  
                Mike Gill is an amateur small boat designer   and like many of us, has no formal naval engineering   background. But he has designed a cute little boat and has generously agreed to offer the plans for free here. See yesterday's article "The Launch at Koreshan State Park" as well as "Patricia Ann - A 12 ft. Pocket Tug" for more information. All you need to build this boat is in the zipped folder which you can download  for free by clicking HERE. 
              Included in the zipped folder are: 
              - 13 construction photos 
 
                - 9 drawings or dimentioned photos
 
                - the building sequence
 
               
              Photos: 
              
                  
                      
                    Hull panels and transom   cutout and ready to be stitched together. | 
                      
                    Bow, Bulkhead detail as   hull is assembled. | 
                   
                  
                      
                    Hull panels, bulkheads   stitched together. | 
                      
                    Hull glassed, PVC pipe   rails being installed. | 
                   
                  
                       
                    Fordeck   fitted. | 
                      
                    Wheelhouse foundation   ready for epoxy and tape. | 
                   
                  
                      
                    PVC rail corner before   epoxy. | 
                       
                    Hull ready for wheelhouse,   bench seats. | 
                   
                  
                      
                    Transom detail, 2x6   support ready for taping. | 
                      
                    Wheelhouse stitched for   taping. | 
                   
                  
                      
                    Wheelhouse   construction. | 
                       
                    Wheelhouse   pieces. | 
                   
                  
                      
                    Painted and ready for   launch | 
                    click images to enlarge | 
                   
                 
              Drawings: 
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
              Here is the suggested building sequence: 
              
                  - Loft       bottom (keel) panel. Mark centerline and all station lines boldly. Use       14-ft flexible batten to connect loft points. Make pattern for one side of       hull bottom and use to duplicate other side to assure symmetry.
 
                - Loft       lower chine panels (port and starboard). Mark all station lines boldly.
 
                - Loft       upper chine panels (port and starboard). Mark all station lines boldly.
 
                - Loft       sheer panels (port and starboard). Mark all station lines boldly.
 
                - Loft       transom. Mark centerline and all lines boldly.
 
                - Loft       station #3 bulkhead. Mark centerline and all lines boldly.
 
                - Loft       station #6 bulkhead. Mark centerline and all lines boldly.
 
                - Loft       station #9 bulkhead. Mark centerline and all lines boldly. 
 
                - Review       all lofting geometry for accuracy and cut panels. Stack-cut lower chine       panels, upper chine panels and sheer panels.
 
                - Use       saber saw to make a quarter-inch cut to mark all station lines and       centerline  locations on the edges       of all bulkheads, hull panels and transom. Use the small cuts to boldly       draw station lines on both sides of ALL panels, bulkheads and transom.
 
                - Using       two layers of four-inch fiberglass cloth tape (6oz.) and epoxy, tape       (splice) respective panels together on both sides.
 
                - All       panels and bulkheads should now be ready for hull assembly.
 
                - Place       bottom panel on assembly work surface and use scrap lumber to position       bulkheads #3, #6 and #9 accurately in place with drywall screws. Scrap 1x2       or 1x4 pieces may be used to keep bulkheads straight, true and erect.       Eliminate bends, bows and curves in bulkheads. 
 
                - Using       #16 copper wire, stitch bottom chine panels in place with bottom panel.       Make certain all station lines are aligned. 
 
                - Using       a saber saw, cut three-inch slices from the front (stem) to station #1 to       allow the wood to make the severe lower bow bend.
 
                - Stitch       the bottom bow pieces together using heavy copper wire. Take care to keep       panels straight, aligned and bow stem plum with all centerlines.
 
                - Carefully       twist-tighten wire stitches pulling bottom panel and lower chine panels       together. Double check alignment and station line relationships. 
 
                - Use       thickened epoxy to make fillets and begin interior seam taping process.       Fillets and tape should be applied at the same time to eliminate much       sanding.
 
                - Use       four-inch fiberglass tape and epoxy to weld all interior seams together.       Take great care to assure proper alignment of panels.
 
                - Stitch       upper chine panels to lower chine panel and bulkheads using #16 copper       wire.
 
                - Stitch       transom into place using great care to assure proper alignment.
 
                - Stitch       sheer panels into place using #16 copper wire.
 
                - Cut       transom to provide proper inward angle for sheer panel.
 
                - At       this time you should see the entire hull assembly.
 
                - Begin       taping all interior hull seams using two layers of four-inch fiberglass       tape and epoxy. 
 
                - Apply       two additional layers of tape and epoxy over all panel splice locations.
 
                - After       every interior hull seam has been welded with epoxy and tape, double check       hull alignment. Look for twists and correct any abnormalities or       misalignments.
 
                - Install       one and one-half-inch PVC schedule 40 cap rail. The pipe must be sliced       lengthwise on a table saw to allow the pipe to slide over the sheer panel.       The pipe must be sliced vertical nearly halfway through every 2 inches to       allow the pipe to make the necessary bends from bow to transom.
 
                - Using       two layers of six-inch fiberglass tape, epoxy sheer cap rail into place.       Double check alignment.
 
                - Sand       cap rail, checking for fiberglass splinters.
 
                - Carefully       roll hull upside down.
 
                - Use       epoxy filler to fill all cracks, holes, seams and gaps.
 
                - Sand       hull seams. Smooth and round all corners.
 
                - Use       two layers of four-inch fiberglass tape and epoxy all exterior hull seams       including all bow slices.
 
                - Sand       taped seams smooth.
 
                - Use 38       inch wide cloth and epoxy two layers of cloth over entire hull. Overlap       cloth layers at both chines, bow and transom. Take care applying epoxy to       avoid bubbles in cloth.  
 
                - Cut a       10-foot piece of one and one-half inch PVC schedule 40 pipe in half for       keel. Tapered angles should be cut at both ends of pipe. Center half-pipe       keel on centerline between stations #1 to #11. Use several temporary       drywall screws to hold keel in place. Fill tapered ends with epoxy filler.
 
                - Cut a       five-foot piece of one and one-quarter inch PVC schedule 40 pipe in half       for outboard keelsons. Both pieces will be used for outboard keelsons       positioned between station #4 to #9. Tapered angles should be cut at both       ends of pipe. The outboard keelsons should be positioned 14.5 inches from       outside edge of center keel. two identical pieces of scrap strips of wood       14.5 inches long placed between centerline keel and outboard keel as       spacers will assure alignment until pipe is secured. Use a few pieces of       fiberglass tape and epoxy to tack keels in place. Fill tapered ends with       epoxy filler. Round edges and fiberglass with cloth and epoxy.
 
                - Double       check alignment. Remove all drywall screws. Use three layers of fiberglass       tape and epoxy to encapsulate the PVC keels to the hull. The PVC pipe       serves as keelson and external I beam to stiffen hull bottom. Care should be       taken to make certain lamination is solid. 
 
                - Cut       one and one-quarter inch PVC schedule 40 pipe in half for lower sheer rub       rail. Relief cuts must be made every two inches to allow required bends in       pipe.
 
                - Using       drywall screws, secure pipe rub rail in place on both sides of hull       centering pipe rub rail along lower sheer seam.
 
                - When       rub rail is aligned, tack in place with fiberglass tape and epoxy. 
 
                - Remove       drywall screws. Two layers of six-inch fiberglass tape and epoxy shall be       used to encapsulate pvc rub rails to hull.
 
                - Fill       and sand hull smooth for paint.
 
                - Hull may now be       flipped right-side-up. 
 
                - Cap       all sheer rail ends (PVC pipe) and sheer cap with epoxy filler and cover       with several layers of fiberglass cloth and epoxy. 
 
                - Using       38-inch cloth, epoxy two layers of cloth to hull interior, encapsulating       all wood surfaces.
 
                - Cut       four-inches from top of bulkhead at station #3 and #6 in preparation for       deck.
 
                - Cut       bulkhead at station #9 to given dimensions.
 
                - Using       scrap pieces of luan, fashion pattern for one half of forward deck from       bow to bulkhead at station #6 using hull centerline as splice point. 
 
                - Scribe       pattern on luan and cut to fit with pattern to complete forward deck       shape. Check for alignment and fit.
 
                - Mark       location of PVC forward deck bow support and epoxy into place with several       layers of cloth (see photo).
 
                - Cut       second half of forward deck, mate with first half and check for fit into       hull.
 
                - When       you are satisfied with fit, mark all station locations boldly on both       sides of deck and splice two halves together.
 
                - Cut  five (5) pieces 22”x 4” luan for       wheelhouse attachment collar. Tape together and position on deck in       preparation for wheelhouse cutout location. (see photos) 
 
                - When       geometry is completed for wheelhouse attachment collar, cut out deck and       epoxy and tape collar into place.
 
                - Place       1” PVC half-pipe stiffeners on underside of deck and epoxy and tape in       place.
 
                - Sand       fordeck and doublecheck for proper fit.
 
                - Fillet       deck/hull seam and follow with tape and epoxy. 
 
                - Cut       five (5) luan panels for wheelhouse sides. Builder may want to duct tape       the panels in place to check fit, alignment and personal taste. Window       size may vary. The wheelhouse should be assembled to be removed.
 
                - Roof       panels cut and cambered roof beams cut to fit.
 
                - Wheelhouse       panels and roof sewn together with copper wire and assembled to check fit.       Trim to builder’s taste.
 
                - Wheelhouse       taped and encapsulated with epoxy and cloth in the same fashion as the       hull. Wheelhouse should fit over the attachment collar like a shoebox lid.
 
                - Cut       2x6 helm vertical support to be bolted at centerline of station #3 to       receive ship’s wheel. Cut to desired height and round top. Steering       pulleys and cable system may now be aligned and temporarily located. 
 
                - Cut       and fit 2x6 transom support and motor mount. Epoxy and encapsulate with cloth.       Drain hole and plug installed through bottom of 2x6 vertical support       between motor mount and hull bottom.
 
                - Cut       and fit 2x6 cockpit bench seats. Bench seats to span between bulkhead #6       and transom with bulkhead #9 cut to support middle of bench. Each bench       comprised of three pieces of 2x6 spaced ¾ inch apart. 2x4 rails bolted to       bulkhead #6 to support bench. Aft end of benches supported by transom       motor mount span.
 
                - Sand       hull and prep for paint. Interior of hull coated with two-part epoxy       garage floor paint kit from Home Depot. 
 
                - Exterior       hull painted with Petit Easypoxy (Gloss Black) product. Deck painted with beige       acrylic latex house paint. Wheelhouse painted with Petit Easypoxy (Gloss       White).
 
                - Tug is       designed for no more than 10 horsepower outboard.  
 
               
               ***** 
                 
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