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.

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Scuffy at Work:

  

Scuffy a Groves Marine tug, is in Parry Sound Harbour doing some needed work on the floating breakwall. Capt Graig Groves & crew are taking advantage of the mild weather to finish up for the season. You can see more of Scuffy on our photo's in the 2006 tugfest.

Capt Bob |12:47 EST |Comments (0)

Bottom Work"

  

The North Shore Barge fleet, out for bottom work.  These vessels serve the Parry Sound & Point Au Baril area. They haul everything from sand & gravel to building materials for various contruction projects.  North Shore Barge operates from two locations, Parry Sound Harbour & Point Au Baril. The bottom work is being done at their Parry Sound location. 

Capt Bob |11:00 EST |Comments (0)

More Winter Layup:

  

Fuel Transport Trimac & Fish Tug Andarlin wintering in Parry Sound at the Town Dock. 

Capt Bob |18:27 EST |Comments (2)

Winter Layup:

Mink Isle & Cambrain nestled in for the winter, Parry Sound Harbour.

Capt Bob |11:01 EST |Comments (0)

Winter Layup:

  

Well it's that time of the year again. Tug Mummery,  Mink Isle & Cambrian are all tucked in for the long winter. Location is Anderson's Marine, Parry Sound Harbour.  

Capt Bob |09:00 EST |Comments (0)

GLYN BIRD

Russell Ward has setup a site dedicated to the tugs and workboats of New Zealand. This is a picture of the GLYN BIRD - a beatiful vessel that Russell personally restored. You will see her history and other pictures on this site. Check out (Tugs and Workboats of New Zealand). You'll also find this and other sites on our links page, it's time well spent.

Capt Bob |21:13 EST |Comments (0)

Dawn Light

The Dawnlight is very unique. She has participated in over 111 years of active service. She is the oldest certified Inland 11 passenger vessel on the Great Lakes. Getting her start in November of 1891 as a steam yacht. Over the years, the Dawnlight has had 4 names (Leroy Brooks), (Henry Stokes), (Aburg) and (Dawnlight). She has had 5 major appearance alterations, 4 hull rebuilds, 4 different engines, the first two of which were steam as well as 9 different owners. Most of her career was as a "Model Bow Tug" for McQueen Marine Ltd. of Amherstburg, Ontario on Lakes Erie and Lake Huron, as well the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers. Today she still retains her classic "Model Bow Tug" look, but has been refitted for use primarily as a passenger vessel capable of carrying 12 berthed passengers or 22 unberthed. 70% of her time is dedicated to serving scuba divers on Georgian Bay and Lake Huron and the rest of the time sightsee'ers, kayakers, hunters and fishermen/women can be found on her decks.

Leroy Brooks 1891-1910

The Craig Shipbuilding Co. in Toledo, Ohio built "Leroy Brooks" in 1891 for "Count" William Rehburg of Middle Bass Island, Ohio. Her hull was made of riveted steel with dimensions of 75' X 14' 6" X 7' 6". This steam yacht was the 47th hull launched by her shipbuilders. Her U.S. Registry #141143 remained in place until she was sold into Canadian ownership in 1910.

Leroy Brooks as tug "Leroy Brooks" was converted into a tug in 1910 (possibly as early as 1907) and was sold into Canadian Registry #116320 to Captain John S. McQueen of Amherstburg, Ontario. At that time she was remeasured at 71' 3" X 15' 2" X 8' 1" as a tug. She was fitted with a new steam engine that was originally used in Hiram Walkers yacht "Lurline". She was sold and renamed "Henry Stokes" in 1925.

Henry Stokes 1925-1954

The Dominion Sugar Company Ltd. of Chatham, Ontario in 1925, purchased "Henry Stokes". At purchase, the "Leroy Brooks" was renamed "Henry Stokes" to honour his namesake, a Dominion Sugar Co. executive. She was put into service to haul sugar beet barges to plants in Chatham and Wallaceburg. She was sold in 1935.

Captain J. Earl McQueen of Amherstburg, Ontario, purchased "Henry Stokes" in 1935. She carried on with active tug service until the conclusion of 1950 when she was hauled out and totally stripped. At this time, she had the most extensive rebuild of her career with strengtheners added on the inside and new plating added to the outside of her hull. Over the course of the next 3 years, she was transformed into the "Aburg" and finally in the spring of 1954 she was relaunched as the "Aburg" complete with a new 500 hp diesel engine.

Aburg 1954-1981

At the time of her launch in 1954 the "Aburg" was owned by the McQueen Marine Ltd. and joined sister ships "Atomic" and "Patricia McQueen" in their fleet of tugs. At this time, her measurements were 68' 1" X 14' 2" X 7' 7". She won the highly esteemed Detroit International Tug boat race in 1956 Captained by Lennard Gillard. In 1960, she received another hull alteration at Erieu dry-dock and she was widened to a beam of 17' 6" which favourably increased her stability. In 1966, she participated in the salvage of steel coils from the stranded "Nordmeer" off of Thunder Bay Michigan just prior to the gale that sank the large freighter "Daniel J. Morrel". In 1978, she was sold to William Smith of Amherstburg, Ontario who used her as a pleasure craft for 2 years before selling her in 1980 to Garnett Cheney, Subservices Ltd. of Penetanguishene, Ontario. In 1981, she was registered to Carol Baker (Cheney's partner) and the name of the vessel was changed to the "Dawnlight".

Dawnlight 1981 to present

"Dawnlight" was operated as a liveaboard dive boat and also did towing and salvage work for her new owners. By 1988, she had undergone substantial alterations to her superstructure and was repowered by a Caterpillar turbocharged 6-cylinder diesel. Her accommodations were vastly improved and her owners advertised "comfortable accommodation for up to 16 people". A brand new 15cfm Bauer air compressor was installed to fill dive tanks and she became 2nd to none as a Great Lakes Dive Boat. In 1996, Captain Ray Davis purchased her from Mrs. Baker and the "Dawnlight" has been in active service for Tobermory Adventure Tours since she began operating out of Tobermory, Ontario.

1956 International Tugboat Race

1956 International tugboat race , Captain Lennard Gillard receiving cup on dock at Detroit terminal. The Aburg is docked beside the forward group of men and the Atomic and the Patricia McQueen are in partial view in the background.

Prior to 1951

The Atomic, Henry Stokes and Patricia McQueen prior to 1951 at Amherstburg, Ontario.

1953 Henry Stokes

Approx 1953 Henry Stokes relaunched and work continuing on superstructure.

Hull Replating

Hull replating during winter of 1952-53. Note the snow in foreground.

Henry Stokes

Henry Stokes at McQueen yard, Amherstburg, Ontario; November, 1952, awaiting rebuild and diesel engine.

Early Beginnings

The Dawnlight had early beginnings as a dive boat. In 1933 as the Henry Stokes she was the "dived boat" as she was being raised in the Syne River near Wallaceburg. Note the hard hat diver in the centre foreground of the picture just coming out of the water after hooking lifting cables to the Henry Stokes.

Credits:

Information for the timeline gathered since 1996 from Patrick Folkes, Tobermory, Ont.; Ron Beaupre, Port Elgin, Ont.," Moran's Shoreside Companion for Great Lakes Ships 97" by Bill Moran. Picture of Henry Stokes sunk in the Chenal Ecarte (Syne River) came from Mary Ann Kukoly of Ripley, Ont. The photo of the Stokes hauled out and stripped was taken by Ivan Brookes on June 23, 1951. Some info used from the "Mann Historical Files", Wallaceburg, Ontario and photos and info from the "Historical Collections of the Great Lakes", Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Compiled by Captain Ray Davis

Source: Tobermory Adventure Tours

Capt Bob |19:01 EST |Comments (1)

Waterford Tug Roundup;

The Waterford Tugboat Roundup began in 1999 as a way to preserve and promote the maritime industrial heritage of the New York State Canal System and other adjoining inland waterways. The tugboat history of the region, and particularly Waterford, is especially rich. For most of the 20th century, tugboats lined the shores here, whether waiting to lock up through the magnificent “Flight” or competing for some day work with a local company. The ubiquitous sight of these smoke-belching work horses festooned with manila and wood fendering, decks bunkered with coal against a back drop of elaborate detail work that tended to belie the strict functionality of these old girls, has been replaced by that of sailboats, cruisers, and catamarans lining the docks. For one weekend each year, however, Waterford’s historic waterfront is transformed back into a rendering of its commercial heyday during which names like Godfrey, Coyne, Bushey, Matton, Kehoe, and Cowles figured so prominently. Tugs new and old moor stem to stern for adulation and education, enchanting the young and reminding the young at heart of days gone by. The event is sponsored annually by the Town of Waterford and the Waterford Maritime Historical Society, in addition to many generous corporate sponsors.  Tugboat Roundup. Usually held the weekend after Labor Day, the festival has grown steadily and attracts approximately 25,000 people to this sleepy canal town in the heart of upstate New York’s Capital Region. In addition to tours of the vessels and other displays, there is an ample supply of music, food, children’s activities, vendors, boat rides, fireworks, and family fun. The Waterford Tugboat Roundup – where maritime history comes alive. Go to our links for more on this event.

Capt Bob |22:08 EST |Comments (0)

Project Tug;

  

These pictures are of the Colinette.   One photo is the finished product and the other is in the project mode. Steve Briggs has the history of the Colinette with a lot more pictures.  It is a fine looking vessal and a great deal of engineering went into this project. The photo's are from the Gerry Ouderkirk collection. Go to our links and pull up  "Steelcraft Russel Tugs" by Steve Briggs and you will get the whole story on this project as well as more Russel Tug pictures. Steve has done an excellent job with this site, you will enjoy it.

Capt Bob |08:53 EST |Comments (2)

 

 

 

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