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Current Owner of an old tug boat

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by chesapeake46, Feb 9, 2011.

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  1. chesapeake46, Feb 9, 2011
    #1
    chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    Is there a way to find the owner of an old tug boat ?
    I have found, in my office, an instruction manual for a tug I worked on years ago.
    It encompasses every piece of machinery on the boat.
    I think it would be hard to replace and nice to have on the boat regardless.
    It was a navy, harbor tug.
    I do not know the name of the tug, the current owner or even if she is still commisioned.
    I do know one of the owners names from years ago.
    I wondered if I could start with the original owners name and trace the sales from part to party to see if the boat is still active and if it is, I'd like to return this manual to the tug.

    The tug was twin diesel / electric with tac generator / follower steering which set me in fits at times.

    I am embarrassed that the darn book did not stay in the tug and ended up on a shelf in my office. Not to professional.

    Neat what you'll find during your annual 20 year cleaning of your office !
    It has brought back some pleasant and not so pleasant memories.

    Regards
  2. NYCAP123, Feb 9, 2011
    #2
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    DK that there is any way to trace a vessel by owner's name, especially an old one, and especially since they are often registered under corporate identities. I'd recommend conducting a search for the person and trace the owners one to another from there. If you locate a marina it was docked at, they may have a documentation number on file that would expedite the search. At that point go to: http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.html
  3. chesapeake46, Feb 9, 2011
    #3
    chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    Thanks,

    It is/was a commercial vessel. not for pleasure.
    I thought there may be records of the sales or transfer of the boat from one corp to another.
    I googalated the tug boat question but came up mostly with news articles about tugs and lawsuits etc.
    Although interesting, not what I was looking for.
  4. Marmot, Feb 9, 2011
    #4
    Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    Does the manual you have provide the Army numbers for the boat? It would be something like LT-xx or ST-xx or similar.
  5. chesapeake46, Feb 10, 2011
    #5
    chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    There is a NAVSHIPS 341-4004 on the cover of the manual and the drawings inside refer to YT138-142

    thanks.
  6. Marmot, Feb 10, 2011
    #6
    Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    I don't have time to do it but one way to trace the boat is to take them one by one. For instance if you Google YT-140 you will see that is is or was in civilian use as the "Big Boy."

    Go to http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.html and find that the boat is no longer documented.

    Back to Google again and look up tug Big Boy and find D.L Tugboats and you will read the story of its sad ending.

    http://delawarerivertugs.blogspot.com/2009/09/sinking-of-carol-wales-and-big-boy.html

    Repeat for each boat and maybe you will come up with the information or at least a lead. It all makes for great reading in any event.

    If all else fails I will take the manual off your hands if you don't want it anymore.
  7. chesapeake46, Feb 10, 2011
    #7
    chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    Call You KARNACK

    Call You KARNACK

    Irony, Coincidence, or.. do you know something that I do not?
    ( You don't need to answer that ....)

    Hays tug and launch also owned the tug I was working on.
    It was bought from Hays around mid 1980's or so.
    I no longer have records going back that far but I worked as a contractor for the man who bought it from Hays.
    It was kept at Hays' Chester Pa pier at that time.
    I remember the man's name but for the life of me I cannot remember the tug's name at that time.

    The man i worked for tried to make a go of it but the boat needed more than he could muster.
    His plan was to fix it up and take it back to Copper Harbor, MI to haul logs across the lakes.
    He got some crumbs for jobs from Hays once in a while but in the end he sold the boat to another tug company in Wilmington De, I think.

    I remember Scooby Doo. I believe Big Boy was also a Hays tug at one time.
    There was also the " Grape Ape" tug owned by Hays which of course was painted purple.

    It is really sad to see them like that.

    Thank you for the links. I will follow up, if for nothing else it is interesting reading as you said.
    Sad reading too I'm afraid.

    I would rather keep the manual myself if the tug has met the same fate as her contemporaries.
    It belongs on the tug if she still floats I think.

    Regards.