Tom Thumb
- A Minimum Cruising Houseboat
The Tom-Thumb Cruising Houseboat is
surprisingly simple to build. It is made on the basic
16 ft platform and is all aluminum. The boat is designed
to be pulled to far off places for exciting adventures.
The boat deck house and roof lowers for long distance
transport, and for storage in a standard garage bay,
It should take less than 10 – 15 minutes to
raise the pilot house and the roof structure. These
structures can be left in the upright position for
short distance hauling.
click image for larger view
The recommended motor would be a 10-15 hp which should
give a displacement hull speed of around 5-6 knots.
However, up to 45 hp could be used for those want
to go fast. The Hulls on the Uglyboat platform are
flat on the bottom and will plane like a tunnel hull
boat.
It’s about as small as you can go with a micro
cruising boat if you want Mamma to share your adventure.
The boat and trailer should weigh less than 1000 lbs.
and can be pulled by just about any vehicle.
It has a head with shower, which is a necessity for
any cruise lasting more than one day. The standard
Uglyboat Comfort Station can be installed either inside
or outside the pilot house.
I have designed the boat with a fully covered aluminum
roof for shade both front and back. You could easily
make snap on screens to enclose the back deck area
if you want to sit out in the evening. The pilot house
is intentionally small to allow lots of front and
back deck space. The back deck is 6ft x 7ft with 36”
seats on the sides. You can carry your grill with
space to sit and eat. With the front and back windows
and doors removed, you will have an airy little cruiser
that will be tons of fun. When those 3 gallon per
mile giants pass you by, wave heartily and smile.
Small is the future in cruising boats.
click image above for larger view
Steps to lower pilot
house and roof:
1. Fold the window frames inward to rest on
the pilot house front and back cross frames.
2. Lift the front of the roof to release
the forward cross frame and lower the forward frame.
3. Lower the front of the roof and secure
into the roof holding bracket on the front cross
frame.
4. With the roof attached in the front,
raise the back of the roof and lower the back cross
frame.
5. Lower the back of the roof and secure
the roof into the holding bracket on the back cross
frame.
The Uglyboat comfort station is designed to be installed
on pontoons or deck boats. It takes the footprint
of a standard 36” seat. The comfort station
can include a fresh water shower with a holding tank
where required. However, a simple lake water rinse
off shower can be installed without the holding tank.
For current pontoon or deck boat owners, you will
need to take out a 36” seat and install the
comfort station. The comfort station is sold as a
kit that comes partial or complete. Price is determined
by level of completion.
click image to enlarge
Lets talk- Harold [email protected]
About Harold Duffield: - age
67 - grew up on the Mississippi River - was whats
known as a "river rat". He has been messing
about and building boats for over 50 yrs. Now he
is offering plans and kits for fishing boats, shantys,
house boats and even sailboats in aluminum as well
as finished boats. https://www.oneuglyboat.com/
Other articles by Harold Duffield:
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