Feature Boat Project Page Revised 10/14/07
On this page we will bring you boats which are good candidates for models. We will also include ideas to make the most of a project.
Great Lakes Fishing Tugs
The Great Lakes Fish Tug evolved from fishermen on the Lakes buying or chartering tugboats to set and retrieve their gill nets. Local Indian tribes in the Great Lakes fished from shore or canoes using spears or nets. When the Europeans arrived they set nets from canoes, but more often boats more familiar to them such as bateau. Later the Mackinaw Boat was employed. They were open rowboats and made fishing in winter or bad weather difficult or impossible. With the advent of steam power it was possible to fish farther out and in worse conditions than before. Using a tugboat still meant working in the elements so ingenious fishermen began to adapt the tugboats to their new job.
Dawn
on the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee in 2007.
Jolene on the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee in 2007.
Ritter Bros. on the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee in 2007.
D &
S on the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee in 2006.
What evolved was a boat of about 30 feet to 60 or more feet in length with a mostly or completely enclosed hull. The wheelhouse was either located amidships or aft as the owner saw fit. There were also boats with two raised houses. Gill nets sometimes a mile long were set from the rear doors. The nets would be retrieved through a side door set forward in the hull. A net lifter engaged the floats and line running along the top of the net and pulled it into the boat. As the net was retrieved the fish were removed and placed in bins. The net would be folded into a bin. The catch would be prepared for market on the trip home. They would be sold to a wholesaler or processor at dockside. Some fishermen also operated processing and sales operations. The Smith family in Port Washington, WI operated a boat, smokehouse, fish market, and restaurant in downtown Port Washington for many years.
The durability and stability of these vessels has earned them respect. Some have found second incarnations as dive boats for commercial diving companies and SCUBA shop excursions.
Fish tugs and the dive boat Lender on the Milwaukee River in the
mid-90's.
Dive Boat Recovery on Milwaukee River in 2006.
In 1992 WSBA member Bill Pelky built a generic fish tug based on the Midwest Products 50' Harbor Tug that was popular at the time. By extending the hull frames to the roof line the hull made a very good representation of a Great Lakes Fish Tug. Using the identical propulsion setup as the Harbor tug it performed very well even in moderate wind. A fuller description of the building of Bill Pelky's fish tug is presented on the Shipyard Page.
In the summer of 2005 WSBA member Chuck Steffen asked Bill to make a plug of a fish tug so he could produce a fiberglass mold. The mold would allow him to turn out fish tug hulls. Bill had just completed making a plug for a similar hull to the Midwest Products 50' Harbor Tug. Midwest had discontinued this kit several years ago but there was still much interest in the design. The harbor tug hull was very popular and Chuck believed a fish tug hull would also be welcomed.
Plug
for fiberglass mold.
Plug with harbor tug hull.
Chuck requested that the hull be capable of being used for other types of vessels. Unlike the tapered stern on the harbor tug the fish tug hull is semi-circular in the stern. If a modeler wished to use the hull to make a tour boat or small ferry it could be done. The hull can be modified to fit a particular project.
David Krause of Ann Arbor, MI built a model of the fish tug Sheryl Dennis. His father in law purchased the boat from Marinette Marine in 1946. It is still working out of Racine WI. This was David's second boat model project. He purchased two of Chuck's hulls. With the first hull he made a generic fish tug. This allowed him to gain experience and confidence in his abilities.
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For the Sheryl Dennis he had to square the stern (remember the hull has a round stern), and droop the nose.
We think he did a excellent job.
Chuck made a fish tug for himself. He called it the "Geezer" for his father. Chuck used decals for the doors and windows. These were made by Chuck's nephew who owns a graphics company. Chuck then weathered the boat.
Inside a fish tug.
We are fortunate to have some examples of fish tugs on display and open to visitors at our local maritime museums. Her are some photos from those boats:
Hope
On display at Door County Maritime Museum's Gills Rock facility.
Looking Aft Kahlenberg Diesel Power Amidships
Forward Net Lifter Hope Model
Buddy O
Rogers Street Fishing Museum Two Rivers, WI
The Buddy O Net Lifter (the style is a little different than on the Hope)
Fish tug gallery
Links to more information on fish tugs:
Fish tugs of the Greatest Lake
Anatomy of a fish tug: The Jean R.
Chuck Steffen's Top Swap
WSBA member Chuck Steffen gets the most out of his 24" tug hull. He made three different tops to fit the one hull. Each is distinctive and unique.
He starts with the 24" hull. It lacks fittings that might not work with the individual tops.
The first top is a little tour boat. It has the Tug wheelhouse, a low engine hatch, canopy with benches, and a steam stack.
The second boat is a island tramp steamer. Chuck is also into "G" railroading and the wheelhouse is from a steam locomotive.
His third top is a tug.
If you have limited space or budget consider trying to do a project like this one. Chuck also has a 36" tug hull with two tops. When he swaps those the scale changes, but it is still believable.
