53' Harbor Steam Full Hull Tugboat - Kit

This 53' tug is typical of the steam-powered vessels that plied harbors big and small for decades. The small size and shallow draft (depth of water under the hull) also made them well suited for work on rivers, canals and creeks. Similar boats would also serve as pilot boats (carrying a licensed marine pilot to assist vessels coming in or leaving a harbor), carrying mail, ferrying passengers and more. Similar boats were in service from the late 1800s on, originally steam-powered (as depicted by this kit) and later converted to diesel power; in many cases running the new exhaust out the old stack. This full-hull model is ideal for layouts, where it can be used in a dockyard to model a vessel laid-up for repairs or seasonal storage, or a handsome model for display or decoration. The kit is designed for easy construction with no ship building skills needed, and features a resin hull with bulwarks and planking cast in. The pilothouse and deckhouse are photo-etched brass