For Rust , the common rule of thumb is: about 2 torpedoes to sink a small boat like a tugboat, while larger boats can take far more. A forum post and an older Rust fun-facts thread both point to “pair of torpedoes” as the usual baseline, with the exception of a rowboat, which may go down in 1.

Quick Scoop

  • Rowboat: 1 torpedo in many cases.
  • Tugboat / small boat: about 2 torpedoes is the usual answer.
  • Decent-sized boats: players report much higher numbers, sometimes 70–120 torpedoes for sturdier targets, though that sounds like a broader claim about boats in general rather than a tugboat specifically.

What people mean

The confusion usually comes from different vehicle types and damage states in Rust. A boat that is already damaged or decaying may go down faster, while a healthier target needs more. That’s why you’ll see wildly different answers across clips and forum posts.

Useful takeaway

If your question is specifically “how many torpedoes to sink a tugboat in Rust,” the practical answer is 2 torpedoes in normal conditions.