On Mon, 02 Jan 2006 17:09:23 -0500, Larry wrote:

///
Everytime I see a tug, I think back to the 60's when I was a young sailor
on a destroyer tender. We were stern-to a quay out in Naples, IT, harbor
and every couple of days these two Italians came by in their 1920-
something diesel tug to bring us a new garbage barge and haul off the
full one.

The tug was spotless. What pride they took in that boat. There were
only two aboard, the captain and the engineer, who had to be in the
engine room to run the old, I-have-no-idea-whos, diesel. Wide open
hauling the barge away it must have turned up 120 RPM! It idled at
barely turning, probably 20 RPM, with a beautiful rhythmic
thump...thump...thump.
///
single screw hiptowing the large barge was just a beautiful ballet.
Then, they'd untie from the fresh and tie up to the full one. The
captain would reach in and give the big wheel a spin, going back outside
to line handle. The engineer shoved her in forward and give her ahead
standard throttle. He then left the engine room for the wheelhouse just
in time to go rudder amidships, without the captain ever looking over his
shoulder. I don't think they ever spoke a word during the entire
operation.

Off they went, headed back to the salvage yard to see if we'd left them
any government presents on the barge.....

Thump...thump...thump...thump out of sight....(c;

///

What an evocative note ...beautifully written

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

Hi, Larry,
I tried to answer your wonderful story by email, but it bounced. If you're
willing to share your email address, I'll try again--and the message has
another shot of Annie, the tug.

Best,

Dick Behan


"Larry" wrote in message
...
"R.W. Behan" wrote in news:Ju2dnX_gPboCrSreRVn-
:

http://www.maplebay.com/page100.htm

Love the blue trim.

There has just got to be some way of making a tug whistle blow on these
tugs. A horn just isn't right. Maybe and air compressor pumping into a
tank off the engine would do it. They need a proper whistle..(c;

Everytime I see a tug, I think back to the 60's when I was a young sailor
on a destroyer tender. We were stern-to a quay out in Naples, IT, harbor
and every couple of days these two Italians came by in their 1920-
something diesel tug to bring us a new garbage barge and haul off the
full one.

The tug was spotless. What pride they took in that boat. There were
only two aboard, the captain and the engineer, who had to be in the
engine room to run the old, I-have-no-idea-whos, diesel. Wide open
hauling the barge away it must have turned up 120 RPM! It idled at
barely turning, probably 20 RPM, with a beautiful rhythmic
thump...thump...thump. Looking in the engine room hatch, right behind
the pilot house, you could watch the external pushrods of the OHV engine
going up and down. Each had several oiling felts and I observed our
engineer pumping oil into them from his oil can at times. The throttle
wasn't in the wheelhouse, it was on the side of the injector rack on top
of the engine. What looked like a direct-drive oldham coupler with a
very long, highly polished brass handle selected F-N-A behind the engine.
Watching them bring the barge alongside with both men manipulating the
single screw hiptowing the large barge was just a beautiful ballet.
Then, they'd untie from the fresh and tie up to the full one. The
captain would reach in and give the big wheel a spin, going back outside
to line handle. The engineer shoved her in forward and give her ahead
standard throttle. He then left the engine room for the wheelhouse just
in time to go rudder amidships, without the captain ever looking over his
shoulder. I don't think they ever spoke a word during the entire
operation.

Off they went, headed back to the salvage yard to see if we'd left them
any government presents on the barge.....

Thump...thump...thump...thump out of sight....(c;

Every part on that engine you could see seemed to be hand painted a
different color. I remember pushrods being red, rocker arms green, block
was grey. Every copper injector pipe was polished. It looked ancient
but like it had been built yesterday, a floating museum piece...still
working.

They had a whistle...(c;

In article DMbtf.1$WX3.0@trndny09,
"Thomas Wentworth" wrote:

My criteria: well built ( I don't care how old, just well built ),
ocean worthy, either no engine or a diesel engine [ please don't tell
me that a 35 year old Atomic 4 is fine, all you need to do it keep
them maintained ], a conservative design [ I plan on cruising not
racing ], and big enough to sail anywhere but small enough to sail
alone.

That is the question; what size? I want to have my family out with
me but if they are busy or don't care to go or if I take off for an
extended trip .......... what size sailboat [ I shudder at the term
yacht ] would be just about right for a single hander?

Here are a few of the boats I have looked at over the last few days.
A Pearson 35 [ built late 60's and one built early 70's ], and Albin
Ballad [ built 1976, Sweden? .. 29'something "'s .. not that heavy
.. has fin keel ...spade rudder ?? ... ], and a whole bunch of
boats like this.

Size is relative. We have friends in 35' boats that admire our 28's
usable space, stowage and speed. Primary, for us, was that the "V" is
larger that most primary cabins in boats shorter than about 40'. After
a decade, we've come to enjoy her combination of comfort, stowage,
speed, agility, simplicity and toughness. That we can give a second
couple overnight privacy was an unexpected plus. I wouldn't hesitate to
take her anywhere in the Caribbean or US east coast.

But your requirements surely differ, as do your sailing and
boat-handling skills. Some can single-hand 50' boats, others have
trouble with 30 footers.

Personally, I concentrate on accommodations and crew happiness first. If
they won't step aboard, the trips won't be as fun. Because my wife was
satisfied with what was important to her, she almost always accompanies
me even though she wasn't a sailor when we met.

I believe you're at a point where you should honestly evaluate all the
possibilities and rank their relative importance. For instance, I love
sailing fast, but recognize that the difference between fast and slow
isn't that great amongst the vast number of boats, and an attentive
skipper and appropriate sails will make more difference. Handling a
bigger boat either requires more strength and agility, or
reorganization, simplification and bigger winches, possibly with power
assist.

Then walk the docks and yards, actually trying the boats on for size.
Just last night, we were with friends with a slightly redesigned version
of our boat. Though they look pretty much identical by the numbers and
pictures, their interior is enough different by bare inches that I don't
think I'd want their boat. They were on both, and preferred theirs to
ours. We're still friends ;-)

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/