Tug Perkins

PERKINS

Note: This design is no longer available. The almost identical replacement design is nominally 25 ft. LOA to meet USCG requirements. The new design, Pintle, is listed in our new Small Tugs Series web site at www.smalltugs.com.

Comments by the designer:

This tug was designed for day-in day-out commercial use with single diesel engines up to 250 HP and twin screw installations up to 325 HP. Her 4 ft. draft makes her most suitable for river, harbor, and estuarine work. PERKINS was originally a custom design for a consortium of marinas which operate their own river dredging program. She has a true tug D/L ratio of 787 with a double chine hull and a very fulsome underbody with skeg and deadwood. The double chines, in combination, approximate a round bottom hull form; this makes for an easy motion in a seaway and additionally provides ample room for main engine and auxiliary equipment, as well as large capacity tankage for maximum endurance under power. She is intended to be built in steel or aluminum but can be built in epoxy/plywood for light duty and with a lower power engine. Ballast may be required depending on construction material, engine size, and/or fuel capacity

Here are a few perspective views of the hull (without skeg, decks, etc.):

The pilothouse contains a chart table and hatch down to the engine room as well as adequate space for a complete range of electronic navigation gear. Forward windows are fixed with the center having a wiper, although half-sash drop windows to each side of the center could be used. Hydraulic clutch/throttle and steering motor with a 32 in. destroyer wheel are appropriate for this vessel. The pilothouse sole is one step down from the main deck. Side decks are a roomy 3 ft. wide for easy line-handling access to bitts and allow for hinged pilothouse doors as an option to the sliding doors used on the 21 ft. tug.

An almost full-width hatch at the back of the engine room includes the after portion of the stack fairing. The whole assembly can be removed for engine replacement, repair of major components, or muffler repair. There is plenty of space at the rear of the engine room for one or two 6 kw generator sets and an air compressor. Standard P&S diesel oil tanks are sized for a total of 900 gallons.

Two watertight flush deck hatches in the aft deck allow access to the steering gear and for dry storage. Two bulkheads isolate the engine room from the after steering flat and the forward accommodations.

Accommodations for two with a small head and galley can be compressed into the forward compartment of this hull. Normal access will be through the engine room with a watertight flush hatch in the deck forward for emergency egress.

Deck gear includes six fabricated steel pipe bitts positioned for traditional towing arrangements but can be located to suit the builder's purpose. The traditional fantail stern includes a removable grating for line drying and an optional towing arch.

The guyed mast has towing and masthead lights, a radar platform, and mounting for GPS, Loran, and two VHF antennas. The aft tow light and stern light are mounted on the rear of the stack fairing. Sidelights are mounted on standoff sideshields/nameboards on the pilothouse roof. With some extra hardware the mast could be made to fold down for low clearances.

This tug's superstructure has been designed to be proportionate as well as functional and the total effect gives no visual clue as to her overall size. She looks perfect and will work well for you on any job within her capacity.

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