Bread making on board

The Lekue Bread Maker & Tovolo Dough Whisk

Nothing goes better with freshly caught Dungeness Crab than freshly baked bread.  Much of this blog has focused on catching crab, so it only seems logical to now talk about baking bread on board.  I am not the expert on the bread part; I am more the "hunter gatherer", I search for the crab and gather cool galley gadgets for Cindy to try so that I can sample the end product.

Cindy really likes the Lekue Bread Maker.   This is a silicone mixing bowl & baking pan, all in one.  You open the soft silicone bowl, mix the ingredients, let it rise, knead, and bake all in the same vessel.  It makes bread making a single pot meal!  Less to wash, easy in the galley.

We have been using the Lekue both on board and at home since last summer; I wanted to be thorough for this sea trial so I had Cindy bake a lot...  It makes a nicely sized loaf, about the size of a small football.  The crust is wonderful both top and bottom.   It is perfectly sized for a boat oven.

Available from Amazon.  About $35.  

A complimentary product might be the Tovolo Dough Whisk.  This whisk is used to mix the wet and dry ingredients in bread dough, pancake & cake mixes, etc.  It can whisk, cut the dough and scrape a bowl edge.

We have not tried this item but it was suggested by a friend.  All stainless construction and cheap at $10.  At Amazon and other retailers.   Cindy's latest gadget arrives later this week.

Update:  The Whisk arrived and Cindy loves it.  She said it worked great and it is a keeper.

Hull Lamination Time Lapse Video

We just shot this cool time lapse of the lamination of a new American Tug 365 hull.  Start to finish the hull takes 9-days.  There are over twenty laminated parts that make up a complete AT365.  In total the boat will take 16-weeks to complete and will have over 1,100 parts.

Thermostatic control of Cummins block heater

Easy Heat EH-38 Thermostatically Controlled Device


Water has a unique property; when it freezes it expands.  Most items contract when cooled, but water has this very annoying property that can cause damage to pipes and machinery.

When winterizing a boat, preparing it for the cold winter months, boat owners choose between draining water systems or heating their boats to overcome this freeze.  The decision is based on if they plan to do winter boating.  Our east-coast clients will generally pull their boats from the water and winterize.  West coast boaters enjoy the relatively moderate conditions and boat all winter long.

I have always suggested to my clients that they plug or cover the engine room air intakes so that the winter winds do not allow cold air to enter the machinery spaces.  Put in foam plugs or cover the intakes with shelf liner adhesive film.  Either solution keeps the warm air in the engine room.

Our Cummins engines are equipped with a "block heater"  this is an 800-watt 120-volt heater element that keeps the engine warm.  They are great for winter storage and make the engine very easy to start in cold conditions.  The block heater will keep the engine and its surrounds toasty warm.  The downside is that it is not thermostatically controlled so it is always pulling  6.66-amps or over 19,200-watts of power each day.  Very expensive if left on all winter.

The Easy Heat Thermostatically Controlled Device is the solution!  It will switch on a 1500-watt load automatically at 38-degrees, and switch off at 50-degrees.  Just plug the block heater into the device and use the outlet in the engine room.  She will be warm on those coldest nights.

Easy Heat EH-38 is less then $15 at Amazon.

Shelf liner film:  http://www.amazon.com/Duck-1115496-Laminate-Adhesive-12-Inch/dp/B002AS9NC6/ref=lp_3744211_1_4?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1462385138&sr=1-4

Easy Heat Device: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Heat-EH-38-Thermostatically-Controlled/dp/B0000DGA8P?ie=UTF8&refRID=GJN2GJ5YEPJ5WJ03QD4B&ref_=pd_ybh_a_4

Surveyors inspect American Tug

Joint meeting of NAMS & SAMS tour American Tug factory

We recently led a tour of the American Tug factory in La Conner for a joint meeting of the northwest surveyors.  This included both SAMS the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors and NAMS, the National Association of Marine Surveyors. 

When purchasing a pre-owned boat a Marine Survey is conducted to inspect the boat and make sure the boat is in good shape and is free of defects, damage and to assess its value.  This protects the buyer and is also required by banks and marine insurance carriers.

SAMS and NAMS are the two organizations that accredit surveyors and are your assurance of the surveys quality. 

It was fun to have the group come through the factory as they recognized our great quality, while at the same time asking us some good technical questions.

Seattle Boats Afloat Show - September 16-20

Please come to the Seattle Boats Afloat Show on Lake Union at Chandlers Cove.  September 16-20.



On display is a new American Tug 485, a gorgeous American Tug 41 Flybridge, and an American Tug 365.  Great boats!
B
Come by and say hello.  Steve, Cindy & Gerry

New American Tug Owners Burgee designed

Update:  New ATUGOA burgee chosen at the 2015 Rendezvous
Congratulations Alan Grube for your submission, the new American Tug Owners burgee.

Alan has won a new Ring Buoy with graphics donated by Scott Soes of the Anders Sign Company.  Thanks Scott for supporting our fleet.


Let’s design a burgee!  The American Tug Owners need their own unique burgee to fly with pride from the stem fitting.

Download the entry form PDF here.
Submit your entries to the factory at info@americantugs.com prior to the big Fall Rendezvous over Labor Day weekend.  We will be displaying all the entrants on Saturday, September 5th and then taking ballots prior to the dinner.
Let me know of any questions.  Steve 206-930-6139 or steve@americantugs.com

Drone attacks Trawlerrow

Thanks Shawn Severn for your drone flight & video.




You can visit our docks anytime, call Steve Scruggs at 206-930-6139.  steve@americantugs.com

Rollout! American Tug 485 hull #5

American Tugs is proud to announce the rollout of "American Dream"

Click for a time lapse video of her rollout

American Tug 485 hull #5 was launched on July 10, 2015.  Congratulations, she is gorgeous!

Thank you for working with American Tugs!

Sold Boat: 2004 American Tug 41

2004 American Tug 41      Prime Time II            Now Sold!

 Built for her current owner; the original Pacific Northwest dealer for American Tugs.  She is well equipped and has been very meticulously maintained by an experienced yachtsman.
The American Tug 41 is a beautifully crafted raised pilothouse motor yacht.

Built in La Conner, Washington on a semi-displacement hull and designed to operate super efficiently at displacement hull-speeds.  When the skipper desires or the situation requires she can be powered up to run in semi-displacement trim allowing her to safely pass the narrows, rapids or areas of adverse current found all along the Inside Passage.  American Tugs are ideally suited for northwest 4-season cruising.

Powered by the Cummins QSC-540 common rail engine with complete maintenance records.  Equipped with bow and stern thrusters, Simrad 17-inch color displays & multi-function repeaters, Furuno NavNet color radar, chart plotter and high-power fish finder, built in PC with Coastal Explorer software, Tanner mast, factory custom cabinetry, abundant engine spares, Village Marine 600-gpd watermaker, Nova Kool refrigerator, Force Ten stove,  Hydronic heat system, Stidd helm chair, 11.5-foot AB inflatable with console and Yamaha 25 engine, etc.. The complete list is impressive.

Equipped to fish and proven lucky; Prime Time II has a trolling valve on the marine gear, two bridge-deck mounted deep freezers, Tanner stainless rocket launchers, custom stainless cleaning station, Tanner downrigger mounts, Simrad multi repeater in aft cockpit, custom rod security locker, and a gorgeous Magma stainless barbecue center.

Click here for a gallery of high resolution photos

Here is the Yachtworld listing with full details

Prime Time II is ready for your next Expedition; to the Broughton's, Alaska or Mexico!

Now moored on Trawler Row in La Conner Marina, just below the American Tug factory.   Call Steve Scruggs to make a private appointment to see her.  Call 360-466-6139 or steve@americantugs.com

Stern reel for smaller boats

In the Pacific Northwest we have a unique need for the stern reel.  Given our summertime light wind and always present tides, boats can swing on their anchors.  To minimize the amount of space that a boat takes up in an anchorage, it is customary to put out a stern line to shore to keep the boat from swinging around the moorage unnecessarily.


Generally the line will be 1/4", 5/16" or 3/8" polypro.  Poly is inexpensive, it floats and is normally in a highly visible color.   The 1/4" line may be appropriate for many boats as it is doubled up between the boat and shore.  The line gets fed from the boat, around a fixed object on shore and is brought back to the boat so you can easily retrieve the line when you are ready to depart.

Here is a recent discovery that may be great on smaller boats (up to 40-footers?) as it can carry about 400-feet of 1/4" poly line.

Alert Stamping 7000WR Pro-Reel Cord Carrier

This cord reel was purchased from Amazon and sells for under $30.  We were able to load about 400-feet of 1/4" poly line.  There were four screws we replaced with stainless in order to make it better for the marine environment.  Quality was good, and it is made in the USA.


My last post with a stern line generated much interest.  Since that time I have heard that Mr. Brooks no longer makes his reels.  See: http://americantugnews.blogspot.ca/2012/11/stern-tie-reel.html.  That reel held more line and was appropriate for larger boats or those wanting to carry larger diameter line.


The new reel has been sent off with a client aboard his American Tug 395 for field trials in Desolation Sound.  A report will follow later in the summer.


We still are looking for the best stern line reel solutions.  Please submit your solution to: steve@americantugs.com.


Thank you,

Steve