Theodore Too is a life size tugboat based on the fictional tugboat Theodore from the television show Theodore Tugboat. Theodore Too was first launched in April 19, 2000.
Theodore Too was commissioned by Cochran Entertainment, Inc., it is now a defunct production company. Theodore became so popular, the company constructed a life-size model of him for marketing and promoting water safety. The boat is unusual as it is a full-size replica of a scale model. The original model which was used to film the series and inspired Theodore Too can be seen at Halifax's Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The boat made a tour of cities on the American East Coast in its first year and participated in tall ship events After Cochran Entertainment went out of business, the boat was purchased by a Halifax tour boat company, Murphys on the Water. The vessel provides tours of Halifax Harbor in the summer, operating from the Cable Wharf in downtown Halifax. Theodore Too was designed by Fred Allen and was built at Marius Lengkeek of Lengkeek Vessel Engineering, and was built by Snyder's Shipyard in Dayspring, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Trivia
Theodore Too's base model was sold on eBay.
Building of Theodore Too
The Keel
Inside Snyder's Shipyard, the newly-arrived keel timbers are lifted from a truck bed.
The timbers will be jacked up and rested on blocks on the floor.
The cutting begins.
Bolting the Keel
The keel—fully cut out and fitted.
Side view of the seams shows how snugly the keel timbers lie together.
These large galvanized fastenings are called "through bolts."
Building the Frame
Grabbing another plank.
Planking Theodore
Sections of the boat's ribs are chiseled to provide a flat surface for the plank.
Wooden braces are hammered into place.
A view from below the stern, showing the progress of planking on the bottom of the hull
The deck is made of plywood laid over spruce beams. Once the planking is done, the deck will be fiberglassed.
Theodore's deck is 65 feet long and 22 feet wide.
Theodore's hull is caulked with oakum before it is fibreglassed and watertight.
Cotton caulking is also used—that's the white material peeking out between the planks, with the oakum.
Inside Theodore
Theodore Too will have two crew cabins, the captain's cabin, the owner's cabin—and the engine room.
Here's a first look at Theodore's Caterpillar 400-horsepower diesel engine.
Theodore will have plenty of power for cruising
Reverse angle, looking forward from behind the engine.
A carpenter works inside Theodore's cabin.
The engine room.
A longer view of the same porthole and doorway.
Theodore's Face
Atlantex Creative Works is charged with making the four fibreglass components of life-size Theodore: the smokestack, the cabin, the hat, and the face.
Theodore's head, original TV model size, fits easily in the palm of the hand.
Life-size Theodore's face is twenty feet tall.
Theodore's nose starts off as a separate piece.
Positioning Theodore's nose
Theodore's Cap
The last major component to be added to life-size Theodore will be his cap.
Like Theodore's head, his cap comes together one section at a time. The seams between sections are clearly visible as vertical stripes.
The molding for the cap.
Fibreglass and Corecel
The layers of stitchmount run parallel to the layer of Corecel that separates them.
Face and Cap II
Finishing on Theodore Too's smokestack, cabin, hat and face.
Some final touches after Theodore's left eyebrow is mounted.
Theodore's nose.
An early look at Theodore's cap.
Atlantex's Martin Nickson demonstrates how the braids of rope are placed on the cap.
Theodore's eyes have the same impact-resistant specifications as airplane glass.
Moving Day
Just outside Atlantex Creative Works, in Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia—it's moving day.
Theodore's head will be the first component to be loaded on the truck.
Once the head, cabin, and smokestack are loaded on the rear section of the truck, Theodore's cap is loaded on the front.
"Is that a giant red ballcap on that truck?"
Arriving at Snyder's Shipyard, Theodore's hat is the first part to be unloaded.
Theodore's head moving through the air is quite a sight!
The smokestack is guided into place.
The cabin is elevated toward the deck.
With Theodore's head in place, a big day's work is complete.
Theodore's Moving Eyes
Theodore's face, before painting.
After painting.
A closer look at Theodore's eyes.
They're moving!
Those shiny rectangular panels are the back sides of Theodore's eyes.
