The day started steamy and bright. Most Florida summer days begin this way. Today my 12-foot tugboat hits the water for the first time. I selected Koreshan State Park, a few miles from my home in Fort Myers, Fla., as the launch site. A 3.5 mile cruise down the historic Estero River to the Gulf of Mexico and Mound Key, the ancient home of the Calusa Indians, will be a good shake down cruise.
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Today my 12-foot tugboat hits the water for the first time. |
I decided to launch the tug myself. No bubbly, bunting or fanfare. I wanted to take my time and work out any problems that may pop up. It is important for me to trailer, launch and retrieve this tug myself. I didn’t want anyone to witness my reaction if she turned turtle.
When I roll the tug out of the garage the magic starts. It’s a wonderful feeling when you create a design that makes people smile, even if they aren’t boaters. Neighbors stop, friends wave, passersby give the thumbs up, kids cheer. At the boat ramp crowds assemble to inspect her. It’s like being with a rock star.
I love the imagery tugboats portray, tough, rugged, durable, stable and trustworthy. Designing and building a small tug has been a longtime dream.
| I love the imagery tugboats portray, tough, rugged, durable, stable and trustworthy. Designing and building a small tug has been a longtime dream. |
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I wanted her to be big enough to carry several friends with some degree of comfort. I like to stand and move around aboard a boat without fear of tumbling overboard. I don’t want the crew limited to sitting or crouching and the design needed to be large enough for an occasional overnight excursion. When she is not at sea, she must be easily dry-docked in a one-car garage.
I did not want her to look like one of those cookie-cutter, boxy, popped-out plastic look-a-likes. My tug must have nautical charm and a big heart, lots of curves and swerves in the right places. When people see her coming, I want them to say, “Wow, look at that!”
The tug slid off the trailer effortlessly and sat on her lines. Wow, so far so good. I carefully stepped aboard, not sure how stable she would be. I found I could walk around the hull with no problem. She is stable as a rock.
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I carefully stepped aboard, not sure how stable she would be. I found I could walk around the hull with no problem. She is stable as a rock. |
I brought my 1985 Johnson 8 horsepower outboard rumbling to life with a single pull of the starter rope. This outboard has been a great soldier over the years. I am disappointed this Johnson is not equipped for remote controls. I will need to make throttle and gear adjustments manually at the motor. With a 12-foot boat, this should not be a problem. In the wheelhouse I have an old brass ship’s wheel rigged for cable and pulley steering I found on EBay. It works very well.
Koreshan State Park has a single boat ramp that launches into the Estero River. The river is very historic and winds westward, three miles to Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. I casted off from the ramp, kicked the engine in forward and manned the ship’s wheel. At idle speed the Tug slid across the water and responded to every little turn of the wheel.
| I casted off from the ramp, kicked the engine in forward and manned the ship’s wheel. |
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The Estero River is narrow in spots and wider than a football field in some places. Ancient oak trees hang over some areas of the river as exotic birds, eagles and sea life make their presence known. The Estero River is one of Florida’s great treasures enjoyed mostly by kayakers and canoe buffs.
A few turns proved the tug responsive and well behaved. I throttled up a bit and she left a clean stern wave. As I cruised passed several docks people waved, smiled and yelled, “Where did you find that neat tugboat?” Several old salts saluted and gave me thumbs up. A few others held their canned beverage high in the air. This is too good.
I found I could walk away from the wheelhouse and the tug would hold course. This is good except if I fall overboard. A little throttle up and she chugged ahead with a clean wake and no tendency to squat or plow.
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A little throttle up and she chugged ahead with a clean wake and no tendency to squat or plow. |
The motor ran quiet and smooth at half throttle. She moved best at this setting. At full power she marched through the strong, incoming tide but I preferred to slow her down a bit. I steered her along the shoreline searching for manatees but failed to spot any this day.
I built the tug out of mostly common lumberyard materials and encapsulated her in epoxy and cloth. She was fun to build. I wanted minimal parts. I cut plywood panels to my specifications, sewed them together with copper wire then taped and epoxied everything together. I used lots of PVC pipe wrapped in epoxy and cloth. It is great stuff for rub rails and stiffeners. My finish is not yachtsman quality but not too shabby. I kept telling myself this is supposed to look like an old working harbor tug.
| I built the tug out of mostly common lumberyard materials and encapsulated her in epoxy and cloth. She was fun to build. |
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The tug carried me to the mouth of the Estero River as it enters the open expanse of Estero Bay and its hundreds of mangrove islands. About a mile outside of the mouth of the river I approached Mound Key, one of the oldest examples of the ancient Calusa Indian civilization. I navigated into the tiny mangrove covered inlet that hides a small harbor on the western coast of the island where visitors can beach their boats. A quick stop and hike up the mysterious mountain in the middle of the island gives you a unique panorama of Estero Bay and its surroundings. The shell mound rises more than 30 feet above the bay. The mound is one of many that are an accumulation of seashells, fish bones, and pottery. The high mound is believed to be the ceremonial center of the Calusa Indians when the Spaniards first attempted to colonize Florida. In 1566 the Spanish governor of Florida established a settlement on the island with a fort and the first Jesuit mission. The settlement was abandoned three years later after violent clashes with the Calusas, according to Florida State Park documents. Much happened here. From the top of the mound you can almost imagine seeing the Spaniards sailing towards the island. This is probably the same view the Calusa enjoyed hundreds of years ago. I believe Mound Key is one of Southwest Florida’s best kept secrets. When I visit the island, I’m usually the only person ashore.
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A glance to the east gave reason for concern. A black wall of cloud had formed inland and the cumulous tops were growing higher by the minute. |
I returned to the tug, fired up the Johnson and cruised back into Estero Bay to enjoy the warm sea breeze that kicked up a small chop. The tug rolled over and through the chop like a champ. A glance to the east gave reason for concern. A black wall of cloud had formed inland and the cumulous tops were growing higher by the minute. This time of year the sea breeze can fuel powerful thunderstorms that often work their way to the coast. If conditions are right, these squalls can be as ferocious as a hurricane with lightning, high gusts, hail and lots of evil things. I did not want to wrestle with one of those babies today.
I pointed the tug on a course for the mouth of the Estero River. With an incoming tide and the throttle kicked up a notch the tug was charging swiftly up the river. The thunderstorms were close enough to hear the rumble of the thunder. Flashes of lighting could be seen miles to the east against the dark backdrop of the nasty squall. I was going to win this race today.
Back at the ramp, I slid the tug back up on her trailer, lashed her down and towed her home before the storm clouds arrived at Koreshan. Wow, what a terrific day.
| Back at the ramp, I slid the tug back up on her trailer, lashed her down and towed her home... |
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I am so pleased how the tug performs. Most of all, I love the way she makes people smile.
The tug is now owned by Dale and Terri Shamleffer near Ashtabula, Ohio. Dale and Terri have turned her into a little yacht. She now is adorned with rope bumpers, teak trim, navigation lights, a horn and many nautical additions. The tug is a regular on patrol on the Ohio lakes.
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Also see:
Patricia Ann - A 12 ft. Pocket Tug
Gill 12 Tugboat - Free Plans
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