Goliath

An 18'6" tug for work or pleasure

For a PDF study plan download, click HERE

CATEGORY: Tug yachts
CONSTRUCTION: Sheet plywood/wood framing, or welded aluminum or steel

This Mini-Tug is a step up in size with the result being more space in the cabin and cockpit. The deckhouse shows a seat or galley cabinet partially concealing the motor, but is only a suggestion. You can lay out the area to suit. Or if you wish, you can extend the deckhouse a foot or two for even more interior space, if at some decrease in cockpit length. It's an easy alteration most can carry out so the details are not a part of the plans.

A private double stateroom is located forward. The berths are 6' 3" long with sitting headroom above the berth tops and space below forward for a portable head. Plenty of windows, ports, and a trunk cabin hatch assure generous ventilation and light. Storage is below the berths as well as along the house sides below the side decks, and in any cabinets you might provide in the deckhouse.

Looking much like any other steel boat in progress, the novel SHRINK-WRAP techniques make construction quicker and more accurate. These amateur-proven methods assure super-smooth, fair surfaces virtually free of distortion. Fairing and filling compounds are virtually unnecessary. The final boat is so fair it might be confused with one molded in fiberglass.

About Our Tugs:

All the world is enamored by tugs. So imagine the pride and satisfaction you’ll get piloting and owning one of these authentic scaled-down replicas. Conceived by Al Sorenson and refined and detailed for amateur construction by Ken Hankinson, these are serious vessels meant for work or pleasure. They feature deep-draft, heavy-displacement hulls for the motion and feel of little ships. With their oversize props, big rudders, and deep keels, these boats can turn on a dime and punch through seas that would stop or flail about less-able "flyweights" of similar length.

Other big boat features include self-bailing cockpits, fantail sterns, walk-around decks, raised bulwarks, 6'3"+ pilothouse headroom, and the reliability and economy of a real inboard motor (gas or diesel). Internal ballast is used for stability and to bring the boats to their lines. Yet all models except the 26-footer can be trailered without special permits.

Construction is robust, yet these boats are well within most do-it-yourselfer’s abilities, and not expensive. Ordinary materials and building methods are detailed that most anyone can handle. The accompanying photos show how it’s done in the case of metal construction. But sheet plywood/wood construction is optional. In either case, FULL SIZE PATTERNS for frames and stem eliminate lofting, and the plans come with material lists for making cost estimates. Study Plan Paks are also available for each model.

ABOUT TUGBOAT ACCOMMODATIONS...

SWEET 16 has a convertible double berth under the aft trunk and 2 or 3 can stand in the pilothouse. A portable head can be stowed below the foredeck. You can omit the trunk for more cockpit space. Nominal crew weight is 600 lbs max. Layouts on GOLIATH and TITAN are similar. Each has a v-berth for two forward with portable head under, and spacious pilothouse where a galley can be worked in. TITAN can be lengthened to 21'6". On day trips, GOLIATH can handle a nominal crew weight up to 800 lbs, while TITAN can handle up to 900 lbs. FRED MURPHY has a large cabin forward with v-berth for two, space under for a portable head, and lockers both sides. The pilothouse has room for a galley and dinette/settee to suit; the house can be extended aft for more interior space if desired.