I’ve had this hull for a few years & am now getting to building a model of Harken Towing’s tug HARKEN No 1. As per my usual it will not be an exact replica of the real boat. Sometimes a scale model has to accommodate needs not found in the 1:1.
So, here we go. This class of tug boat was the workhorse of the log boom (essentially a floating group of numerous logs) towing industry in the Pacific north west. Towing these log arrays on the PNW rivers, notably the Fraser, was the most economical method of getting timber from the forests to the sawmills. I don’t know if the log towing industry still exists as a going business, but I have doubts since many of the log tugs have been repurposed. Anyone herein who has historical knowledge of the industry &/or its current status please share any information.

I’ve been working on the hull recently. Finalized the location of the motor & gear reducer & installed the mounting foundations. For me this is always a milestone event allowing hull work to move ahead.

One of my favorite parts of a build,; the structural system to support the deck. As usual, I have no plans for construction. Size of components & location derived from proportional measurements from photos. I was generously provided with house & trunk cabin measurements taken from the real tug by another builder. There is also a lot of TLAR that enters the equation. (And plain guesswork).
The first real challenge has been the stepped foredeck. Many logging industry tugs, particularly those involved with towing log booms, have VERY little freeboard since the deckhand has to leap back & forth between the tug & the towed log boom. So creating a low freeboard stepped deck has me thinking.

Below deck structural work continues.Most of propulsion work has been completed.

Work to determine how the decks will work out. Size configuration of the deck opening (aim for max below deck access), coming location, final running gear component placement, etc.

As I said in my last post, something didn’t look right. Turns out my concern was true. After viewing the photos kindly provided to me by Gary H & an informed comment he made to me I realized that the original wooden hull Harken No.1’s hull is different
from the fibers hull I am building upon. WAY different hull form!😡 As a reference I was using a really well built model from a skilled BAMM craftsman who used a hull identical to mine to construct his Harken No.1.
So, the upshot is I will probably abandon Harken No1 in favor of
Harken No.3 or 4. The hull form for both of these is closer to my hull. I’ve been able to find several photos of #4, but only one of. #3.

MORE THINKING REQUIRED. 🤔

Not even a card mockup of the No.1 wheelhouse/trunk cabin looks right to me.

The profile of No.4’s wheelhouse/trunk cabin. I am beginning to like this one. Some adjustments still needed.
Your comments & opinions welcome.

Made some tweaks to the profile. Also realized that the CATES 15 I built two years ago looks much like the HARKEN No.1 Given the hull mismatch with No.1 & similarities with CATES 15 I will switch to
HARKEN No.4 for inspiration.