Yard in which the LNVT was built and the different ways the Hull Identification Number (HIN) was applied (generation 1 thru generation 4)

The first LNVT 37s (#1 - #18) were built in the Hai O yard (HAO). The remainder of the 37s (#19 thru #76) and all the 49s (#2 thru #9) were built in the Ocean Eagle Yard (OEY). The 41s were built in the South Coast Marine yard. All the tugs yards were built in Taiwan.

By law all hulls must be given a unique number at the time of their manufacture. The location and style of the LNVTs' hull number went through at least four iterations. The first hulls had their number just below the cap rail on the transom about midship. After hull #2 the hull number was moved to below the rub rail. By at least hull #8 the number looks as though it was laid up with the hull. By at least Hull #33 the number was indented on a plate and laid up with the hull.

Indent in Hull Along Waterline (0, 1 or two indents)

Through at least hull #47 the factory put one or two indents (#20) in the hull to mark the waterline. This practice was discontinued in the later hulls.

Rub Rail's Strake (Bronze vs stainless)

Bronze Rub Strake can be found on hull #2 thru #26. Hull #33 has a stainless rub strake

The caprail width (in inches)

Foredeck Handhold (Wood about 12" long, wood about 22" long or made of metal)

The handholds went from wood to stainless and changed in length too.

Portlight Trim Ring (Bronze v Stainless)

Weep Hole Metal Grommet (Yes v No)

Engine Room Vent (Yes v No)

Hawse Cleat (Flush v Recessed)

Navigation Light Board (Generation 1,2 or 3)

Hulls #1-#8 had their navigation light boards mounted all the way aft on, and flush to, the pilothouse roof. Starting with hull #9 the factory moved the nav light boards forward, just above the Dutch doors. This was done to make it easier for oncoming vessels to see the lights. Visibility and perhaps aesthetics must have remained a concern however because the design changed again in three significant ways. First, the light was moved forward on the board to make it even more easily seen by oncoming vessels. Next the board itself was elevated by about an inch above, and parallel to, the pilot house roof. Then by hull#26, the final iteration, the light was moved to the aft end of the board (as it was in hulls #1 - #8) and the board's aft end was elevated by a standoff to make it level with the horizon (vs. the pilothouse roof). The factory standoffs are 'M" shaped and this fact can be used to help determine provenance.

Dutch Door and Joint Angle (Steep v Mild)

Hull#1 doesn't have Dutch Doors. Starting with Hull#2 they became standard. The slope of the joint between the dutch doors was much more significant in the earlier tugs.

Dutch Door Hinge (Stainless v Bronze)

Factory Window Screens (Yes v No)

Mast (None, Fwd or Aft)

Mast Spreader (Swept Back v Straight Out)

Mast Tabernacle (Pin v Hinge)

Dinghy Deck Lifeline (1 Wire, 2 Wire or Stainless Tube)

Dinghy Deck Boxes (Yes v No)

Number of teak deck pads on the dinghy deck (0,1,2,3,4,5 or 6)

Salon Handholds (Top v Side of House)

Removable Stanchion—without removing nuts (Yes v No)

Companionway Door Windows (Y v N) and Companionway Door Handle (Y v N)

The first three hulls had no companionway door windows. Starting with hull#4 both doors received a round window. No handle on companionway door #21. Hull #22 Perhaps the 1st factory handle.

Companionway Threshold Height Above the Deck (in inches)

Teak Deck Board Width (in inches)

Towing Bitt (yes or no)

H/C Water Bib in Stern Bulwark (Y v N)

Know that #2 — #26, #31 don't have a bib and that #27 does.

The towing bitt's stainless retaining strap goes (over v. under) the caprail's trim board

Stainless Stern Rail (Y v N)

Fuel Tank Vent Fitting Location (single fitting on starboard quarter, two fittings on transom near raw water exhaust, two fittings on saloon cabin side and just above the deck)

Chainlocker Floorboard (Wood v Fiberglass)

Know #15 is wood and #42 is fiberglass.

Stateroom, Shower Room and Head Portlights Made of (Bronze v Stainless)

Stateroom Chainlocker Access Door (Small vs Large—around 21" tall, and is the door Solid or Louvered)

Stateroom Ceiling Lights (Smooth v Textured Lens)

Stateroom Headliner Board Width (in inches)

Stateroom Bunk Layout (Double, Queen, King, King-V)

The king beds are taller (~3") than either the double or queen.

Stateroom Bunk Height (in inches)

Stateroom Seating (None, Bench, Single, Swivel)

Stateroom Dressing Table (Yes vs No)

SR Hanging Lockers (1 or 2)

Stateroom Book Shelves (2 short—about 42" long, 2 long, 4 short or 4 long)

Stateroom Double Screen In Overhead Hatch (Yes, No)

Head Sink Countertop Bow Out (Yes v No)

Head Color of the Marble (White/Cream, Green, or Other)

Head Faucet (1 or 2, Chrome or Brass)

Head Drawers Under Mirror (None, Smiley, Round)

Head Behind Toilet (Sliding Louvers v 2 drawers and door)

Shower Sink (None, Triangle, Square)

In hull #2 the counter top runs the width of the room. By hull #4 it's width is halved and a new, smaller sink is used. Some tugs (#51) came without a sink, probably at the buyers request.

Shower Faucet (None, 1, 2, Brass, Chrome)

The Starboard Dorade Supplies Air to the (Shower Room v Engine room)

Pilothouse Shelf Above Stateroom Door (Yes v No)

Pilothouse Handrails to Stateroom (None, Stainless, Brass)

Pilothouse Handhold attachment (Screws vs No Screws)

Pilothouse Drop Windows (All or 2)

Pilothouse Drop Window Style (Proud v Flush)

Pilothouse Engine Instrument Panel (Oval, Rectangular, Combined)

Pilothouse Navigation Instrument Panel (Tear, Oval, Rectangular, Combined)

Pilothouse Fiddle Rail Profile (Straight v Curved)

Pilothouse Countertop Material (Wood v. Laminate)

Navigation Table Storage Lid Size in Inches (Width x Depth)

Electrical Panel Door Configuration (None v Two)

Pilothouse Side Windows (Fixed vs. Opening)

Pilothouse Windshield Wiper Boxes (Yes v No)

PH Window Defrosters (Yes v No)

Pilothouse Screen In Overhead Hatch (None v. Double)

Pilothouse Engineroom Access Floor Boards (1,2)

Pilothouse Drawers in Steps to Salon (Yes v No)

Engine Room Smith Access (Yes v No)

Engine room access through the pilothouse-to-stateroom steps was first requested by Craig and Rosemary Smith for their brand new hull #34, Rosebud. The yard made it a standard fixture for the rest of the fleet. Since hull #26, which was laid up two months before Hull #33, has a Smith Access, it's probable that Loren Hart that the access was such a good idea he implemented it even before the Smith's tug was built.

Engine Room Engine (BMW v Cummins 100 or 150)

Through hull #30 the BMW engine was used. Hull #31 was the first to get a Cummins. The last BMW engine went into hull #32. The initial 4BT3.9M Cummins was rated at 100hp and was used until at least hull #42. Between #43 and #76 the engine used was the Cummins 4BT3.9M rated at 150hp. The most obvious difference between the 100hp and the 150hp Cummins is the smaller injector pump on the 100hp engine.

Engine Room Steering (Cable v Hydraulic)

Engine Room Stainless Ladder (No v Yes)

Galley Merkens (No v Yes)

The first starboard side galley was specified by Joe and Helen Mehrkens for their brand new hull #32, Perseverance. The following additional hulls are known to have a Mehrkens Galley: 39, 58, 62, 64, 65, 67, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and 76.

Galley Hand Pumps (None, Chrome, Brass)

Galley Sink Backsplash Material (Teak v Laminate)

Galley Backsplash Board Width (in inches)

Galley Shelves Above Sink (None, One or Two)

Galley Space Between Cabinetry and Ceiling (Small v Large)

Galley Ceiling Trim Board (Yes v No)

The trim to hide the ends of the ceiling's T&G planks was done in different ways. It's interesting to document the differences as it tells a story of the shipwrights' improving skills or perhaps the different skill levels between the shipwights.

Galley Foremost Salon Window Under Valance (Yes v No)

Galley Cabinetry Above Tommy Door (Offset v Aligned)

Galley Window Locks (Screw v Hinge)

Galley Window Frame (Thin1/2" v Thick1")

Galley Drawers in Midship Base Cabinet (3 v 4)

This is an unusual case where the original three drawer design was modified to four drawers but then reverted back to three drawers.

Galley Louvered Door Trim (Half-Round v None)

Galley Peninsula Height (Standard—about same height as the stove v Tall)

Galley Icebox Doors (Number of doors is 0, 1, or 2 and Inset vs Face Mounted)

Galley Countertop Access to Icebox (No v Yes)

There's no countertop access on Hulls #26, #47—the tugs with a tall refrig cabinet.

Galley Stove Location (Window v Bulkhead)

The most common galley arrangement has the stove situated under the window and the sink against the galley/engine room bulkhead. Tugs #35, #44, and #60 have the positions reversed.

Galley Cabinet Door Latches (Wood v Brass v Both)

Saloon Settee (Straight, Ell, None)

Saloon Number of Floor Boards (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

Saloon Wainscott Height (Standard—20" to 24" v Tall)

Saloon Fuel and Water Tanks (6 v 4 and 4 v 2)

Handrail Attached to Saloon Ceiling (No v Yes)

Saloon Compaionway Hatch Interior Joint (90 degree v curved)

Saloon Floor to Ceiling Height at Compaionway (in inches)

Saloon Table Dimensions (L" x W" x H")