Erie "Chicago" Tugboat

[sailormatlac]

Nice work Sumpter. I have a question. How are tires suspended? I've seen some pictures showing small holes were drilled into the hull to fit a rope. Matt

In the case of my smaller tug, holes were made in the sheet steel railing, above the deck level. The tires, or other devices, generally referred to as "fenders" would have been secured with steel wire passed through those holes, and made fast with wire clamps, on the inside of the railing.
In some cases, there are steel cleats, welded to the inside of the railing, and the "ropes" holding the fenders are made fast on those cleats.
In most vessels, the fenders are brought in and stored while the vessel is under way. It is the nature of a tug's function that require the fenders, to be permanently rigged .
Hope that helps,
Pete

Thanks Pete! Seems Erie used the cleats system. I'll drill a set of holes accordingly.

Matt