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TAHOE 19 / Bill Edmundson / Pelham, Alabama / WDEDMUND@southernco.com / 3-20-07: Hull is complete, righted and working on deck.
6-25-08: I’m coming down to the wire. Hull number and first fire on the engine this weekend. I hope my seats will be ready soon.
6-30-08: I’m getting close. Started the engine for the first time yesterday! I’m trying to do sea trials July 11. (See Customer Photos)
TAHOE 21 / Lee Rea / Lowell, Michigan / leerea.perseveranceboats@gmail.com / 1-5-10: A stretched (21 ft) version completed in July of 07. Entered in Traverse City Michigan Boat Shoe and the Hessel, Mi. boat show 1 wk later. Won best contemporary classic in Traverse and second place contemporary classic in Hessel. Beautiful to see and a delight to ride in. Enclosed are pics. Where do I go from here? (See Customer Photos)
TAHOE 23 / Bob Monk / North Reading, MA / robert_monk@pem.org / 2-5-08: I started construction in April of 2005. Have been at it since at a fairly slow pace, working around house projects, etc., but now have the frame complete and faired and have started the cold molding process. I have used white oak for the frames, sheers and chines and vertical-grain Douglas-fir for battens and motor stringers. The generous sharing of experience and knowledge through the forum has been very beneficial to me and is greatly appreciated.
TAHOE 24 / Jim Kirk / Lake Arrowhead, California / KIRKDDS@aol.com / 6-29-10: I completed this project in 2003. The boat (NautiAnne) is in regular summer use and is currently on Lake Arrowhead, California.
TANGO / Charles Austin / c.austin@mskittys.com / 10-4-99: I have started building form. Frames cut and am setting up transom and centerboard trunk.
TANGO / David Quick / drquick@accs.net / 6-16-00: Have made the building frame, and am in the process of positioning the transom, bulkheads, etc., and am ready to start adding the keel, etc. 7-12-00: The keel, chine, and sheer are installed. I’m in the process of final fitting for installation of the side and bottom planking… As of 09-15-00: The bottom is finished, and I am doing the final sanding in preparation for the fiberglass application. I should be able to begin the fiberglass tomorrow. Also, I have assembled a control panel for the boat. It contains 7 switches for the bilge pump, running lights, docking lights, depth sounder, horn, interior lights, and communications radio. It also contains a master switch, and AM / FM radio, battery condition gauge, and the depth sounder gauge and buzzer. I have completed most of the wiring bundle, and have most of these accessories ready to install when the time comes. 9-30-00: Applied fiberglass to sides today, and applied second coat of resin to transom. Am ready to fiberglass the bottom tomorrow. 10-29-00: All outer fiberglass work is done. Have finished sanding, and sanding, and sanding… Began painting hull today. By adding very fine sawdust to first coat of paint, and applying with a plastic spatula, I have found that this fills in any imperfections very well. After another coat or two, and a final sanding, the surface should be very smooth. 1-22-01: The hull is painted, and all that remains is to add the metal strips and finish up around the centerboard opening. The hull will then be ready to turn upright and onto the trailer. I have the rudder and tiller finished and assembled ready to install. I have made the bow sprit, assembled it’s fittings and it is ready to install. Winter has me at a near standstill… but most of the little stuff I can do in the house is finished and ready to go when the weather warms up a bit. 06-09-01: Alleluia…. She is right side up and on her trailer!!! I used a come-along placed just inside the garage door, with the trailer inside the garage. With the hull at an angle (I had rollers on the building form so I could move the project around in the driveway as necessary) and the bow raised high in the air, I rolled her over on tires at which point she was lined up with the trailer. Then, I simply pushed the trailer back with it’s tongue as high as possible, and lowered the hull onto it. Today, I am going to seal the inside…. Man I’m glad that’s over… 7-30-01: The inside of the hull is painted, and the decking has been installed. Ready to install the bow sprit, floor, and begin building the cabin. 6-09-02: Work is finally underway again after a long rainy spell here in Indiana, and after my total knee replacement surgery. I’m finished with coating the inside bottom, and installing the decking aft, and now am ready to begin building up the cabin. 8-28-02: I have the cabin sides erected, and am ready to install the centerboard, flooring and decking, and basically working my way from front to back… 4-17-03: My Tango project is coming along nicely. The hatch is finished and ready to install. I am in the process of finishing the seats in the cockpit, and the beds in the cabin. The “head” is installed, as is the ice chest. The electronics panel is ready to install, and in general, the project should be finished, at least to the point of going into the water within a couple of months… (See Customer Photos)
TANGO / Ted Coleman / WA / daddiboy1@msn.com / 9-8-2000, Got the plans today, oh boy! 9-9-2000, Picked up the lumber for the form and frames this morning. Spent the day building the form and rough cutting the frame members to rough lengths, studying the plans. 9-10-2000, Cut out frames and sanded edges smooth to the lines. 9-11-2000, Picked up some plywood. Started transferring the pattern lines on to a piece of plywood for frame assembly. Ordered epoxy, fasteners and gloves. 9-22-00: The frames are complete and I cut out the stem last night. I’m going to build the transom this weekend and glue up some stock for the rudder and get that out of the way. I’ll probably make a spare rudder while I’m at it. I found it very helpful to use a plate joiner for the frames; kept things aligned well, and by the time I glued up the second one got the hang of how to glue “neatly”; Allyn would be impressed! 2-18-2001: Bottom battons installed, scarf cut and glued up chines and shear caps. Built two handy jigs; one for the router to accuratly cut notches in the frames for the battons, and another to route scarf joints in 3/4″ material. 3-18-01/ Shear and chine installed, fairing members and getting ready for planking.
TANGO / Rob Billington / Calgary, Alberta, Canada / rbillington@rockyview.ab.ca / 12-23-00: Frames, stem, transom and centreboard trunk complete. Ready to install the keel, chines, bottom battens, etc. Great boat plans to work from. Things progressing well but it’s a long-term project – likely another year and a half. 3-8-01: Chine logs, sheer clamps and battens all in. Fairing complete (not anywhere near as hard as I thought it might be). Nearly ready to start planking. 8-15-01: The planking is finished and the hull fairing is done! It’s time to fibreglass & paint and then get on with the cockpit, cabin & deck. More and more like a boat every day… 5-28-03: My Tango is nearly finished – as finished as a boat ever is since they continue to change with time… She’s painted & I’m attaching hardware for sailing & will make the mast/boom in the next couple of weeks. However, I just have to drop in the centreboard & she’s ready to motor away right now. It’s a great thing to have a new boat in my driveway! Can hardly wait to put her in the water. Thanks for the plans – it’s been many, many hours of enjoyment. 6-2-03: Our TANGO is a now proper boat – she splashed for the first time on June 1, 2003. I took her to the Glenmore Reservoir in Calgary last evening to float her off the trailer for the first time. No mast yet & no motors allowed on the reservoir so we sat at the dock for a while just because… She’s strong, stable and very comfortable to move around on. The centreboard trunk is well sealed and (we sat through three squalls) the homemade round portholes are also sealed well. My sails are waiting at Canada Customs so I’d better hurry up on that mast. More details & pictures soon. 10-2-03: The Tango splashed in the Pacific this summer! We spent about 5 weeks in B.C.’s Gulf Islands and on the Okanagan Lake. Great fun & great sailing. The boat is quite comfortable for camping (a few overnighter “mini cruises” already) and great for day sailing too. Lots of time spent in quiet coves and swimming from the boat at beautiful beaches. I’ll modify the rudder this winter so it kicks up but other than that, it’s been fabulous so far. The boat isn’t as close winded as I’d like it to be BUT, when I add crew (one or more), she settles down a little deeper and points better. Maybe I’ll add some more ballast for single handing to make her sit a little deeper…
TANGO / Kevin Gough / gough.k@euro.apple.com / 6-14-01: Have assembled all frame members,stem & centerboard,dropkeel has been made – starting on building form. 10/22/01: The keel, chine logs, shear clamp and bed logs have now been fitted. 12-10-01: Side planking finished. 3-1-02: Bottom planking is finished, the hull is now ready for fiberglass. 4-15-02: The boat is glassed at last. I’d never done this before so I really had to take my time with it. I’m suprised how easy it turned out to be. 5-9-02: The bottom is now painted and has recieved a coat of anti-foulant,(white)the side planking has recieved an undercoat as well(red). On wednesday the 9th May I turned the boat using a wooden scaffold and a block & tackle everything went very smoothly and the boat is now upright. 7-17-02: The deck is now complete. 9-29-02: The floor supports and the floor are now installed, and the cabin and cockpit construction are well underway and almost complete. I have also purchased six portholes. 10-17-02: The cabin and cockpit are now complete. 10-2-03: Had to stop working on the boat for a while as it was raining for about six months.The cockpit drains are in.The hull and cockpit are now glassed.The hatch is finished.The portlights are installed.The bowsprit is attached. The rubrail is also attached and the boat has been fully undercoated and is ready for a third and last undercoat. The compass has been installed. I have salvaged a real nice timber mast from an old sailing boat and have milled out a boom to match it. 6-16-04: The keel has now been installed.Not having the facility to lift the boat I dug a pit beneath it and pushed the keel into it. I then spent the rest of the day levering it into position. 8-4-04: On saturday the 1st of August “Spirit” was launched and sailed up the harbour in Cork to her mooring in PassageWest. Everything is in working order and the boat performed beautifully… what a day! 8-25-06: See my Website. (See Customer Photos)
TANGO / Marcelino Santos / Lisboa, Portugal / marcelino.santos@ist.utl.pt / 10-11-01: I have the hull almost finished. I am finishing the sanding and filling and I hope to start painting very soon! I am looking for trailers in order acomodate the hull after righting it. I am also in the brain storming of color shemes “black hull/wood deck” or “white hull/wood deck”… Pictures available in my home page: http://prosys.inesc-id.pt/~mabs/hobbies.htm. I am having a lot of fun and I will be glad if you drop me a line! 10-19-02: The hull was sanded, primer painted and rightened on the trailer. It was very nice to finally be able to look “inside”. 4-17-03: The project is going much slower than I would like… for the moment I have too much work. I will update the information on the site when I have a significant progress. 10-19-05: Now I am installing the deck and I am using trex instead of teak. 1-02-08: I called my boat “Noudar” and it is a Tango project. It is now finished. (see Customer Photos)
TANGO / Ray Walker / Cincinnati, OH / rwalker@hitekmfg.com / 11-3-01: received plans patterns and Boatbuilding With Plywood book. 11-12-01: Started layout of gusset members on 1/2″ INTERIOR cabinet plywood for use as patterns only. My intention is to duplicate Glen-L’s method of frame manufacture by creating “master” templates of each member to use as router guides with a flush trim bit after sawing close. Accuracy and smooth edges from part to part are my goal. 4-17-03: Had to stop on my Tango temporarily due to illness and getting ready to sell my house. Should be starting up again sometime this summer.
TANGO / Bob Whitehead / fount306@aol.com / 3-8-02: Finished and sailing: pictures of parts of the construction process are at http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-BestofBobsWorld I have received emails from all corners of the world–people building this beautiful design. Not one person has believed me when I told them I built the boat–they unanimously look at me like I’m trying to pull their leg. Wish I had more time to sail her! 5-2-03: My project was finished in 1998 and I’ve been sailing Into the Mystic ever since. Great boat, nice design.
TANGO / Andre Elwin / St. Lucia (now living in Canada) / elwins@ns.sympatico.ca / 4-12-02: Hull is almost complete. Internal construction complete. Still to put on the rub-rail, toe rail hardware, hand rails ect. Expecting a quote on the Spar Kit, Sails and Rigging Kit from Glen-L. I was surprised to see that the inside of the boat is really quite spacious notwithstanding the centerboard trunk. It’s turning out to be a truly worthwhile endeavour – not only the actual construction process but one learns alot about oneself. You need it all – hardwork, perseverance, patience, an ability to step back and ponder the possible outcomes of a particular action, a positive attitude, the ability to maintain a cool head and take corrective action when things go wrong and of course – money (and an understanding wife). I am happy I started the project – hope to complete the boat within six months or so, as I work on the project only on Saturdays. I live on the island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. I am looking forward to sailing the Tango in the bright blue waters of the Caribbean. 4-7-06: Hull was completed. Family moved to Canada and so my project had to be put on hold. I have attached some pictures of my project for your customer photo section. Unfortunately it costs too much to transport my boat to Canada so I am considering starting another Glen L boat project here in Canada. I will be ordering one or two study plans for review. Thanks for all the help and good advice. (see Customer Photos)
TANGO / Ed Vernon / Rio Rancho, NM / gevernon@msn.com / 05-28-02: I have nearly completed the form for my TANGO. I have purchased a 10 by 20 ft. canopy from SAM’s Club about 2 weeks ago. I drove 4 ft. anchors at both ends and roped the canopy down with 1/2″ rope. The total cost for the canopy, ropes, form wood, and anchors was $300.00. I would have appreciated more specific plans for the forms, such as a dimension between uprights, but generally the plans are excellent. I did not realize that the centerboard & trunk needed fiberglass/epoxy so I did not order the kit when I ordered the frame & hardware. This was a mistake on my part. I have set up the canopy on my asphalt drive which is very uneven with a slope. I was able to compensate for the slope by cutting the form uprights slightly longer on the down hill side. I leveled the center support with shims and bolted it through the asphalt with 1/2 inch lead anchors. I am able to walk on the frame without detectable motion. 06-01-02: Forms are complete. I have started mounting the frames. I have the centerboard in the bed of my pickup. It is shaped nicely. I have not yet drilled the pin hole. The framing is moving slowly. The transom was easy to set at the correct angle and affix to the form. 06-13-02: All frames mounted to form. Centerboard trunk glassed, glued, assembled and mounted in frames. Centerboard awaiting airfoil shaping. Keel assembled & installed. 08-24-02: All planking glued and fastened. Beginning filling screw holes and seams with epoxy putty. 12-21-02: Winter is here and I can’t do much. I have fiber glassed the entire bottom. It’s now time for lots of sanding and 2 or 3 smoothing coats of epoxy. Too cold for that also. Looks like I will not be able to do a lot on my Tango until the spring. I think I will move the centerboard into my shop after the holidays and begin shaping the bull nose and tapered aft. I don’t think I have ever enjoyed a project this much. 03-22-03: My Tango is still down-side up, but I have managed to sand a lot over the winter in preparation for a smoothing coat of epoxy. I ordered the metal to make the trailer this week and maybe I will get started on that next weekend. I have also started shaping the leading and trailing edges of the centerboard. I used a cutting torch to chamfer the edges and then shaped these with the grinder. The centerboard has occupied my hand truck since last May, this makes it easier to move around. I have missed being able to work on my boat over the winter. 04-07-03: For the past 2 weekends I have been building a trailer for my Tango. I ordered the metal delivered from a local supplier for $188.00 and I ordered a utility trailer kit from Southwestwheel for $351 including shipping. The kit included a 3500 lb axel, springs, bolts, hangar kit, 14 inch wheels & tires, fenders, coupler, jack, lights, wiring, and license plate holder. http://www.southwestwheel.com/traileraxles.htm They delivered the same week I ordered. The trailer is nearly finished. I have rough fit bunks to the trailer and I will pick up rollers for the keel this week. You can view pictures at the customer photo site. The axel is currently clamped to the frame. I will position it by tongue weight when I turn the boat onto it. I will then bolt these to the frame. I have not welded the fenders at this time since I have not permanently located the axel. Looks like I will come in under $600.00 for the trailer. This is hard dirty work but worth it in the end. The book “How to build boat trailers” by Glen L. Witt was a good investment for this project. 4-21-03: I finished painting the trailer this weekend. I also assembled the bunks. I will wait a few days for the paint to harden before I put the rollers on. I also put the final two coats of epoxy on my Tango. I hope to paint the bottom in the next 2 weeks. I have started making plans for turning her over. I just might have to have a keg party to get good plenty of help. 06-04-03: My Tango is right side up at last. I had always been concerned about this part. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I was able to do this by myself. I used two electric hoists. One overhead and the other at 90 degrees. I used a tow strap wrapped around the building form and up the starboard side to give it roll. I attached the other hoist to an upright of the canopy that I have been building under and as the boat approached 45 degrees I attached it directly to the building form. As the boat reached the tip over point I pulled the 90 degree hoist to avoid the jerk of tip over. Then I let her down gently. 3-8-04: I have been working on a design for a kick-up rudder all winter. Little I could do on my Tango due to cold weather. The centerboard is now installed and the weather turned nice this weekend so I took my Tango to the lake for a leak check before beginning the cabin construction. I put her in the water and tied her off at the dock and left her there all day while I sailed with a friend. At the end of the day she was bone dry in the bilge so I am a happy boat builder. I need to fiberglass the deck before starting the cabin. But if this warm weather holds that should go quickly. With any luck I will be sailing her sometime this summer. 04-30-04: Finally constructing the cabin for my Tango. I decided to line the inside of the cabin with insulation, mostly for added floatation up high. I decided to fabricate my own port lights. 12-14-04: I completed the cabin and cockpit this summer as well as painting. I have mounted and bedded the pivoting mast step. I have installed the companionway guides and bedded them in marine bedding. I cut and temporarily mounted the toe rails. Now to shape, sand, varnish and then bed them. The bow spirit is mounted and bedded. 1-26-05: All spars are mounted on my Tango. Sails are fit and tested. I have started wiring. I will run AC (shore power) circuits first, then DC circuits. I am looking forward to sailing this spring. I had allowed myself 3 years of weekends and occasional weekdays to complete this boat. I started in April of 2002 and it looks like I am right on target to finish in April of 2005. 10-31-05: We have sailed our Tango four times this summer. We are enjoying it very much. The wife and I are novice sailors but we learned a lot this summer sailing on a local no-wake lake that is known for surprising winds. I think we have gotten over the “heeling fear” now and we look forward to our next time out. I have purchased slugs for the mainsail. Dousing the main is slow without them and those “surprising winds” almost require being able to quickly lower the main. The interior is still in the rough but we have overnighted on the lake while rafted up with others. I hope to work on the interior this winter. I managed to break the tiller but the day was saved by friends who found a piece of drift wood that we were able to bolt to what was left of the original tiller and wrap it in rope. We are still having great fun with this whole sailing thing and we have made many new friends. (See Customer Photos)
TANGO / Dennis McAtee / Costa Rica / costaricadennis@yahoo.com / 6-16-02: Centerboard trunk & keel completed. 6-29-02: Its been two and a half months already and only the hull done. Got tired of sanding, sanding, sanding and more sanding! So I painted the hull. Now I need to find a strong-backed crew to help flip it. Can’t wait to get back to working with wood. That fiberglass gets old fast. There will lots more of that later anyway. Raining alot here, its our winter. 2-27-03: Hi Barry, It’s been awhile but I’m still pluging away on my Tango. I’m already living in it. Another coat of paint and bottom paint and I will be ready to launch (without keel or rigging). More later as the adventure continues. 4-16-03: Well Barry, it’s wet (launched). Only a little more than expected. Seems to have a little leak around the centerboard somewhere. Once that’s fixed things will be fine. I’m living aboard, and loving it! Trying to save for swing keel and rigging. (see Customer Photos)
TANGO / Richard Follette / Watkins Glen, NY / rlf46@aol.com / 9-19-06: I have completed construction of the Tango and launched on April 26, 2006. Construction took 400 hours that I did over 2 ½ years. I had originally planned to have it completed a year earlier but I wanted to pay for it as I went and a couple of weddings for my kids slowed me down. Total cost of construction was about $ 6,000 not including a motor, which I already had, and trailer which I also built.
The boat sails great. In winds 10 knots or less, once the sails are trimmed, it’s pretty much hands off. In 10 – 20 knots you’ll need to keep your hand on the tiller but it handles great. I’ve been out when the winds were over 20 knots and it still performs well but you have to keep the sails full and not sail too high.
From construction to launch and sailing it has been a good experience. Although it is not the first boat I have built it is the biggest. The plans were good and easy to follow and if I had the room I would probably build a bigger one in a couple of years. (see Customer Photos)
TEMPEST / J. Leconte & John E. Talley/ jtalley@driggersandassociates.com / 7-13-98: Boat completed 4-10-96. Resides at Bluewater Bay, Destin Fla. Currently 362 Hrs. on Mercruiser 7.4L with no problems with systems or hull.
TEMPEST / Phil Harrison / harrisonpc@aol.com / Benicia, CA / 9-14-02: I started the Tempest project in April and have been taking my time working on weekends and any spare time that I can get. I have finished the Stem, Transom and Frames 1,2 & 3. I plan to finish the frames by the end of October and begin the hull assembly around the first week in November. I plan on building the boat in my driveway that is approximately 45′ long and 27′ wide. The driveway is on a 2% upgrade so the stem/bow will be elevated quite a bit. I will probably reajust the setup locations on the Frames and transom to attempt to lower it a much as possible. I did’t realize how big the boat would be until I had completed the Transom and it stands about 5″ above my head, I’m 6′ tall. So I can imagine trying to fiberglass the sides an bottom, I’ll have to build scaffaling. My son and I are also working on finishing the Wild Thing project that we began last summer (2001). We have just finished fiberglassing the bottom and will put the first coat of Easypoxy paint on this weekend. We plan on turning it over next weekend to begin installing the frames and cowling. We’ll send pictures shortly. We are enjoying our Glen L projects.
5-10-03: Getting Wild Thing done first.
6-16-08: It’s been a few years since I last sent in an update on my Tempest project. We have since moved back into the Bay area and it was just before I was going to start putting the skins on the frames. So, it was still a chore to dismantle the hull and move it to the new house. I’ve since put everything back together and have put both levels of skins on the starboard side and have started the second layer on the port side. My goal is to begin putting the first layer on the bottom in July after I return from a business trip to Paris. I’ve attached pictures of the boat to add to the last set I sent. I Will send another update in July 2008.
6-14-09: The Starboard side bottom planking has been glued and screwed and Port side planking have been cut and temporarily screwed down, I’m removing them two at a time to Glue and Nail them. I’m at the stage that I’m considering adding a Bow Thruster and my question is where to position the thruster. My current thought is to install it just aft of Frame 7 about six inches. I chose this location to avoid cutting into the battens and to keep the Thruster Tunnel below the DWL. However I will have to cut into the stem about three inches to install the 5″ Thruster tunnel. It will be a few months before I finish the last two layers and begin the sanding and fiberglassing. (See Customer Photos)
TEMPEST / Leon Dy / Australia / jemariejoy@yahoo.com.au / 5-13-07: Almost complete except for gear drive and its a v-drive set up with 1″ stainless shaft. Engine power: diesel 6-cylinder 185hp turbo @2800 rpm marinized mitsubishi engine.
THUNDERBOLT / Andrew S. Jackson / ajax1@epix.net / 9-23-99: Hull is righted, on trailer, completed aft decking, installed one layer of 1/4″ for rear coaming, broke the piece for the 2nd layer. Bought ribbon strip sapele plywood for fore decking at Harbor Sales in Sudlersville, MD… real pretty stuff. My dad built the Rebel in 1967, still a showpiece and draws a crowd. Live in southwestern PA, not far from Susquehanna river. 1-10-00: I have added pictures of my project to my website:www.expage.com/page/andyontheweb, also includes pictures of my dad’s Rebel.
THUNDERBOLT / Rod Long / Frankston, Victoria-Australia / harrisonpc@aol.comrodlong@aesmith.com.au / 8-13-02: Our project is finally underway. Having taken a month or more late last year(2001) to decide between building the Missile or the Thunderbolt), I finally decided to go with building the Thunderbolt. The plans & patterns were delivered early January and it has taken until now to really get started(June 2002). All Frames are now complete with the final encapsulation process being carried out. We have decided to build the boat with a vertical Transom and this also is currently awaiting a further coat of epoxy. Working mainly in the evenings, I have marked out and cut all frame sections and was amazed at just how many pieces were involved. All work to date has been carried out in my workshop under the house with the plan over the next month or so being to laminate the motor stringers and complete the building form. All materials are being sourced from a local supplier “Marine Timbers” in Mulgrave Victoria. Once the stringers and building form are done, the project will be transferred to our main garage. Having owned many skiboats over the years-(three of them older timber boats that required a lot of fix-up), I am very much looking forward to creating this boat from scratch. 9-6-02: The Stem & Breasthook are complete and the motor stringers have been laminated. We chose to build the stringers from the 6″ x 1″ timber option with a lamination of plywood on both sides. Unfortunately, the 6″ x 1″ timbers developed a bow over their vertical length after machining. To correct this, I made a jig up on our workbench that clamped the stringers straight and true before applying the plywood. Once the laminations of plywood had cured, they were removed from the jig and luckily enough, only a light planing was required to bring the stringers back to being near true. Next step is clear out the Garage and set up the building form. 4-22-03: As its been summer over here, much of our time has been spent camping and skiing so the Thunderbolt project went on hold. Even though we are now in Autumn, I have been very busy with sometimes only 4-hours a week available to work on the project. I am at the stage of finishing the fairing with only the Keel not done. As commented on in the Glen-L boat building book, I found the job of fairing to be my “buga-boo” and have spent countless hours messing around before actually getting stuck into it. Bottom Battens are fitted but not yet glued as I will lift these off to fit the side planking. Side and bottom planking has been ordered and will be delivered next week. My target is to have the planking on by middle of the year however I may be being a little ambitious given the limited available time I have. 7-13-03: Its been a while since the last update however I have been doing a bit here and there. This weekend, I gave the sides a fright and started to fit them up. The bottom sheeting has been cut and epoxy coated ready for the next big step also. As for the power plant, I spent a deal of time recently working on a Scarab rebuilding a 454 Chev. If I can find a way to trim some weight off such as Alloy Heads ect, one of these could well become the future power plant. 1-21-05: Just some photo’s to update you on my progress. With the deck now fitted, the plan is to trim a number of area’s and joins then compete the finish. Sides will eventually be an off white/cream colour with the deck and interior finished natural.(see Customer Photos)
THUNDERBOLT / John Hume / Lexington, KY / JHSTANG51@aol.com / 12-28-02: I have built my building form and am working on laminating the motor stringers. I am awaiting my frame kit from Glen-L. I have purchased a quantity of Honduran Mahogany and am ripping and planing it down to size for longitudinals. I already have some of my V-drive components and hardware. I have built a couple of wooden boats previously (3-point hydros) but this is my first inboard and larger boat project. I hope to be finished for the spring of 2004 (very do-able). I am interested in talking to other builders of this design. My next project is going to be a Crackerbox just because I can, and they have a yearly race where that boat would be kept. I am currently building in Lexington, KY and the boat will be finished in NH to run on Lake Winnipesaukee. 4-23-03: The frames are attached and ready for chines and sheers. I will update as progress continues.
THUNDERBOLT / Bob Atwater / Seneca, South Carolina /atwaters@mindspring.com / Purchased plans 9-27-04. 11-23-04: I have essentially completed the seven frames and the transom, less plywood cover. I was tempted to purchase the frame kit from Glen-L until my wife reminded me that I was undertaking the project because I like to build things and needed a long-term challenge. Glen-L’s construction suggestions are invaluable. I used a 4’x8′ sheet of 3/4″ sand ply plywood as a layout board. I traced four frames on one side and three frames and the transom on the opposite side. I am looking for a clean, all mahogany look on the boat’s interior. Therefore, I used 3/8″ mahogany marine grade plywood for the gussets and counter sunk and plugged the screws versus using nails. I may be the only one who knows. Phase 2 starts with trying to locate 1″ white oak in lengths over 12′ long for the motor stringers and keel. I will then order all of the plywood necessary to complete the project as shipping one or two sheets at a time is extremely expensive. 6-25-05: Major surgery and business have kept be away from the project since late December ’04. Finally found source of white oak in 12′ plus lengths. Laminated the motor stringers and keel. Have sealed all frames and stringers with a marine sealer and will follow up with several coats of marine varnish. I decided against the epoxy route because of the additional time and mess. Plus, the boat will not be in the water nor outside except when in use. My major dilemma remains the drive train – engine, transmission, v-drive, prop shaft, etc. Based on comments in the Boat Builder’s Connection I elected to shift my attention to building a mockup of the last four frames and transom (only 4-feet wide). I intend to set up the entire drive train, engine to propeller, on the mockup and, after the Thunderbolt hull is completed, make the transfer with known measurements and locations. Hopefully, I can limit most of my mistakes to the mockup. 8-18-05: After ordering a V-drive, struts and associated hardware from Glen-L, I tackled a major concern, how to drill a 1 3/8″ hole through the keel for the propeller shaft at exactly 12 degrees at precisely the correct location. I am working on a mockup of the Thunderbolt before moving on the the finished boat. I located and mounted the propeller shaft strut and the whip strut. (Note – I moved the location forward 1/2″ from the drawings so that the bolts on the shaft strut would clear frame number one. There is a warning in the instructions on page 12, figure 30 – but it is frame 1, not frame 2, that’s the potential problem.) I bored out the base of a 1 3/8″ hole saw to 3/4″, reversed an old 1″ propeller shaft, inserted shaft through the strut and whip strut backwards, attached the hole saw with a 3/4″ nut and drilled. Actual drilling time was probably less than 5 minutes. Cleaning out the plugs to advance the hole saw took another 55 minutes. Next step is to purchase the engine and transmission followed by fabricating mounts and trying to have every thing line up on the mockup. Slow but sure. (see Customer Photos)
THUNDERBOLT / James Fisher / Tumbarumba, NSW AUSTRALIA /jandjfisher@bigpond.com / 10-24-07: Boat is beautiful started out old looking started from scratch. send some pics soon.
TINY MIGHT / Jerry Smith / jandpsmith@redshift.com / 6-17-99: Motor stringers, stem and breasthook, frames and transom machined. Prepping for sub-assembly. 12-19-99: Currently assembling the transom and frames; Stem, breathook, and motor stringers laminated, ready for trimming.
TINY MIGHT / Robert Hankins / hankinsb@hotmail.com / 5-4-02: I’ve gotten a pretty good start on my Tiny Might. The upside-down part of it is finished accept for the prop shaft hole. The bottom is painted so that I won’t have to turn it back over. The transom and deck are going to be walnut with a red, white and blue color scheme. The power I’ve chosen is an 120 H.P. Honda Civic engine. Right now I’m just finishing the deck battens. It’s been a slow project for me as I’ve been on it for just over a year. 9-2-03: My boat is still in the process, but coming along. I made the rudder, turn fin and strut from stainless. The motor mounts are 1/2″ 6061 alum. I rubber mounted the eng. using some mounts I found at Grainger. The engine is a Honda V-tech and is supposed to put out 125 H.P. @6500 RPM. I built the trailer from 2×3″ Tubing and I used your “How TO Build A Boat Trailer” book as a guide. It came out pretty nice. I would like to have it done by next spring. I am sending you some pictures very soon. (See Customer Photos)
TINY MIGHT / Tim Domes / Ft Lauderdale, FL / sspeed@optonline.net / 5-24-02: So far located and purchased an engine, Phantom 4-75, so I guess I have officially started the project. Hopefully it will work without having to modify the plans. Will be taking lots of pictures and hopefully setting up a web page. I made the trip, 2800 miles total… I picked up two engines the Phantom 4-75 which I mentioned, it is in great shape. I also picked another engine 50 miles away, though it is in bad shape, I got a bucket full of parts also. I am very happy with this find it just happens to be the Phantom 4-45. I will start to disassemble it this week, if it is salvageable I will get this one running and save the 75 for a larger boat. I think I did very well, both engines cost $350.00 for the 75,and $50.00 for the 45. I also got the factory instruments for the 75, with only 450 hours on the meter. The trip actually cost more than buying the engines. 4-17-03: I have found everything I needed to restore the Graymarine Phantom 4-45 and I have some of the wood for the hull. As soon as I move some stuff around and make room in my garage I am going to start building the hull.
TINY MIGHT / Chris Kulseth / chrisk@c3ipros.com / 6-2-02: We just completed our Glen-L Tiny Might and are very pleased. My 12 year old son and I built a modified Tiny Might during the 2001 Winter. We used Tiny Might plans and a frame kit. We then modified the plans to create an outboard version. All went very well and the end result is stunning. The entire boat is West System epoxy and cloth covered. The motor is a Mercury 25 hp short shaft electric. Trim plates are Nauticus Smart Tabs which control bow rise and stability. Top speed is 32 mph and the boat is very stable and comfortable. I suspect the comfort comes from the aft seating position which also provides an aesthetically pleasing long foredeck. The boat was a project for my son but I can’t help taking it for rides myself! 4-17-03: Yup, I am here. The project is done and wonderful! (See Customer Photos)
TINY MIGHT / Larry Hinton / larry.hinton@cox.net / 6-25-06: I have always been a fan of the Crackerbox. I recently went to check out a reported Crackerbox and found it to actually be a 12′ Tiny Might with the Ford V8-60 engine installed. She’s now sitting in my garage. I would like to hear from any other Tiny Might owners. Any help would be appreciated.
TINY TITAN / Andy and Gary Shaffer / Pennsylvania / apshaffer@csonline.net / 1-15-02: Construction almost completed. All steering and throttle/shifting installed. Emergency stop switch installed. All that’s left to be done is painting. We chose epoxy encapsulation. An extremely fun boat to build, we will send construction photos soon.
TINY TITAN / Ron Williamson and Brad / Calgary, Canada/ gshall@shaw.ca / 8-9-02: On March 23, 2002: we pulled the kit out of the Storage room. The plans were looked over and read through. On the 29th, we were half way done. We had the 2 frames on and were just putting on the transom. To get the angles of the wood flush on any piece we used a power plane. April 7, 2002: The boat was ready for paint. We painted it a brilliant red and white. For the Decal I made a Giant Devil’s head and named it Little Devil. August 5th. Little devil was put into the water for the second time. The first time we tried a 5.5 engine and now we are trying a 9.9. The boat was a rush. Brad almost dumped it and his cousin Todd almost dumped. 4-20-03: My email is still good. I have tried out the boat and it is a rocket. By putting one fin on the inside of each runner the boat is more maneuverable and will have more grip in large waves. (large waves= 5 inches high).
TINY TITAN / Stefan Sandberg / Stockholm, Sweden /stefan.sandberg@scania.com / 1-14-03: I started building a Tiny Titan 2002-11-01 for me an my son. I’ve got limited time but so far I’ve managed to cut out the bottom planking and fit the runners. I’ve finished frame no 1 and now I’m finishing off frame nr 2. After that I’ll start on the engine transom. I’ve mounted the boat at a suitable height on two wooden beams which are inclined at 45 degrees to the floor. In this way I get an adequate working position and I save valuable workshop space too. I intend to run the Titan with a 9 hp Suzuki engine. Won’t have it finished this summer – summer of 2004 more realistic. 4-21-03: We’ve got summer here in Sweden right now and therefore thousands of things to do. The project is on hold for the time being but I’ll pick it up during our autumn.
TINY TITAN / Steve & Andrew Allen / Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario /sallen_pts@hotmail.com / 7-17-03: Ordered plans for a Tiny Titan from Glen-L in May and actually began construction the weekend of July 12th, 2003. This my first experience in building a boat, and learning the parts names and boat lingo is an education in itself. We are at stage #2 gluing up the frames and attaching the bottom battens to the bottom planking. Since we bought only the plans and not the kit, I am amazed at how much cutting and ripping of lumber there to this project. It’s not a problem though since my Son can cut out the pieces during the day and I can assemble them during the evenings after work. We have a 1962/ 16 hpr Johnson we are going to strap to the transom. Should be a lot of fun once we hit the water.
TINY TITAN / Glen Wilcox / Oak Park, CA / glen-wilcox@peoplepc.com / 8-11-03: Completed. I began building last fall and launched in January. The second outing was this month, August, ’03. Both outings have seen water too rough for good planing. I’m disappointed that so many lakes near LA don’t allow boats this small, presumably to avoid personal water craft. I deviated from the plans in only one area. I used a longitudinal batten (or carling) on the inboard side of the coaming from the dash beam forward, so that the forward decking could be mounted between the coaming instead of on top of it. This gives the coaming a nice clean line from stem to stern. Photos and performance info when available.
TINY TITAN / Cameron and Peter Walters / Newmarket, Ont, Canada /xwalters@look.ca / 8-26-03: My Son and I started our Tiny Titan project last winter and completed building this June. Thank you for clear and accurate plans which made this project very enjoyable for both of us. (See Customer Photos)
TINY TITAN / Pat Larkin / Springfield, Pa. / hocars@patsslotrods.com / 11-16-03: Started project: 8/03, hull completed 11/03. Lots of sanding now. I will submit a couple of shots when it’s finished. For the record, this has been a very fun project. I was lucky to find a 1987 Johnson 25hp. To be safe, I added some extra transon support and 7 yards of fiberglass tape to all the stress points. This is in addition to the full fiberglass covering kit, and 3 gallons of epoxy. This will be one tuff boat. I went with a tele-flex steering systen and the stock OMC controls. I will need to add a lanyard kill switch, and get a fin.
TINY TITAN / Alfred Marshall / motorboat@carolina.rr.com / 2-2-04: My son and I put together a Tiny Titan when he was 12 as I wished my Dad had done with me. My daughter; however, has enjoyed our Tiny Titan the most these last 7 years. The stock Evinrude 15HP pushes her along at 32mph. My son made the whale’s tail (hydrofoil) out of 1/8 inch scrap aluminum. I highly recommend the tail as it helps the Tiny Titan to plane off flat AND settle off a plane flat. When running, the tail flies 3/4 inches above the surface. I also recommend using a control box and Glen-l’s steering kit to control the boat running a 15HP motor. The adjustable seat not only contributes to control, it adds considerably to comfort. Great design and little boat!
TINY TITAN / Bill Wright / Osterville, MA / bwright18@comcast.net / 6 Jun 2004: I completed the Tiny Titan last fall. I started my 13 year-old son out with a ’50s classic Mercury Mark 5 outboard, set up with a dead man throttle and stock prop. He drives it easily, and has topped out at 23 mph. Not bad for 5 horsepower!! This was just to get him accustomed to the feel of the boat. We are now working on a classic Mercury 10 Lightening.
TITAN / Doug Harrison / Cobourg, Ontario, Canada / offshore@bell.net / 5-19-2010: I am building the stretched version of the Titan in plywood. I started in the basement Jan 09 and got the frames mounted last summer (after completing a building to work in) and had to shut down for a while due to work commitments. Back at it again and just finishing the second layer of ply on the hull. Have the motor and trans. (a Kubota 29HP) I intend to run dry stack and keel cooling. Getting slowed down again as I’m building another house for move in this Sept. Really hoping to launch next summer and head up the Trent system to Georgian Bay for a month or two. Would be glad to answer any questions regarding the build so far.
11-12-11: Well, back at it again after building another house ( and a boat “garage”) Will be on it full time now till completion. Have the hull done and almost ready for paint. The waste and fuel tanks are complete as is the rudder ( a Schilling style I wanted to try ). Have done a mock-up of the interior, and established where everything will fit, and am now completing the v-berth and forecabin. There is room for a regular head as well as a small hanging locker in the fore cabin. Have also gained 8″ in the main cabin. Decks will be next.
TNT / Terry Mortimore / Canada / terry.mortimore@sympatico.ca / 7-10-97: Complete.
TNT / Sean Wadsworth / Mississauga, ON, Canada / seanwadsworth@eamil.com / 1-4-99: Frames on form, longitudinals installed, fairing. 5-30-99: Now installing bottom planking, almost ready to flip the boat over. 10-29-99: Completed the boat middle of August and had it painted. Launched it the last weekend of the summer. Handles great and is definitly an eye-catcher! Pics coming. Thanks for giving me a memory that will last a lifetime. Sean Wadsworth, age 18.
TNT / Jeff Wilbanks / Drumsome68@aol.com / 4-20-99: I received my plans and within three days I have already finished the frame work and chines. I am now trying to locate the plywood to begin planking & decking. Thanks Glen-L , for giving me something fun to build !
TNT / Cam Hansuld / Mississauga, Ontario, Canada / cam.hansuld@sympatico.ca / 5-8-01: I built it in 1970 from a fame kit purchased locally ( I was 13 years old at the time and paid for the materials from my paper route), currently in storage with corner ply of middle frame in need of repair. 5-7-03: My son is getting close to cutting plywood for his TNT. Mine built circa 1970 will have to come out of storage soon.
TNT / Chris Power / Email address not valid 5-6-03 / 6-20-01: I am constructing your T-N-T, The plan’s are clear and easy to read. Currently we are completing the interior of the boat and I am realy looking to the day we will launch the boat! Thanks for designing such a beautiful boat. 9-5-01: I am now painting and finalizing the hull design now, my T-N-T looks great. I am planning on doing the interior French Blue and the exterior metallic black with some blue decal designs. The rear end of my boat has me slightly modified with a step up behind frame 3 and the transom, this should outline a more vivid “cockpit”. I am also planning on adding a windshield and have a built-in gastank in the bow to stop porpoising. A subfloor with foam under it for flotation, and the bow has been filled with flotation, this will greatly improve the safety in case it capsizes. 10-10-01: All the woodworking is done, we are currently getting ready to fiberglass the hull. I picked up a 1975 40 H.P Mercury motor in Vancouver for about 800$. I am planning to get a C.D stereo for the boat… will see 5-22-02: Work on my TNT is almost complete, all woodworking is done, and I have started the Epoxy Fiberglass. The outside of the boat will be painted a hot racing yellow! To make the boat more fun, we installed a Clarion CD player, 2 speakers, a Sub-Woofer to give it a little kick, a tachometer, a speedometer, and a Depth-sounder since it will be used in a lake with vastly varying depths. All and all, it will be a great boat when its finished!
TNT / Mike Blanchfield / mike-bethblanchfield@email.msn.com / 7-29-01: I started buyilding the TNT (modified to 12 ft. long) in June of 1977 when I was 15 years old. It was launched that August and powered by an old (1958) 35Hp Johnson Sea Horse. I used the Glen-L galvanized fastenting kit and the fiberglass deck cloth covering kit. I used the boat for four summers with various improvements in each summer. It would run approx.30 mph and was a great experience that brought a lot of great memories. After my sophomore year in college I left for a summer job in Texas and realized that I wouldn’t use the boat again like I had. My parents sold it for me while I was away. Now I have built my second Glen-L boat (Kingpin) which my family has used for the past 10 years. It sure would be nice if we could find the first boat I built. It was painted white on the bottom with a blue top with white stripes. We sold it in the summer of 1981 in Wilmington, DE for I think $300. 5-26-03: Email valid. I have been very pleased with your products.
TNT / Matt Redmon / digitlink@juno.com / 7-7-01: Cutting out frame pieces. 5-17-03: Thanks for reminding me about the registry. I have finished my freshman year of college, which has left me with little time to work on my tnt. My boat is near completion. The next step for me is to complete the interior. I expect it to be done by late August of this year and look forward to getting it on the water.
TNT / Patrick Keegan / Tampa, Florida pkeegan@tampabay.rr.com / 9-2-01: Project started. The building form is complete and the frame pieces are aligned and braced. 02-08-02: Finally back to work on it! Frame is complete and faired. Ready for Plywood. 5-9-02: Hull is planked and interior framing is complete. Passed a milestone yesterday by locating and purchasing a good used 30hp Johnson motor. 7-8-02: My TNT is finally done, no more E-mail questions! Seriously, I want thank Barry and everyone else at Glen-L for being so helpful over the past months. Now that it’s on the water, all of the efforts have proven worthwhile. The TNT handles great and it accelerates like a rocket. I am running a stock 30 HP Johnson. 5-6-03: The project has been completed for almost a year. I am contemplating the Stilletto or the Tunnel King next. (see Customer Photos)
TNT / Don Wickett / Oklahoma City, OK / Email address not valid 5-6-03 / 9-30-01: Project complete, titled and ready to go. Bought wood 5/5/01 by 7/03/01 was ready for painting and then adding seats. I installed three seats, opting out the motor well and only brought fore deck back to #3 frame. Might build a removable deck to cover the front seat, so it would resemble the original design. Thanks Glen L Marine.
TNT / Don Slomke / dslomke@adelphia.net / 11-2-01 Just received my frame kit. Built form today and will move into basement for assembly. 11-9-01 Keel, battens, and 1st lamination of sheer clamp on. 11-11-01 Sheer clamps and chine logs on, ready to start plywood. (Hint for installing longitudinals with sharp bends: wrap with bath towel and pour boiling water on the towel and let sit over night, works great!) 11-28-01: About 2/3 of hull / side planking complete. ( I took some time off for deer hunting) 12-8-01: Began fitting final piece of bottom planking today. I should be able to turn over and start topside next week. 12-12-01 Turned hull over and began topside construction. Only about 40 hrs into it at this point. 12-21-01: Topside planking nearly complete. I plan to varnish hull inside this week and complete planking. I made some changes to the deck, I will E-mail in process photos a.s.a.p. 1-13-02: All woodwork is complete. I will turn hull over and begin fiberglassing 1-14-02. 6-23-02 After a long time off, I finally got back to work on my T-N-T. Today I covered 1/2 the hull with fiberglass cloth. I expect to finish the bottom and be ready for primer by the end of the month. 7-21-02: All the fiberglass work is done. The hull has been painted and lettered and I will turn it over to paint the deck today. I hope to have it in the water by 8-1. I will send photos a.s.a.p. 7-27-02 The hull is completely painted and lettered, the jackplate and motor are installed, I just need to build a seat and finish my steering parts. I’m shooting for a launch by 8-3-02.
P. S. Now my buddy wants to build a T-N-T, but I told him he has to finish his Cruisette first.5-7-03: My T-N-T is completely finished now with the addition of carpet. I also made a set of SS trim tabs for it. I will send pics and give a performance update as soon as I get in the water this year. (Previously built Tuffy) (see Customer Photos)
TNT / Thomas Nilsson / Enhörna, Sweden / thomas@temtron.se / 1-30-02: Here are some pictures of my TNT equipped with a Kawasaki 440-engine and water jet from a jet ski. It’s really safe and fun without any visible engine/prop. I made the water intake in fibreglass and I used all the useful parts I could from the jet ski, like gas-tank, exhaust, cooling, electric-start, steering cables and so on. Because of the jet it’s easy to go all the way in to the shore even for the kids without having to worry about any prop. Thanks for good plans and frame kit. 5-8-03: I have made a new water intake to the waterjet so now the top speed is up from 12 to 30 knots. Right now I am about to dress the boat with one layer of glassfiber and gelcoat.(See WebLetter 34)
TNT / Erling Svegre / Vangsvik, Norway / wi-beche@frisurf.no / 3-30-02: TNT Project finally started! Bought the drawings in 1997, so it’s about time. All wood is bought, fiberglass also. At this time, March 30, Frame 1, Transom, Motor Board, Transom Knee, Stem and Breasthook are complete. Hoping to start on the building form the next week. I’ll keep you posted, and hopefully with some pics next time. 4-25-02: Hello everybody! I had to slow down my building, the spring came a month earlier than usual, so lots of stuff to do outside the house. The keel is fastened, and now (April 20th) I am working on the chines. Not quite as easy as I thought, they tend to bend too much outwards, so maybe I have to use more strength to twist them a bit before I fasten them to the frames. Does anybody know this: Should the chine logs be level with the frame sides? (Yes) I would think so, but the chine logs seem to have a weird idea that they should be twisted and not at all level with the frame sides. Well well, let’s see who’s the strongest …..May the force be with me. Yeah, almost forgot, I just got the floatation foam. It’s called ETHAFOAM, and is produced by DOW. Same stuff is being used in lifebelts, sailboards, in tunnels etc. Almost 100% waterproof, closed cells, and not too expensive. (Not cheap either….) It cost approx. $400,- for 1 cubic meter. And this amount will make 960 kilos floating. So I bought 0,33 cubic meters, should be enough for the TNT. I will also use this stuff to make soft seats….it keeps you warm also. 5-12-03: Chine logs are in place, sheer clamp also and battens. Hopefully will get plywood planking in place within the next month. (See Customer Photos)
TNT / Michael Dean / Dayton, OH / RCJTPLT@adelphia.net / 08-20-02: The boat is complete. I have some pictures I would like to share (see Customer Photos). The only regret that I have is that I did not keep a log while I was building the TNT. I purchased the kit in ’93 and finished it a year later, but just got around to painting it and finding a motor for it. Thanks for the fun. 5-6-03: The tnt is finished. Thx for checking…I am planning on a Rivera this summer. (see Customer Photos)
TNT / Jean-Louis Houle and Marc Tremblay / jlhoule@sympatico.camarct37@sympatico.ca / Montreal, Quebec, Canada / 11-28-02: We are in the process of attaching the keel and battens to the frame members. So far the project is going very well. We did have a little trouble understanding how the transom was lined up vis-à-vis members #1 and #2, a quick call to Glen-L, specifically Barry, and we were happily on our way again. We’ll keep you posted and will soon be sending pictures. 5-7-03: The project is coming along nicely, though a little slow. The frame is finished and has been faired. We are at the point where we are about to start planking. I haven’t been able to devote as much time to the project as I would have liked because I have become sidetracked by another project, my wedding. I am getting married on May 10. I plan to shift the TNT project into high gear in late May. If all goes well we should be able to take the TNT out for a spin in late August or early September, that is the plan. Marc
TNT / Jim Epp / Saskatoon, Canada / jamesepp@sasktel.net / 1-15-03: I began my TNT last spring(2002) but was pulled away to assist a friend with another project (building a log cabin). I’ve completed the framing and was nearly finished attaching the plywood. the project will continue again in Spring (’03).
TNT / Keith / Oceanside, NY (Long Island) / Keitho51@aol.com / 3-17-03: After months of staring at the plans and thinking things out, our weather went from dead-of-winter to a balmy 68 degrees. With my wife out of town until Monday the 17th, I cleaned out the garage and started building the mounting frame. Made several errors, including cutting the main 2×4’s too short (Don’t ask me how I did that!). Picked up fresh 2×4’s this morning at Home Depot and had the frame completed by early afternoon. I now have to go to the local specialty lumber yard and start buying some of the materials. I also need to order the fastener kit from Glen-L. I am trying not to think about the big picture and just take this project one step at a time!
TNT / John Wilmot / Damascus, MD / johncwilmot@msn.com / 8-6-03: Just finished our TNT and your plans were great. I am an architect, so I can attest to the accuracy. I used your fiberglass kit for the bottom and your steering kit for the helm. With a new 25 hp Mercury, she was clocked at 37 mph. I’m not sure whether I built this boat for me or the grand kids. Thanks for your help. (See Customer Photos)
TNT / Steve Durham / stedur@juno.com / 9-23-03: So far, I have obtained lumber for frames and transom, and begun to cut parts out. I have also prefabrcated the building jig. The floor space I need will not be free for a few weeks yet, so I hope to get all the pieces ready by that time. I am thinking of building the ‘stretch’ version to slightly increase payload. 10-31-03: I am slowly getting started on my TNT. I have built the jig, and cut out most small parts, and frame parts. I used carbon paper to trace all the parts onto light cardboard (file folders)which I cut into templates. This was pretty quick and efficient for me. Then I used a combination of Band saw, Table saw, and Scroll saw, ..and presto!! time to begin assembly!! I will be building a 11′ 9″ version. I have an older 40HP Johnson for it. (I will reinforce the transom and use a beefier knee)
TNT / Mike Harvey / Tampa, FL / Mharvey@Mharveycpa.com / 9-30-03: My three sons and I are building the TNT. We live on a lake and in addition to our current armada of Malibu ski boat, Maverick flats boat, canoe and jet ski (one can never have enough boats) the kids felt like they needed a small speed boat… We ordered the frame kit, fiberglass kit and fasteners in August 03. As of this date we have built the frame and planked the sides and bottom. We are now filling and sanding many screw holes in preparation for turning over. We are using AB Douglas-fir and plan to paint the hull and use a mahogany veneer on the deck. 11-16-04: After a slight hiatus we are back at it. Painted the bottom and sides with Awlgrip. Turned over and are adding deck beams and planking. Bought a lift plate to provide more set-back and vertical height adjustment for the motor.
TNT / Seth Gray / Cranberry Island, Maine / grayseth@hotmail.com / 1-16-04: I am 14 and am building the TNT for summer use. I live on the island all year round and the winters get pretty boring. I built this boat by myself with only a little help from my father who is a professional boat builder. I am almost done and only need to install stearing and the motor. I can’t wait until summer to take it out.
TNT / Mark Kimmerly / Queensland Australia / markw49@hotmail.com / 3-18-04: Starting on frames. It looks simple and complicated, but should be a challenge. Any comments or hints from other builders would be most welcome anytime. I plan to put a 30 or 35 HP on it.
TNT / Wolfgang Weitzel / Friedberg, Germany / wolfgang@wweitzel.de / 5-10-04: I bought the plans last winter and started building frames and transom. Now the frames and keel are mounted and have I started to bend the chine logs around. Bending is more difficult then I expected. Found a hint to wrap it with towels and put boiling water on it, hope to succeed this way. 7-16-04: Today I glued the bottom battens. All Framing is finished now. Begin with fairing and then planking. No real problems so far. It’s always fun working on the boat. Thought it would go faster. Planned to go to the water this summer, we’ll see. 4-25-05: Hurrah, it’s finished! All woodwork and part of the finish is done, only some painting and minor details, then we go to the water. Have a 25 HP Yamaha outboard, soon I will give you info about performance. I think my TNT is a really nice and good-looking boat. 9-8-05: Well, not very soon, but here are the results from our first summer with our new TNT. With two adults the boat is going about 50 km/h, when I’m alone may be about 55 km/h. It’s up on a plane in 3 seconds. Cornering at high speed is difficult. A keel-fin as specified on the plan is a must. I will put it on in wintertime. Our TNT is always an eyecatcher and we had many friendly discussions with other boating people.
TNT / Ken & Karen Stock / kenstock@comcast.net / 8-16-04: I started my TNT on 1/15/04 and have just finished it. I loved building it. It has a 1969 20 HP Johnson on it, the first time out it would only go 22 mph. After some digging I found it to be a prop problem and have ordered the correct prop. I was very suprised at how stable it is for such small boat. I rounded the front deck and added a bench seat. I attached a picture of it in the water. We are looking foward to building our next Glen-L boat. (see Customer Photos)
TNT / Ken Young / youngshd@comcast.net / 8-13-04: I have just started construction on my T-N-T. I have ordered stock, and built my form. Hopefully it will start taking shape very soon.
TNT / Kingsfour / Milton, ON, Canada / football_dude23@hotmail.com / 8-29-04: My Dad and I made a TNT and we love it. We are located on Chandos Lake and while driving around found 3 more TNTs. I’ve raced one and talked to the another. If there is anybody with a TNT from Chandos, please contact me. We put a 35 hp. motor on it but are not getting full use of it until we buy a speed prop which is soon to come. It handles great and we love it. Thanks a lot Glen-L
TNT / Adrian, Matthew, Eric, Dad / Toronto, ON, Canada /hotrod_heaven_80@yahoo.ca / 2-6-05: We started the TNT in the summer of 2000. We had received the boat building plans and got right down to work. Within a couple months, we had the frames all assembled and ready for the 1/4 inch plywood. After we had done that, we fibre glassed it, then covered the bottom with white gel coat. When we flipped it over we started to build the deck. Once the deck framing was completed, we covered that with 1/4 inch plywood and a layer of fibre glass. We rolled on the white gel coat to see were our imperfections were. After we did all that work we sprayed a blue endura over the deck and sides. (about 3 coats). In 2004 all we have left to do is install the seats put the steering together, and install our 1989 Johnson 25 hp, short shaft. Thanks Glen-L. (see Customer Photos)
TNT / Michael and Michael Valparaiso / Indiana / Viper911611@verizon.net / 3-1-05: We are still cutting out the pieces. We have cut out all 3 frames and are now on the motor board, transom, stem, breasthook, etc. As soon as we start building I will send some pics. 3-5-05: Today we cut out the stem, breast hook, motor board, and transom. Next step is to put together all the pieces and then we are on our way.
TNT / G. Newbold / Ontario / ky_08@hotmail.com / 6-7-05: Ready for bottom planking. (see Customer Photos)
TNT / Robert and Andrew Malec / Sydney, Australia / malecs@bigpond.com / 8-30-05: So far we have put the whole skeleton together, and are half way through the beveling stage… and yea, so far really fun to build. Cheers.
TNT / Nigel and Kenwrick Mayo / Brampton, Ontario, Canada / nigel@nuraseal.com/ 9-4-05: My son and I started construction of the TNT in October 2005, and launched at the end of June. We have a 35hp Johnson and we get about 35mph tops. We had many challenges along the way, though finished with a beautiful, exciting boat. I would highly recommend bolting on the motor (not just relying on the clamps) as we almost lost the motor when the whole boat came out of the water at 32mph and the prop hit the water again at 5500rpm. The motor rotated sideways about 20 degrees, leaving only one clamp on the transom. Our finished project weighs 282 lbs! This includes fiberglass bottom, seats, floor boards, teleflex steering, gas tank and full size marine battery. The motor adds another 131 lbs (1977 35hp electric start johnson).
TNT / David Ruff / Denton TX / davidsbox01@yahoo.com / 10-17-05: Here is my TNT, I started it in Feb of last year and took a 9 month break. It is getting glassed over now. From there I will float test it, then build the cockpit. It has an 18hp on it now but I will move to a 35 as I get the boat’s hull number and inspection done. Am loving this build. Will be float testing the boat next week – just need to glass the sides. Will update my site as those and other pictures come in. I HIGHLY recommend this design to the first timer.
Website: http://www.uccrossbows.com/GlenLTNT.html
TNT / Kevin and MacKenzie Reid / Mattawa, ON, Canada /kevin.j.reid@sympatico.ca / 4-5-06: Just completed cutting out the frame pieces.
TNT / Chuck Stevens / Royal Oak, Michigan / cvs_54238@yahoo.com / 9-10-06: I purchased the plans for the TNT about a month ago. I have accumulated all the necessary lumber to make the building jig. I have studied the plans. I am going to increase the of the building form height 1.5 inches and mill slots for the frames and add a 12 degree bracket on the rear for the transom. Most of the parts for the frames, are already cut out and only have to assemble them. I am going to adjust the hull lenght to twelve feet so that I can move the seat a bit forward. I plan on powering the craft with an Evinrude 15 HP engine that is like new.
7-15-08: I would like to share the way that I built the assembly jig, as I had to make everything portable because of the constraints that I have in the area to work on my boat. I put it on wheels. After a few months of being too busy to work on the TNT I finally have had some time to build. As you can see the jig is fairly simple; a 2 x 4 lower frame and the same uprights that are shown in the plan. Besides not having the room in my garage to make the jig stationary, the floor out there is cracked and nowhere near flat, hence I built a square and true fixture. You can also see that I am finally making some progress on the boat. (See Customer Photos)
TNT / Tom Lundquist / Portage, Michigan / lundtdl@charter.net / 8-1-07: The TNT was a really fun and rewarding project. I’ve done many construction projects around the house, but this was our first attempt at building a boat. We started in the fall of 2005 and worked through two cold Michigan winters in the garage. We launched it in June 2007, so it was a little less than a two year project, only being able to work on it some evenings and weekends. My son is now 13 and having a blast! Thanks for everything through the process. Your plans and products are great and the customer service and helpful hints along the way were awesome! I’d be happy to share our experiences with anyone who may be interested.
TNT / Gary Dowsey / Perth, Australia / Gary.Dowsey@swantafe.wa.edu.au / 6-11-08: What a great design to build, very quick and straight-forward for a cabinet-making lecturer. l received my plans on May 22 and I have the hull built now and preparing it to take the epoxy and cloth, but our weather is in Winter mode here so I’m getting mad coz lm just idle for the time being.
TNT / Andrew Bangsberg / Cumberland, Wisconsin / tnt@bangsberg.com / 7-22-08: Started in Jan 2006, completed in July 2008. I slightly modified the TNT design by curving the top of the bow and adding a hatch cover behind the seats. She is painted with Interlux Perfection. I used a Taco Marine rub rail (I highly recommend you protect your boat with a rub rail). The engine is a 73 Merc 20 hp, with electric start. After 2 1/2 years she is finally in the water and a blast to drive. More pictures and details are available on http://www.bsehosting.com/get/tnt/bizweb.asp.
TNT / Dan Brennan / Vancouver, Canada / dbrennan@hemlock.com / 10-10-08: Building the TNT – first project (total newbie) – just set up the garage and bought materials for the building form – going to get it done tonight and then out on the weekend to get the mohogany for the frames. Been reading tons of info on the forum, great tool!
1-16-09: Frames and transom are finally completed. Stem laminating and breasthook ready to go, just waiting for a warm enough stretch to be able to glue it all together. Looking forward to finally getting the building form up and frames attached so it starts looking like a boat!
3-10-09: Finally looking like a boat! All frames, transom, stem, etc. all up on the form, both chine logs installed and actually very pleased with how it all turned out. All level and true. Sheer clamps are next and then battens. Should have those installed by the weekend and then begins the fairing process… Tons of fun, it’s on my mind all the time and I love it. Thanks for all the online support you provide through your site (info, forum etc.) Also the phone interview was great, looking forward to the next one.
TNT / Kevin Korell & Son / Lincoln, Nebraska / kbkorell@windstream.net / 6-20-09: Hi, I am Kevin Korell, my son and I are building the TNT. We are born and raised in Nebraska, and not a lot of folks around here are familiar with boat building.
TNT / Tim Mueller / Woodbury, Minnesota / mueller@featurecam.com / 1-26-09: My name is Tim Mueller and I am from Woodbury, MN. My kids and I are building a TNT. We started late Oct. and have the frames and transom done. We will move to the garage next to make the building form but we might not make too much progress until we start warming up a bit 🙁
8-20-09: Progress has been slow because we are all busy, but we have got somewhere. We now are set up in the garage and the frames, transom, keel, and stem are all put together on the building form. I have the lumber (spruce) for the chines and sheers so that is next. (See Customer Photos)
TNT / Stephen Hayward & Son Thomas / Markham, ON Canada / shayward@pxltd.ca and thayward@bell.net / 4-16-2015; We have cut all the pieces for the frames and are starting the gluing and assembly process.
TOPPER / Robert Bruce and Robert C Rawlings / Seattle, WA /rrawlings1@hotmail.com / 9-30-02: Plans purchased August 26 2002. Currently fitting the knuckles to the building form, stem and transom. Slightly confused as to how to do it at this point, however pending e-mail with glen-l, we should get through this. So far we have purchased the fastening kit and the fiberglass kit from Glen-l, saving a lot of time. 2-19-03: Well, we began the project back in October, and yesterday we turned the boat over and removed most of the building form. More updates and pics later. 5-6-03: The Topper is almost finished. 5-11-03: Deck varnished. (see Customer Photos)
TOPPER / Marc and Alec Miller / Augusta, GA / lmiller85@knology.net / 2-15-04: Started construction last weekend. Have completed forms, started the stem and breasthook. Planning on starting the transom next weekend. Lot’s of fun! 3-29-04: Completed the transom. Have cut out the daggerboard trunk and will assemble next week. Have also started the keel. Have ordered the fastening kit today–Wish that I had ordered it at the beginning! Found a local building supply company that can order the marine grade plywood. If I order it by Tuesday, I can have it by the weekend. I intend to build the form and have the chines in place by the end of April. So far it seems to be working out pretty well, however I haven’t put it together yet! 5-31-04: So far, the hardest aspect (for me) has been the planking process. Making those planks fit adequately is tough and little bit slower than I thought. However, I think that the hardest part is behind me. I believe that I will be able to turn her over by June 15th. 7-10-04: I have completed the fiberglassing and painting. I turned the boat over and am now working on the inside. I used fiber-filler to reinforce the bow area. This boat will be used on a beach type setting hence I was interested in a very strong front end. This was probably overkill, but I will feel better! 🙂 I used silica and microspheres for the rest of the boat (both inside and outside) to fill minor holes and gaps. You are correct: this mixture sands much better. Finally, I used Interlux Brightside paint all over. After about a week for drying and curing, I “tested” a portion of it with hammer to see if it would withstand scuffing. The result: PERFECT! I was surprised at how light the boat was after the form structure was removed. This ought to be a fairly fast little boat.( See my progress at http://mis.aug.edu/mmiller/boat.htm
TOPPER / Michael James / Wellington, New Zealand / mjames@ihug.co.nz / 11-18-07: Just started and loving it. I brought the plans for the Topper and Glen-L 25 in the early nineties when my family and I were living in England. Our circumstances changed and we moved home to New Zealand. This unfortunately meant that my plans for building a boat went on the back burner for more years than I wanted. However all is under way now, forms all marked out and ready to cut, building space all sorted, local suppliers of plywood and bronze ware found, and a method of providing cover during the build sorted. I’m building the Topper first before the Glen-L 25.
4-12-08: After a slow start, two month delay due to the timber supplier ordering the wrong amount of mahogany, the build is progressing well. Transom and stem mounted on building form, shears, knuckles and keel dry fitted to transom and keel, dagger board and dagger board trunk made. Next step, glue it all together.
5-5-08: All fairing done, starting to apply the planking. Learnt a new skill scarfing plywood, didn’t turn out to be as bad as I thought, just got to put the clamp in the right place. (See Customer Photos)
TOPPER / Jon Fisher / Dripping Springs, TX / jon@kudodesign.com / 5-12-08: Just wanted to submit a couple of pictures of Cherry Plum (aptly named by my daughter Sophia). I learned a lot building this boat and we are enjoying sailing her. I would like to design a kick-up rudder to make launching and retrieving a little less dramatic. Mast and boom are VG douglas fir, seats are yellow pine, stringers/rub rails are white oak, rudder and dagger board are mahogany, planks are Aquatek plywood. I need to take some sailing pictures, but we are both usually in the boat. Thanks for the support during the build. (See Customer Photos)
TOPPER / Mike Basham / Oxford (Atlanta), Georgia / basham944@hotmail.com / 5-27-09: Hull complete, now finishing mast, dagger board, rudder, etc.
TOPPER / Gary Adams / Salt Lake City, Utah / gary27403@comcast.net / 11-12-09: I have finished the hull. I am now working on the mast, boom, etc.
TORNADO / Mike Babin / shredder@ev1.net / 9-6-99: Started project 6-12-99 from plans & patterns. Set up, framed, keel, chine, sheer installed. Most fairing complete. Will start side planking 9-11-99. This is for the most part a weekend project. My job gets in the way… go figure. This is a great stress reliever. 5-10-03: The project has come along very well, actually. It has taken me a long time, but that has much to do with my job and other priorities. I got into the project fully aware that it was going to be drawn out over a couple of years, so I’m happy with the progress. The boat building portion is complete. It was very straight forward. I’ve just completed the painting and graphics with House of Kolor Kandy Kolors and am rigging now. I hope I can stay in town long enough this summer to complete it all.
TORNADO / Paul G. Miller / Memphis, TN / pmiller1@midsouth.rr.com / 7-16-01: Began construction with plans-only purchase in September 1989. I’ve been rather slow in building, but I like to say that the “getting there” is as much fun as “arriving”.As of July 2001: I have finished the bottom, complete with blood-red IMRON paint, and have just rolled it. Topsides and interior/rigging is beginning. I have purchased much of the hardware as I go and am planning on a 383 CID small block Chevy (stroked 350) in this boat. I have a Casale 12% overdrive v-drive or, alternately, will go “retro” with a Halibrand 15% v-drive that I’ve rebuilt to new condition. A Borg-Warner 72C will provide forward-neutral-reverse. As of April 2002: All wood and epoxy-glass has been completed. The final sanding of the deck and cockpit area is being done in preparation for painting. Blood-red Imron will be used to complete the topsides; light gray in the cockpit. Seats are bought and test fitted on custom-made stainless seat supports. Steering is in. An Ultraflex (U-Flex) rotary helm was selected over other rotary types for two reasons: 1) the U-Flex uses a three-gear planetary gear system that offers greater contact with the push-pull cable than other helms; 2) the U-Flex is only a little more than 3 turns, lock-to-lock. Teleflex items were used for all cable mounts and connections in the steering. The motor finally selected is a little larger in HP and Torque than originally mentioned – a 406 cu. in SBC. This is mated to a bracket-race Powerglide “shorty” transmission which will be operated without a torque converter, driving the pump directly from the crankshaft. The driveline is presently being fabricated, using 1350 Spicer components. The cavitation plate and adjustable controls are all in place. Finally, the prop selected is a steel 2-blade item from Menkens. As of July, 2002: The boat is fully painted in three coats of deep red Imron; the cavitation plate assembly is installed; the underwater gear is installed; instruments and switches are installed and wired; waiting for the rebuild of the Casale v-drive to complete installation of the driveline. Project pictures can be seen at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Glen-L-Builders (not affiliated with Glen-L other than we all build the boats). 5-8-03: I have completed my project and am waiting to get time to take off from work for a week to get it into the water. I anticipate some minor “adjustments” to the drive systems that I will have to attend to.
TUBBY TUG / Mark Jenson / markjenson@earthlink.net / 8-2-98: Parts cut out. 9-22-98: Parts encapsulated, attaching bulkheads to bottom. 11-15-98: Stitching sides to bottom, transom and each other. 4-4-99: Pre-assembling cabin. 5-20-99: Hull interior filleted and taped; foredeck attached; seats done; fitting cabin to hull. 6-17-99: Fiberglassing the hull; hope to launch mid-July 99. 8-17-99: “Kid Stuff!” has been in the water several times since mid-July although the bumper rails and sheer moldings still need to be attached, the interior varnished and the roof lines built up a bit. The boat attracts a lot of attention from both kids and adults and is a lot of fun to be in. I will send pictures when the moldings are completed. 5-8-03: The boat is essentially done although there are cosmetic things which could still be done. (see WebLetter 17)
TUBBY TUG / Willie and James Murphy / williemurphy@ls3p.com / 2/9/01 Started as father / son project June 1999 – Completed Oct 2000 Entered 11th Annual Wooden Boat Exhibit in Georgetown SC, 21 Oct 2000, winning People’s Choice Award (Top honors out of 40 boats). Currently located in Charleston, SC, and will be on exhibit at Wooden Boat Appreciation Day in Charleston, 17 June 2001, and again at Wooden Boat Exhibit in Georgetown SC, 22 Oct 2001. Currently working on installing Motor, lights and CD player. We’ve had a blast working on this boat. 5-7-03: Project has been completed for some time now. We take it to shows a few times a year, and it always seems to be a crowd pleaser (Even had a few offers to buy it). The few times we’ve had it in water, it’s performed very well and with electric trolling motor, seems to be very safe for the kids. (see Customer Photos)
TUBBY TUG / Murphy Lege / mlege@leo.infi.net / 7-9-01: Have all parts cut out and in the final stages of encapsulating. Hope to begin assembly tomorrow. 8-12-01: Hull stitched together, Hull fillets almost complete, really starting to take shape.
TUBBY TUG / Pat Morrisey / Foster City, CA / patfly@comcast.net / 1-3-05: I have just begun. I have purchased materials – Frame, plans, fasteners and fiberglass kit from Glen-L. “Found wood” from my shop. I have the bottom laid out on sawhorses and have constructed a 4′ x 8′ sheet of carbon paper for tracing. It is humble, but a beginning. I have been successful in winning bids for a 7″ Brass Ships Bell and a 18″ Ships Wheel on EBay. There is no turning back now.
TUBBY TUG / Jeff Drexler / Michigan / djdrexler@sbcglobal.net / 4-26-05: I purchased plans in 1/05 and started building, it is now 4/05 and I am still working on it. I only put in a couple hours a week, due to Scouts and now tee ball. Here are some pictures, my goal is to float by July. (see Customer Photos)
TUBBY TUG / Paul Koons / East Lansing, Michigan / pkoons2562@sbcglobal.net / 1-15-06: Started yesterday with the purchase of Okoume plywood and have since traced and cut out bottom. Today we traced the rest of the patterns and while we take time out to go to grandma’s for dinner, we will try to cut out the rest of the patterns. Still need to order Epoxy kit and plans for the ETM. 1-16-06: Finished cutting out the rest of the patterns today. I also constructed a dolly out of 2 X 6’s with casters so I could move the project around in my garage. Also ordered plans for the ETM mount so I won’t have the same lines across the transom as the plans call for. I will have to try and construct a pattern for the transom bulwark. Even though I’m the captain of this vessel, I still have to answer to the Admiral. She says to slow down a bit on the purchases for a cycle or two. I haven’t told her yet that I’m planning on buying a new 50 lb thrust electric trolling motor only to cut it in half. 1-23-06: received the ETM plans and stitching wire. Will need to modify the plans some but should be able to fit it in. Plan on ordering the epoxy kit tomorrow and will pickup the hardwood for the cabin on friday. Still haven’t figured out how I will apply the epoxy in my garage with temperatures in the 20’s to 30’s. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it… 3-5-06: I received my Epoxy Kit in early February, and decided to wait until warmer weather to start this task. Well, I couldn’t wait. I’ve encapsulated the bottom, glued the cleats to the bulkheads and today, encapsulated the bulkheads. I’ve been bringing the pieces into my basement workshop where the temps are around 65 degrees. Once the bulkheads cure, I’ll start stitching the sides and transom out in the gargage but after that, I’ll have to wait for warmer weather to do the fillets. 7-18-07: Well it’s been awhile since I’ve updated my project. It seems like I’m always hung up on cold weather. My prime building hours in the summer months are spent on my other boat, a 42’ Chris Craft in Grand Haven on Lake Michigan. The Tubby Tug hull is complete, and the cabin is complete as far as the structure goes. I still have to insert the front windows and fasten them down. The water cannon pump is mounted on the inside of the front bulkhead and plumbed to a thru-hull for water pickup. I’m working on the dash-board, mounting the helm, buttons and switches for running lights, interior lights, buttons for the horn and water cannon, gages, Ammeter and Battery Condition. Still have to add trim and bumper to hull, finish top side of water cannon, run steering cable and wires for electric motor controls. I’m still waiting on running lights and interior lights to come in. I am using a Safe-T QC steering system with an 8’ cable. I would be interested if others have used this as well. It has a ¾” tapered shaft and my ship’s wheel has a 1” keyed hole. Haven’t figured out what to do yet. All my trim pieces are finished with a dark stain and 4 coats of spar varnish. I will need to add another coat or two once it is installed. If we have an early spring this year, I expect to have her in the water before boating season starts.
TUBBY TUG / Eric Staggs / Spokane, WA / eastaggs@gmail.com / 2-9-06: I have just finished the stitching of the chine and sides, will be epoxying today.
TUBBY TUG / Kevin, Kathleen and Colleen Murphy / Roswell, GA /kmurphy826@hotmail.com / 7-18-06: We have the plans and the wood. We think that we understand the directions, The screws, nails stitching wire and epoxy are “in-transit”, having been ordered on-line. At this point, the bottom and the knees have been cut from the 3/8″ plywood and patterns are being traced to the first 1/4″ plywood to make sure that I can get all of the pieces out of it that I am supposed to. 7-31-06: All of the pieces for the hull have been cut and most have been encapsulated with epoxy. The encapsulation process is very time consuming, especially since my space is limited and I have to do it in stages. I’ve been trying to get the pieces coated in the order that they will be assembled, and have been fairly successful. I’m a little behind on the transom. This past weekend, Kathleen, Colleen and I attached the bulkheads to the floor. The shape and size of Tubby Tug is much more apparent. We are all anxious to get to the stitching.
TUBBY TUG / Chester Robinson / Sherman, TX / buffalo1@totalnet.us / 8-7-06: I got the plans a few weeks ago and ordered the okoume plywood over the internet. So far my father-in-law and I have cut out all the parts and have encapsulated the wood for the hull. Should be able to attach all the cleats tomorrow and then start stitching the hull together. Only problem so far is the Texas summer heat and very short working times with the epoxy. 9-15-06: Have finished the aft and foreward seats and filled with flotation foam. I placed a half inch pipe w cap inside of each seat for ventilation. Foredeck is on and faired. Started on the cabin, got the front ply sprung across front posts. (see Customer Photos)
TUBBY TUG / Mark Stevenson and grandson Damien Engblom (age 7 1/2) / Sturgeon Bay, WI / m70250@dcwis.com / 12-6-06: We (my grandson and I) have just received the plans for the tubby tug and are now transfering patterns to plywood. The bottom is cut and we cutting other pieces. This is a project for him and he is very excited. Launch time is scheduled for spring. We live in Sturgeon Bay, WI. right on Little Sturgeon Bay so this boat will be used by him a lot. I plan on using electric power at this time. I made copies of the boat profile and Damien is designing color schemes for it now.
TUBBY TUG / William A Mackey / Utica, NY / rambler4@verizon.net / 6-3-07: I purchased the plans on 2/5/06 and began collecting the materials, I found some 100 year old oak that was previously church pews, which I used for the cabin and all the trim. 5/20/06: hull complete,cabin complete on 7/22/06. 9/23/06: all painted and ready. Wasn’t able to go for maiden voyage until 5/28/07. It was in the water 7/4/06 but just to reach my personal goal. Had to wait till this season as it required a HIN, which took much longer than I excepted. This memorial day was the first voyage, hell or high water, and it was 20 mph wind and 1 ft. waves, but this little boat took it like a champ. Thanks Glen-L ! (see Customer Photos)
TUBBY TUG / Paul Brown / Australia / kbritten@iprimus.com.au / 10-23-07: I have finally finished Tubby Tug. I started on 25 January and completed 19 October, with a time of 362 hrs. I think hours could have been reduced if I had not had trouble with varnish finishes over epoxy. The boat turned heads on the way to the water and in the water, building this vessel was a very satisfying experience. I would reccomend it to anyone, the end product is so unique. Power is 54lb thrust electric outboard supplied by 2 100ah batteries which can be switched from one to the other as required. Electric out board supplier was horrified when I told him I wanted to cut it in half, and procceded to tell me there could be no warranty. The trailer is a Glen-L 650, which I modified slightly as I wanted protection for the propeller. With one person on board trim is slightly bow down, this is probably due to battery placement. With two up trim is spot on, one in wheel house and one on stern seat its more fun with two anyway and so quiet. (see Customer Photos)
TUBBY TUG / Kevin Brown / McDonough, GA / kb@lilwoody.com / 10-25-07: As of Oct 2007, I have finished the glue-up of the hull and flipped it to cover in fiberglass. I have begun the cabin. I travel with my job and am only able to work on the boat every other week-end. I have 31 hours build time into the boat and plan on finishing by Jan of 2008 (my daughter’s birthday). I have a website that is documenting the build.
TUBBY TUG / Trent Morrison / Damascus, Oregon / trentm@metrocpr.com / 8-9-08: Received plans on 8/7/08. All patterned plans are cut out, looking forward to hull assembly.
TUFFY / Don Slomke / dslomke@adelphia.net / 7-18-01: Received plans and began construction 6-30-01. As of 7-10-01, form, frames, chine log and sheer clamp are done. On 7-14-01 began planking sides. 7-17-01: Began bottom planking. Hope to finish hull and turn over to begin topside by 7-28-01. So far, so good. 7-22-01: Rear 1/2 of side and bottom planking glued & screwed. Hope to finish all hull planking and flip over to start topside by 7-24-01. I am 24 days into the boat at this point, (about 19 days actual working time). 7-23-01 All hull planking in place. I built a cradle to support hull to finish topside. Hope to get some help and turn hull over 7-24. 7-27-01: Hull turned over, carlings, decking, and motorwell sides installed. Now adding motorwell bottom and ready to install cowling and dashboard. Hope to turn back over by 7-30 (30 days total time) and begin fiberglassing. While I’m resting, I will help a friend build “Cruisette”. 7-28-01: Cut and installed motorwell, dash, flooring, and cowl. All that remains (other than seating), is to glue down decking and minor fitting of cowl / dash pieces. Will turn over to begin fiber glassing in 1-2 days. 7-29-01 All woodwork complete (except seating) I will turn over and start glassing the hull in a day or two. Total time so far 29 days from start (about 23 actual working days) 8-10-01: hull has been completely coated with resin and all seams fiberglass taped. (HINT: buy a set of dispensers that screw into cans of resin and hardener. This makes the job 100X easier and you get a precise mix each time even if you mix a very small amount of resin!!) 8-18-01 Fiberglassing complete on hull sides and bottom. Will start painting hull about 8-20-01. I have 50 days (about 40 actual working days) in the project now. I have made parts for the steering system (drum & cable type) and hope to launch by 1st week of September. I will still have some interior work to do, but I can’t wait any longer! 8-31-01: Hull is finished and painted. I still have some interior finishing to do, but I am going to launch Tuffy tomorrow! I am 60 days into the project, and very little remaining. I am powering it with a 9.9hp YAMAHA ( the closest lake has a 10hp limit) but this winter I will rebuild the engine with a few mods and a 15hp carb. 8-2-01: A mere 61 days after starting the project, we launched TUFFY. The boat performed well (for a 13′ boat, I’m used to much larger ones). We got 21 m.p.h. with a stock 1985 9.9 YAMAHA and a “well used” prop. That is with two 250+ lb passengers! The boat was dry as a bone inside when we pulled it out. We did get a little spray from jumping wakes though! (I would recommend installing the spray rails) I can take my time finishing the interior now, and I plan to work the motor over this winter. I had 2 people want to know where to get the plans to build one while at the launch ramp. I will have some good pictures soon. 10-1-01: Update on “Tuffy’s” performance: with a new 10-1/2″ Yamaha prop, (which I may have worked over this winter) we saw 25 m.p.h. with a 200# passenger in the front seat and myself (280#) in the back! I did find out the 15 hp parts are already on the engine, but there is surely more speed to be had! Thanks for a great project, I highly recommend the Tuffy for a first timer, the instructions are super easy to follow and very detailed. Now I am starting my T-N-T for when I want to zip around by myself.(See Customer Photos)
TUFFY / Anthony Moschella / Email address not valid 5-6-03 / 10-8-01: First time boat builder, with some (limited) carpentry experience. I’m 21 and a full time student at Brown University in Providence, RI and I’ve been dreaming of building my own boat for years. This summer working nights and weekends I finished the Tuffy. The project was built entirely in my garage in Cedar Knolls, NJ. I worked on it most weekends and tried to work a few nights a week. I completed the project in 3 months to the day, beginning on 28 May 2001 and finishing on 28 August 2001, two days before I had to go back to college. So I never got a chance to put her in the water. I can’t wait until spring. I still need to finish the interior, mount the motor, and install seating, but otherwise its complete. It came out amazing, especially for my first try. The hardest parts were bending the chines and curving the foreward portions of hull sheeting. For the chines I had to depart from the plans and use 3 laminations of 1/4″ oak lattice instead of the the 1″ mahagony called for in the plans. I just couldn’t get it to bend, but I think the oak will work fine. And I broke a piece of plywood when laying the foreward hull. The secret is patience! you had to bend at little at a time (volumes have been written by others about this). Also, you have to position the grain of wood along the maximum axis of curvature. I worked almost entirely alone, with my father, brother, and friends helping a little. This project was probably the single most rewarding thing I have ever done, and I encourage anyone considering beginning a boat to go for it. It was so amazing and rewarding and powerful to see a pile of wood become something beautiful and functional. I learned a lot about carpentry, but more importantly, it was so introspective. Boatbuilding honestly changed my life, it was exactly what I needed. Glen-L plans were excellent and everyone at Glen-L was extremely helpful. Any questions or problems I’d be happy to help out. Good luck!
TUFFY / Dan Belyea / Mt. Jackson, VA / daniel.m.belyea@accenture.com / 2-20-02: Have completed all parts and the building form. Have bought majority of wood including 1/4″ Marine Grade AB plywood and oak keel and battens. I am preparing to glue frame pieces and stem parts together to complete the three frames and stem and be ready to add Keel and Battens.
TUFFY / David Langman / Orangeville, Ontario, Canada / Hidditt@Sympatico.ca / 9-26-02: Started work in September 2001. Built the frames, and waited for warm weather. In April, moved to the garage, built the jig, and completed the project July 7, 2002. Modified the transom (3 laminations of plywood) and transom knee (4 3/4 laminations of plywood) to support a 60HP 2 cylinder short shaft Evinrude (1981). I shortened the deck 6″ and moved the seats forward. The steering system (rack/pinion) exits through the right hand side deck requiring a hole in the deck. I installed an old water-ski fin amidships instead of using the wooden keel from the patterns. With a 19″ aluminium 3 blade prop, the boat will hit 42 MPH, and will hold 40 with 4 teenagers. It rides like a dream on calm water, corners well, but avoid boat wakes at 40 MPH! Used plenty of epoxy, and instead of glass, used landscape fabric. 5-8-03: I finished my Tuffy July of 2002. Love the boat, fast, safe for the teenagers, and 4 seats to carry a crowd.(see Customer Photos)
TUFFY / Scott D / Narraganset Bay, MA / sndspike@aol.com / 1-22-03: Ready to apply bottom and side panels. 5-12-03: Progressing slowle, but I try to do a little every day.
TUFFY / David McAdam / Ireland / mcadamd@eircom.net / 8-17-03: Finished the building form, still putting mahogany frames together.
TUFFY / Allan Gillis / m_bollinger@shaw.ca / 8-17-06: I previously built your TNT and I have now built the Tuffy model (white with blue stipes). A little about the boat: I built it spacifically to use in rivers as a jet boat and modified the original design. The transom motor mounting hight was raised 7 inches. The transom angle was changed to 18 degrees. The boat bottom now has a tunnel extending 2 feet forward, 2 inches tapered from transom, 16 inches in wide. These changes were made to accommodate a jet 40 Merc outboard, the tunnel allows the jet intake to not be below the bottom of the boat. The boat is epoxy encapsulated on the inside and fiberglassed on the outside.
How well does it work? Wow what a machine, its on plane instantly even with passengers, only needs 3 inches of water depth. Once on plane I need only half thottle. It literaly will go anywhere and is the funest thing I have ever driven.
How long did it take to build? 3 months. How much did it cost? 9000 for motor ( new ), 400 for steering, 3000 for boat, 1200 for traler. Prices in Canadian dollars. (see Customer Photos)
TUFFY / Scott and Cameron MacPherson / Ontario, Canada/ravenautical@hotmail.com / 10-2-07: Started 11/12/05: Got basically everything cut out and measured, products collected, and hardware bought, ready to start. Took a break for the summer of ’06. Started up again in the fall of ’06. Finished 12/08/07. We full out fiberglassed and painted. Great little boat. Put a 40hp 4 stroke EFI Mercury on the back. Fast, quiet, and fun. Does 39mph with aluminum prop. See what happens with the SS prop. Handles great with one person, better with two. $10,500 project. Very worth it though. Cost breakdown: New motor $7500; Controls, RPM cable, Steering, Seats, Battery, Trim Tabs: $1000; Paint and fiberglass: $900; Hardware: $100; Wood: $1000.
3-12-08: When my dad and I completed the Tuffy we did not do any modifications at all besides raise the transom height to 20″ using stainless steel. What sits on the back is a brand new Mercury 40hp 4 Stroke EFI 2007 that I bought at the Toronto International Boat Show earlier that year. It turns a 10.25′ x 14’P aluminum propeller that sets us close to 40mph with the trim all the way down. It has power trim so we will see more speed in the future… We installed the works into her; gauges, no feedback steering, up front 11.5 Gallon gasoline tank, nice throttle and shifter and Nauticus smart tabs. We are adding more and more to it each day. It has been one of the most interesting projects I have ever done. I will soon be buying either plans for the Zip and/or the Squirt. I am buying two used outboards which are the Mercury Mark25H 1958 and 1961 Mercury 650 65hp outboards for under $1000 in total.
I love your designs and your designs only. This is my own first boat and I will be building many more because of this is my new hobby. I don’t even have a car yet, just a boat! Thanks! (See Customer Photos)
TUG ALONG 16′ / Jeremy Hawn / Plattsburg, Missouri / jeremy073@centurytel.net / 6-24-2010: Started building 21 June 2010; now in the process of stitching the hull together.
TUG ALONG 16′ / Richard MacRae / Toronto, Canada /richard.macrae@rogers.com / 1-13-2011: I’ve been building the Tug Along 16′ with my son, since the end of September, 2010. I’ve completed the hull, deck and installed the bulwark, motor well sides and transom. I’ve also painted the bottom interior of the hull below the water line.
TUG ALONG 18′ / Wayne Conklin / Spring Hill, Florida /wconklin7864@bellsouth.net / 10-30-2010: I actually started the Tug Along 18 today…starting by cutting out the hull sides/then the hull bottom/battons/keel etc….
11-15-2010: I recieved the plans in early September, secured a workshop, ordered some plywood and started cutting it October 28th. All parts for the hull have been cut, including temporary forms. I have the sides glued together, and will start gluing the hull bottom this week…hope to order the stich & glue kit soon.
TUNNEL KING / Matthew Green / Canada / Email address not valid 5-6-03 / 12-5-98: Completed boat June/96 (started Sept 95). Built with DF plywood, Phil. mahog. longditudals. Have photos of every stage of construction, and lots of advice for builders. Lots of high perf. setup advice for this hull as well. Runing V-4 Johnson to 75+ mph – will begin drag racing in summer. (See News Letters/WebLetter 8, 13, 16)
TUNNEL KING / Daniel Boulet / Montreal, QU, Canada / dboulet1@videotron.ca / 9-28-03: I’m at studying the plans and the instructions. My goal right now is to read over and over the instructions and studying the plans at the same time to get a complete picture of the whole project before I start cutting the first piece of wood.
TUNNEL MITE / John C. Smith / Edmonds, WA / jjcsmith026@aol.com / 4-2-00: Completed 5-7-03: Barry, the tunnel-mite was completed about 30 days after I got the plans. Photo’s of it are on the archived photo board.
TUNNEL MITE / Jim Guarino / jguarino@artguildinc.com / 10-19-01: I started my boat in July 2001. I am, at this point, completely epoxied. I have made a few modifications along the way. I’ll explain… #1-I used 3/4″ thick plywood for the hull frames, it worked very well, it saved weight, and I was able to route them from a template. I glassed them in prior to closing the hulls. #2 I had stainless steel fuel tanks made to go in the hulls. One on each side, 3 gallons each, tight to the front of frame 2. This cleaned up the cockpit, no need for the red fuel tank bouncing around and it brings the weight of the fuel forward. #3 I increased the height of the dashboard, which gave me room on the dash for gages and gave the cowl a real nice aerodynamic shape. Now I am filling and sanding in preparation for primer. 5-6-03: I’m still alive and ready to run my boat for the first time this spring. It turned out great and I want to scan some photos and I will e-mail them to you and update my registry so others can contact me.
TUNNEL MITE / Steve Abplanalp / steve66614@yahoo.com / 12-10-01: Approximately 2/3 complete on the wood construction. 5-6-03: Project “stalled-out”, but, still planning to complete. All woodwork is done. Glass and all mechanicals remain to be completed.
TUNNEL MITE / Peter Nicola / PeterNicola@MailDelivery.Com / 11-22-02: My name is Peter and I Started working on the Tunnel Mite in late September have completed the Frame, Transom and Bottom. The work has been halted now for about a month now due to the cold, the epoxy doesn’t work when it gets cold and the electric heat in my (drafty) barn only adds 10 degrees to the outside temp. If anyone in the New Hampshire / Vermont area is building, has built or is considering the Tunnel Mite Get in touch with me. I expect to be afloat on the lakes in June this coming spring. 5-13-03: I added a propane heater to my barn workshop and was able to get the bottom finished. Now that spring is here, I’ll be able to get more done. The goal is to get the project done by summer! (See Customer Photos)
TUNNEL MITE / Donnie Gilliland / drgilli@charter.net / 11-6-04: I am constructing the Tunnel Mite for my nephews and granddaughter. I just finished the tunnel sides and planking and anticipate turning it over to start on the top side in the next few days. I’d really like to get it finished for summer. 3-14-06: Well as everyone knows, time flies. Here it is March of ’06 and I am just now applying the side decking and cowl. It went on very quickly but now I’m starting the fairing and filling of the top side. I’m struggling with the fairing of the scarf joint on the forward section of the side decking; it’s just so flat! I suspect by next week, I’ll be applying the seal coat and ‘glass to the top. Then the 3rd and 4th coats of Poxy Shield will go on. I’ve begun to research paint and finishing choices; it’s even more confusing than I anticipated. I have a lot of help with paint schemes to choose from thanks to my nephews and granddaughter. I look forward to the launching sometime this summer, I need to get it completed and out of my woodshop so I can start on the Tiny Might.
TUNNEL MITE / Dave Boxrud / Vancouver Island, Canada /islandlifeisgood@hotmail.com / 1-27-05: I built the Tunnel Mite in our boat building class in 1977. I wanted the Tunnel Mite to look like the bigger tunnels so I designed the top deck to look like them, building and designing the boat gave me an “A”. The canopy is made from 1/8″ Mahogany. I wet the wood and bent it over the frames, the front I used canvas over frames and fared out with light filler. Contact me through my email to ask me any questions. (see Customer Photos)
TWO PLUS / Jeff / madeira@gte.net / 2-10-00: Finished frame #2. 5-4-00: Finished final frame. Starting work on breasthook and stem.
TWO PLUS / Kjetil Petersen / Norway / lillmgp@online.no / 6-29-02: Started project mid april 2002. Have completed frames and set up everything on buidling form. Frames made of Norwegian spruce (heartwood). Keel and bottom battens + chine log finished. Can only work a few hours every week. But I hope to be able to turn the hull over sometime in august 02. 9-2-02: The hull is completed. I used 10mm Okoume marine plywood for the sides and the forward section of the bottom. This plywood is very lightweight and easy to bend, a little soft though. The bottom is covered with meranti plywood. To further increase the bottom strength I used 400 gr. Biaxial glass. The sides are covered with 200 gr. ordinary glass cloth. Basically I could now sand and paint. But the hull is looking so incredibly good that I really want to go all the way and cover the sides with mahogany strips. I am currently trying to find a local supplier for this. I won’t be able to keep my schedule of turning the hull his month. But still I hope to get the boat completed for next summer. 5-29-03: My Two Plus project is going quite good. After putting the plywood on the frames I thought the hull looked so nice that I really wanted to create a mahogany cruiser of this boat. I found a local supplier of Khaya mahogany. I ordered 6mm thick and 45 mm wide strips that had bed and cove as in strips used for strip planking. This in some ways made it easier to glue the strips to my hull. But I found that in the areas near to the bow these strips where a little too wide to be used with bed and cove. Very difficult to get a tight fit.
When sides and front part of bottom were finally covered and the epoxy cured. I cut of most of the epoxy drippings with a power plane set to zero level. This actually worked fine. This was followed by hours and hours of sanding. I used a disk sander. The result was quite good. I mixed a custom colour of water based stain and applied it with some old T-shirts. I then covered everything in three layers of epoxy. I used glass cloth for the bottom section only. Time will show if this was a good idea. Just before Christmas I called for a truck with crane to help me turn the hull over. From January until now, I have averaged about 6 hours every week. Progress is a little slow. But decks are in place as well as the main cabin structure. I had plans for getting it in the water this summer. But there is still a lot of work to be done.
TWO PLUS / Ahmed Ahmed / Dubai/U.A.E. / ahmed.ahmed@zu.ac.ae / 10-8-05: Purchasing framing materials.
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