.

Another quick question, what's the best way to laminate two sheets. I hope to create a rounded stern. The curve is far too severe to easily do with 1/4 inch ply, as others have found, without complicated lofting. I hope to use multiple layers of 1/8 ply or some similar product. I would want to fully laminate the layers to create the proper thickness. My suspicion is that they will be in the neighborhood of 2 foot by 4 foot lengths, depending upon exact angles of attachment and whether I end up with a true fantail or a full flat bottom.

Jim,
I'm the guy the Pirate was talking about. I attached a Teleflex system to an inboard trolling motor on my TT and I used a wooden ships wheel. I bought a cheap wheel from a novelty site and made it work.


I don't know if you plan to use a trolling motor or an outboard, but if I can help just let me know.

Good Luck,
Chip

BTW, I like your idea of lenghtening the Tubby.

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A secret to a good marriage is to have a quick mind and a slow mouth!!!

Jim,

Another option for Tubby Tug steering. I started out with a trolling motor but switched to outboard as my son got older. Have attached some pics..sorry the hydraulic cylinder is partly hidden from view.

The helm pump is a used Hynautic, about $50 on ebay as I recall. Plumbing is 1/4" hose and copper. Cylinder is 1" d. x 6" throw, unbalanced but seems to work fine. Wheel is an 11" destroyer type, smallest I could find.

I like your ideas on lengthening the hull and building a round stern...it would make a very handsome boat. As a practical matter, I would be concerned about getting the panel shapes right for the sides and bulwarks since an S&G design depends largely on panel contours to create the final shape, which might be a chore to work out.

I believe there's a very nice Glen-l design for a tug around 16 ft with a round stern. All the design details have been worked out and prototyped. Quite a bit larger boat though.. depends alot on your intended use.

Anyway, good luck and have fun!

Best regards,

Steve Hansen

Everyone, thank you for all your feedback. Grand, were there any modifications to the Teleflex? From what I've seen looking at pictures of a standard Teleflex (and Uflex) steering unit, the motor section appears very long, and added to a 6 - 8 inch required radius looks too long for the tubby. However, yours looks much shorter, particularly the portion that attaches to the motor. Your setup is exactly what I'm looking for, so any details would be very helpful.

I've toyed with the idea of using a scooter motor attached to the trolling shaft, and run to a joystick up front. While intriguing, I'll more likely opt for a more traditional steering method. The motor idea would be about 1/3 the cost, though. If I could figure out how to run the trolling motor, with dynamic speed adjustment from the joy stick, too, that would be my first plan.

As for the lengthening process, it will present difficulties on the sides. I'll likely cut them slightly wider on the new section allowing for trimming after installation, though the remainder should be pretty much the same. I may not know until I actually go to tracing the lines how much work it may be. I've had no luck getting factory length 12 foot ply, so I'll have to block or scarf them. While this'll be more work, it may actually help to fashion the new stern onto a new rear hull at the same time, allowing for more direct modifications.

Grand, if you have other close up pictures of the trolling shaft and steering mechanism I would love to see them. Thank you.

Jim, Juneau, AK