The SmallTugTM Design Series by
Mal Low -Naval Architect
Designer of Award Winning SmallTugs with Character & Function
SNAME member, SBYD member, USCG Licensed Master, retired commercial tug Captain
On-water professional experience applied to tug and tug-yacht designs; You get more than just cosmetics
21 ft. thru 65 ft. NO-NONSENSE authentic working-tug hulls, suitable for a variety of uses, in stock and custom designs.
Major Announcement; 1 October 2005, FREE PLANS:
Stock Plans: For the past 23 years it has been my pleasure to service the very small market interested in building tug hulls. Unfortunately advancing age and long term health issues have brought me to a change in direction and emphasis. I am forced to retire now and therefore will be unable to service the stock plan market after this date in the manner that I think warranted by a full service Naval Architect.
Because I know there is still interest I will substitute the following for my personal service:
Effective 1 October, 2005, all stock plans, in the form of Profile, Plan, Lines, and Offsets will be free-of-charge except postage/duplication. Yes, I'm giving them away. The bound set of printed SmallTug(TM) General Tutorials will be available separately for $25.00 plus postage. See the Email Order Page for details. What's the catch? I will not be available to help you with additional sketches, modifications tailored to your use, extra plans, advice, or any other support in your building project.
Custom Designs: I will complete custom design projects already in process and will design new custom vessels on a one-at-a-time basis in the future. I can no longer handle multiple projects simultaneously.
I want to thank all those great folks who have kept me going all these years. I appreciate your interest, support, and prayers during my recent illnesses. God bless you all.
New Forum for Owner Participation and Support now available. Click on Owner's Page.
Designs Recently Completed for Clients:
63 Ft. Custom Design Commercial Tug 625T:
Traditional Mal Low large tug in a thoroughly modern package for Great Lakes ship assist and barge handling.
21 Ft. Enhanced Accommodations Tug-Yacht 363TY PAUNCH:
The Coastal Unlimited: Inside passage to pilothouse with Pilot's seat and chart-table, full size (6 ft-4 in) berths, full galley, aft sun deck, complete 360 degree passage single level exterior deck, storage galore, economical to buy and operate 35-80 Hp single diesel, who needs a big trawler?
If your interests are with small tug type vessels that can be built by a reasonably capable person with the occasional help of one or two assistants, check out these pages for some of Mal Low's award winning designs.
Designs are available in two basic hull forms: single chine and double chine. Within these two types are traditional working tugs, pocket tug-yachts, character tugs, workboats and launches, and even an ATB. These can be further broken down into stock and custom designs.
The stock single chine hulls, either flat or vee bottom, are "light" displacement (6,500-11,000 lbs.) minimum draft with full keels for protection and are designed specifically for the DIY boat owner/builder with easy to build hull forms in FG, epoxy plywood (West System), aluminum, or steel. Their simple design is practical, rugged, and safe. This design approach also means that you can have a hull built for you at minimum cost. These hulls are also economical to own and operate with easily driven forms and minimal diesel horsepower requirements in single screw configurations. Some designs may be modified for twin screw installations, check with the design ofice. Your choice of stock 21 ft. or 28 ft. lengths should find the "sweet spot" in your future.
The stock heavy displacement double chine and vee bottom hulls (15,000-30,000 lbs.) allow more interior space in a heavier duty vessel, especially for regular commercial work. These hulls can provide for higher horsepower in diesel twin screw configurations and can have extended range fuel tankage. Nevertheless, they are almost as easy to build as the single chine designs. Steel construction is recommended for commercial use, aluminum is suitable for pleasure use. Stock double chine hulls are available in 25 ft. and 27 ft. lengths only.
Custom tug and tug-yacht hulls in the 30 to 65 ft. range are primarily of the double chine or single chine vee bottom configuration. I can custom design a hull for you based on your specific needs and potential usage. All the "extras", none, or anything in between, I will tailor a vessel to your desires. My unique, among naval architects, practical and specific professional experience in marine towing allows me to provide an unparalleled level of understanding to commercial tug owners' requirements. And this same on-the-water experience ensures that the tug-yacht owner will have a practical and unique design prepared for him.
Scantlings Compliance:
With a few exceptions all vessels are designed for compliance with the Gerr or MacNaughton Scantling Rules, larger vessels can optionally utilize Lloyd's Rules (Germanischer Lloyd), ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), or Bureau Veritas Rules. Larger tugs with sufficient displacement and Hp can be designed for compliance with ABS Ice Class Rules and others. Note that design compliance with major Rules Organisations may not guarantee Society Classification due to size limitations.
Tip: Don't go with more hull than you really need. Construction cost is almost directly proportional to displacement. The same goes for Hp; be sensible and save big bucks. Be realistic about what you really need and can afford.
Until recently, as with all high quality designs, each vessel must be lofted by the builder prior to construction. This is a much easier exercise than many believe, and a complete Lofting Tutorial is included with the plans set. Contact us for the current availability of CNC cut files for hull components and plating. This option can eliminate the need for formal lofting of the design.
Free plans are now available for building a SMALLTUG(TM). See the Email Order Page. The extra-cost bound Tutorials include four extensive Tutorials on Planning, Lofting, Construction, and Scantlings. An Addendum is also included. These are applicable to all SmallTugs and are not specific to a single design.
Click for:
Mal Low, by design
all Single Chine Designs
all Double Chine Designs
all Commercial Tug Designs
all Tug-Yacht Designs
all Character Tug and Tug-Yacht Designs
SMALLTUGTM Owner's Page and FORUM
Email Order Page with pricing
Contact Page
"Just messing around in boats" Mal's sons, Bill and George, c.1976.
