TUGFEST weblog
The Tugfest blog 
is an international maritime enthusiasts news weblog. Articles that are posted here include news about the annual tugboat festival (read the festival), photo essays, world tugboat news, events and other general maritime news related to the great lakes and beyond. Have news to share? Simply click here - if it floats - we'll post it for you.
Coming soon to a town dock near you...
You'll notice some big changes today. First: you don't need to check your calendar, it seems our countdown clock was off by about a month (thanks to Oliver Travels for pointing this out). Second: We have a new navigation bar which includes a new section about the event. Click on "Tugfest '05 Details" and you will see the schedule and maps. Check here for updates and additional information going forward. If you have a tugboat and can make it to Parry Sound click the "Register Tug" tab (in the Tugfest '05 Details page) for information on how to get involved. Not all the details are there yet so please keep checking back!
Lighthouse Keeper |13:10 EST |Comments (0)
Great Lakes Trivia...
Name the oldest tugboat on the Great Lakes. Her name is Islay and she was launched 113 years ago yesterday. You can read all about her on this site: Tug ISLAY
Lighthouse Keeper |15:49 EST |Comments (0)
Salty in the Harbour
The Mississagi arrived in the harbour today with another load of salt. This will be the secound of three loads for Parry Sound Dock. The Ship is owned and operated by the Lower Lakes Towing Company. She delivers 15,000 tons of salt per load, with ease. It is always a pleasure to see her in the harbour. We wish her and her crew safe and pleasant journey.
Capt Bob |23:36 EST |Comments (0)
Alligator invades harbour
Bob and Ching Walters arrived at the town dock Monday morning aboard the Alligator. They have been cruising the waterways since last Sept. In the last 3 1/2 years they have logged over 24 thousand miles on her. The Alligator is a 55ft “Walters”, built and designed by Bob Walters. They are heading up to the Sault on their way to the Mississippi making their way home to Texas. Their plan is to pull the boat for some haul work, painting and minor repairs when they get home. The Alligator is powed by a John Deere 130 hp diesel engine. The haul is wood with a fiberglass coating and she cruises at 9.5 knots. On my tour of the boat I found it to be very roomy and well laid out for long stays on board. She has all the amenities for traveling, including washer and dryer. Look at photos of the interior on “your photos” on this site. It was a pleasure meeting Bob and Ching we wish them a safe and pleasant journey home. There will be a full feature on the Alligator posted soon keep looking.
Capt Bob |09:30 EST |Comments (0)
Asking $49,000 (US) and accepting offers...
The Sea Wave was launched on July 18, 1923, and her inaugeral voyage with owners and guests followed. On trials the tug made 9.29 knots on the measured mile. Built at Vancouver Shipyards, Ltd. in Coal Harbor. She measured 85 feet in length and 19 feet in the beam. All her auxilliary equipment was electrically operated (a first in the region).
Read the entire Harbour & Shipping cover article about the Sea Wave published August 1923 here.
Lighthouse Keeper |00:08 EST |Comments (0)
Tugfest 2005 preliminary schedule
21:00... The Light Parade
Saturday August 27th
13:00... Tugboat Parade
14:00... The Races
15:00... Public Tugboat Tours
This is the preliminary schedule only. An official schedule and detailed map of the event will be posted here soon. If you have questions about the festival, please contact us.
Lighthouse Keeper |00:21 EST |Comments (0)
Anatomy of a Fish Tug: The Jean R.
Here is an interesting read which includes well researched period photography. It profiles a fish tug named the Jean R., here is a quote from the site: "a fish tug that was simultaneously the apex of fish tug design on Lake Michigan, advancing the overall fish boat design paradigm that had evolved over the past thirty years and using the fairly new process of electrical welding in her construction, and an anachronism, as well, being, as far as I can tell, the last such fish tug, at least on the American side, equipped with a steam engine, a mode of propulsion that had found steady disfavor with lake fishermen throughout the decade before the vessel’s building."
Click here to read the entire story. Tip: don't forget to click 'continue' at the bottom of each page. Credit: ©William Lafferty, 1998, 1999
Lighthouse Keeper |02:15 EST |Comments (0)
Fish Tugs of the Greatest Lake
Designed to meet the requirements of a challenging environment, the Great Lakes fish tug is a form seen nowhere else. Here is a site which contains more photos and history (and an impressive roster) of the fish tugs that harvest the Great Lakes. Click here to see it.
If you are up in Lake Superior near Five Finger Bay you can actually dive one of these treasures. Click here.
Lighthouse Keeper |02:08 EST |Comments (0)
Soon in print
The tugfest crew are happy to announce that the details of the Parry Sound Tugfest will be posted in the next issue of "TugBitts", the quarterly journal of the Tugboat Enthusiasts Society of the Americas. As their web site states: if you stop to watch a tugboat cruise past, then you should become a Tugboat Enthusiasts Society member.
Do it now. You will receive all 4 issues for the year you become a member when ever you join the society.
Lighthouse Keeper |02:08 EST |Comments (0)
Today in history...
Born June 11th 1910: Jacques-Yves Cousteau, French oceanic explorer, filmaker, author and inventor of the aqualung. His legendary research and expedition vessel, the Calypso sank in a Singapore harbour in 1996, the result of a mooring accident. Carnival Cruises bought the ship and is currently refurbishing it at a shipyard in the Bahamas. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2005.
A former American minesweeper, the Calypso will maintain its French flag and remain a symbol of the extraordinary work of Captain Cousteau and the Cousteau Society, which carries on his work in science, education and public awareness.
Lighthouse Keeper |00:17 EST |Comments (0)
More about Marine Trader
I've googled some interesting articles which focus on the bumboat Marine Trader. Here is one from the Seaway Port Authority of Duluth. It includes some additional photos It’s back to work for a revitalized piece of maritime history. It will be interesting to see where this beautiful relic turns up after she is sold.
Lighthouse Keeper |15:25 EST |Comments (0)
Wanna buy a Bumboat?
Here is an amazing relic from the past. They called them "bumboats". There used to be dozens of bumboats on the Great Lakes, which would tie along side visiting ships and sell provisions to the sailors. This was the last operating one in North America and now it is up for sale. You can see the specs and additional photos here: Workboat 1
Lighthouse Keeper |09:54 EST |Comments (0)
Sunken tug blocks Iberia port
A sunken tugboat spilling oil into a canal at the Port of Iberia (Louisiana) could close the port for several days, Iberia Parish Sheriff Sid Hebert said Thursday. Fortunately there were no casualties. Here is a link to the article: Sunken tug There is also a video clip of the accident here: KATC3
photo and clipping (AP) Video clip (KATC3)
Lighthouse Keeper |15:05 EST |Comments (0)
Island Queen Starts 2005 Season
A sign that summer has arrived. The Island Queen departed from her base in Parry Sound Harbour yesterday on her maiden voyage of the 2005 season. The sky was blue, with a light breeze and a high of 27c. The Island Queen will run one trip a day during June. It departs at 1 pm and returns a 4 pm. We wish Capt. Steve and his crew a successful season on Georgian Bay.
Capt Bob |12:22 EST |Comments (0)
Just Dreamin,
a 36ft steel hauled cruiser with twin diesels, put in for the night at the Parry Sound town dock. Capt Jean-Marc Southiere purchased the vessel in Hilton Beach on the north channel, and is taking her to Montreal. After a brief stop in Midland to pick up a crew member, Capt Jean-Marc will continue up the Trent Severn to Lake Ontario and on to Montreal. We wish him a safe and pleasant journey.
Lighthouse Keeper |10:55 EST |Comments (0)
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