Hi for your information Billing Cux 87 and Mary Ann are identical hulls. I have them both.
Roy

Another thought. Search the web for Ft Myers shrimp boat photos. Some of those hulls have a sheer line & bow rake similar to your “tug” though I haven’t seen any with a rounded stern. That would be a show stopper. Haven’t searched for shrimp boats in other locations, Louisiana for example, but I would think they are also square stern hulls given how they fish.
Oh well; maybe you could adopt some of the rig.

Like LewZ, I suggest a conversion to a fishing vessel. The MARY ANN in roycv’s blog is another possibility. Changing the profile of the bulwarks to that of a tug won’t work IMHO. A bulwark change would be so extensive that the freeboard forward would become a problem. Then there is the bow profile. Just not that of a tug. I think you could have a fine looking vessel if you pursue the fish boat approach.
I’ve also seen comments regarding leaks around the aft hatch.

Just my thoughts.

Hi Lew,

You have quite a project here! Many would agree that these Almost Ready to Run boats seem very toy-like and artificial.

That being said, the curved gunwales are an attractive feature which are often seem on foreign fishing or utility boats. Your boat definitely needs a wheelhouse and perhaps masts, navigation and other lights, a winch, radar scanner, registration numbers and a good paint job to set it off.

I would suggest some examination of books and\or websites to see if any particular design appeals to you.

If not, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a freelance design to move the boat well away from its toy roots.

If so, please bear in mind your chosen scale at all times, perhaps against the availability of figures. Here you are looking at 1\24 th (3 inch) or maybe 1\16th (4 inch) as the most likely scale. Obviously the wheelhouse windows, ladders, doors and deck fittings should all be scaled accordingly.

A simple sketch and full size cardboard templates are a good starting point.

In any case you have an interesting and challenging project - so much better than a prestine and new looking"toy".

Best wishes and good luck!

Dr John F Leeds and Bradford BBC. 😊😊🤞

Tugs had a large displacement to cope with the large engines they had. So a good displacement might translate to a fishing boat?
The plans for Billing Cux 87 can be seen on line.
Otherwise you might get away with the Vic Smeed design for a Customs Launch Guardsman.

Also it may convert into a sailing boat, perhaps a Bristol Channel Pilot cutter? They have long bowsprits.
If extended with a bowsprit the (Billing) Lilla Dan would work out, see my harbour, also plans on line.
Hope this may have helped.
Good luck with the project
Roy