Sport-Brella for Aft Deck Shading

Patrick Mitchell, Elnora 37VT37, uses a Sport-Brella [an overly sized umbrella, often used by beach goers] off the aft deck to provide shade.  When not in use, the Sport-Brella is easily stowed aboard just like an large umbrella.  Patrick indicated it is available for under $79. 

Tug Spotting ~ Lucy

Lucy 49VT03 was spotted in Brooklyn, NY by John and Sue Mackie, John William 37VT68.

Tug Spotting ~ Loon

From Jeanne Koenig

Experiencing horrible Salty Paws 37VT66 withdrawal.  Amazing that I can spend less then two weeks with a boat and be so taken with her.  Sally and Allan Seymour [Sally W 37 VT42]  made the homecoming to Linekin Bay, Booth Bay very sweet. Sprucewold, the association that Bob and I are a part of and where our mooring is, is a buzz with the LNVT character.


We visited Loon… she is the next bay over.  She is a looker with her black and red hull.

Loon 37VT57 off Salty Paws'  37VT66 bow

Tug spotting - Two Tugs Connected at the Hip

New friends getting acquainted!  Sally W 37VT42 and Salty Paws (previously Knock Off) 37VT66 raft up together in Boothbay.  

Tug Spotting - John William

John William 37VT68 at Log Pond Marina, Havre de Grace MD

Tug spotting in Maryland

John William 37VT68 (owned by John and Sue Mackie) was recently spotted next to Victory 37VT02 at Bob Allnutt's dock in Maryland.  We hear that the owners had a great time together.  John William is heading further up the coast with plans to be at the Plymouth, Massachusetts rendezvous in July. 

Sent from my iPhone

More on the rescue by Salty Paws

The rescue by Salty Paws 37VT66 (previously Knock Off) is captured in the local news:

http://nypost.com/2016/06/14/stranded-man-rescued-after-two-days-adrift-in-long-island-sound/

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/2-Rescued-After-Being-Stranded-in-Long-Island-Sound-for-2-Days-382965791.html

One Assist One Save

Just in from a on Ewing, Salty Paws 37VT66

Jeanne and I are moving our new 37 Lord Nelson Tug from MD to ME. This morning we left Port Jefferson at 7:30 headed for Block Island. We hadn't left the harbor when we spotted a 20 something foot boat in distress banging on the east side jetty. I felt it was not safe to maneuver close enough to assist so we notified Coast Guard Long Island. Luckily another smaller boat got them a line and pulled them off. 

At around 9:49 I was sitting in the pilot house scanning the horizon when I saw an odd looking buoy which appeared off the port side. It looked peculiar so I picked up a pair of binoculars to take a look. It was a blowup rubber inflatable the kind you buy for the beach. We were 7 nautical miles off shore and there it was with a man on board. I advised Jeanne that we were going to see if assistance was needed. The man started waving a orange wind breaker. At this point I again called Coast Guard Long Island and told them what we found and it was our intention to bring him on board. We came along side and Jeanne went to work securing his flimsy raft to the side of out tug. Winds were very strong gusting to 25 with 2 to 3 foot seas. Everything was rocking. Between the two of us we were able to hoist the man onboard. He told us that he had been in the raft for two days. 

We reported to Coast Guard that the man was on board and that he was some what alert. Jeanne let me know, as I was at the helm, that medical assistance was needed. Coast Guard dispatched a fast boat from New Haven CT and we were asked to steam toward New Haven so Jeanne and I had to hoist the 10 foot inflatable on board and secure it to the back of the tug. We headed for New Haven at 7.5 knots and met up with Coast Guard. They pulled along side while underway and made the transfer after removing the inflatable from our stern, in order to access our rear companionway. His medical condition was hard to tell as he was in and out for a while becoming more coherent as time went on. We treated him as one would for shock or hyperthermia just in case.

I made Coast Guard aware that I'm a member of 10-20 they seemed very appreciative and I was contacted by there Public Relations staff.


Bob Ewing 

Tug Spotting on the Delaware canal

Salty Paws 37 VT66

14:00 8 June about to enter the Delaware Canal. Water finally smoothed out. 

 9 June at 5:20 am departure to gain a tide assist to Cape May

Tug Spotting - Salty Paws

From Jeanne Koenig

Salty Paws 37VT66 Day Two

9:20am Bay Bridge...water getting more stirred up as the day heats up

Tug Spotting! Hiaqua

Sherry and I just returned from a wonderful San Juan Islands (WA) bare-boat charter aboard a 34' American Tug.  One of the trip highlights was spotting LNVT HIAQUA  Friday, May 27^th heading north off Humphrey Head, East Lopez Island.  She was looking mighty fine!

Best Regards to all,

Don Miner & Sherry Canutt

Late departure LNVT 66

From the new owners of Salty Paws - 37VT66

We had 3 foot seas with decks awash for out short journey to West River, MD.  We
are anchored out with a beautiful sunset and protected anchorage.   Water over the bow getting everything covered in salt. She will need a good scrubbing.

Bob Ewing

Touchdown - Sally W

Sally W 37VT42 splashed yesterday.  Owner Sally Seymour says, "It was worth the wait. The engine is quieter and less vibration. No more rattling windows and stove grates when idling. Long day. Exhausted and happy."

Saltwater Joys Video

From Deb Brown, Saltwater Joys 37VT12

The boys brought Saltwater Joys home last week:) They had a fantastic trip..lots of laughing!  I drove down to Eastport Maine tolots up son # 1 and we saw it come into the harbour.  We then met Roger in Saint John and came up the Saint John to Fredericton.  It was great! Very Peaceful. This Saturday we are bringing her up to the lake....  Looks like it will be home sweet home for the summer.  Matthew [our son] made a video which is the link below....Enjoy it :)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5mbkvqtsttk5s4g/AAD4oh0FlkGFxsSRrGxt2kjQa?dl=0

Welcome aboard!

A big welcome aboard to Nicholas and Susan Bonn who are me new owners of La Salle 37VT23.  They are planning to be at the Plymouth, Massachusetts rendezvous in July.  We cannot wait to meet them and see La Salle.

Tug Spotting - Hiaqua update

Update from Hiaqua 37VT03

We left a week ago an are heading north. No real hard plans. Maybe as far
as Prince Rupert. Most likely around Princess Royal Island in search of the
Spirit Bear, but definitely, salmon fishing! We leased our slip until after
Labor Day so we can't return until then.
Randy & Yvonne

Hiaqua in Princess Louisa 

Tug Spotting - Hiaqua

In Nanaimo for a couple of days waiting for high winds to diminish so we
can cross the Straits of Georgia. Temperature 85-90 and it's only the first
week of June. Hiaqua really shines with new paint job, brightwork and
chrome. Bilge pumps have yet to run, thanks to Slurpee pump doing it's job
each day. Also turns on a dime with new rudder cheeks. Requires less time
running the bow thruster.

Randy, Yvonne & captain Dash
Hiaqua
37VT03

Plymouth rendezvous announcement

Solutions for the stateroom bedding

Bicki Howell, Nellie D.  37VT63

Making the bed in the forward stateroom on the 37' tug can feel like you are wrestling an alligator.  We also found sheets and blankets tucked around the mattress never quite gave us that neat, crisp "made" bed look.  

Our solution:  We bought a colorful king size bed spread and pillow shams.  The bed spread is reversible so we didn't want to make it into a fitted cover.   Therefore, we simply laid the bed spread on top of the mattress and tucked it under and around the mattress to give it a fitted look.  

For bedding, we use a queen size "sleeping bag" called a Travasak.  It has a winter and summer side with a sheet set that velcros along the inner sides.  In the morning, we just fold the bag in thirds, with the Velcro sheets attached inside, roll it up and stow it at the bottom of the hanging locker.  The pillows go into the shams and stay on the bed.  In 2 minutes we have a perfectly made bed.  At night, we unroll the bag (I prefer to keep the sides of the bag unzipped so I can tuck the bottom piece in a bit along the sides of the mattress) and remove the pillows from the shams.  Presto!  In no time our bed is ready for sleeping.  

You might want two:  We have a second Travasak which we keep under the salon settee for when guests visit.  We have 4 sets of sheets and both bags are the same size which enables us to use the sheets interchangeably.   Under the settee we also store a 2" memory foam topper which helps make the pulled out settee a much more comfortable bed.  

Not sure if the Travasak brand is still around, but I found the same type of bag at the following link:

http://www.rvsuperbag.com/?gclid=CJLP2cffjM0CFZcdgQod0VIBYQ

Anchor Washdown Hose

Finding the right length hose for the anchor washdown bibb has always been problematic.  While in Ace Hardware the other day I found a good solution: individual, aluminum, hose fittings (shown above).  The hose, purchased separately (under $1/ft), can be any length you like.  In the future, when the hose needs to be replaced, the aluminum fittings can be reused.

Following that Good Advice...

Bicki Howell, Nellie D. 37VT63

Tom Blackwood, Thistle Dew 37VT46 gave us very prudent advice back in 2011 (Tuggers Issue 48).  When you are threatened by an electrical fire, shut off the electrical "fuel" source--the  batteries and shore power.  [Read his Tuggers Issue 48 article on the LNVT Blog:  http://goo.gl/iCrdGG]

Two hundred engine hours after installing a new engine starter motor and solenoid on Nellie D. we had a problem.  The starter solenoid failed, and not in a good way.  Most commonly, solenoid failures happen when the coil plunger ("switch") doesn't close, resulting in the starter motor not turning over.  In our case, the solenoid coil plunger remained closed.  This caused the starter motor to continue turning over until it literally was melting.  We were fortunate, as we were simply re-anchoring and had just dropped the hook when it happened.  We smelled something toxic, opened the engine room door and were immediately inundated with white smoke.  We quickly shut down the engine and turned our master battery selector switch to "OFF".   With the electrical supply shut off, the melting starter motor stopped turning and slowly cooled down.  We had the spares on board and had both parts replaced in five hours.  Not a fun job, but we were happy knowing we had taken the right steps to avert a scarier problem of an electrical fire onboard

Classic Yacht

You never know where a photo of our tugs will appear!  Check out Classic Yacht Magazine.  That is Polar Mist 47VT07 appearing in top center of page 45 for an article regarding classic boat events.  [It is funny in one way as she is pinned for the St Michaels Festival and she actually hails from the Pacific Northwest]

SEASONAL MUSINGS-- Misstarts, Mishaps, Misadventures, and Near Goners

by Sally Seymour, Sally W 37VT42

It's launch time in the Northeast. Elsewhere east of the Mississippi, tugs are already plying the waters, with owners seeking new adventures. Occasionally the stars line up to deliver launches without mishaps, and adventures free of frustrations. Conversely, sometimes the alignment causes universal havoc and panic.

On the niggling side of annoyances, John Isaksen launched Neptune 37VT35, on April 20.  But, he says, “Once the cover was off it was not a good place to be sitting. Right next to me they haul boats to be washed and painted.” Oops.

When Sally W 37VT42 was launched, Allan Seymour backed her out. For the previous seven years, spring launches were flawless. Once clear of the slings, he turned the wheel and nothing happened. Quick thinking and use of the bow thrusters brought her alongside the dock. The yard mechanic who was on board had already found the problem. During installation of new cutlass bearings last winter, the steering cylinder had not been reconnected to the yoke when the shaft was refitted. Problem solved, and out into the harbor for a check run. Problem #2: a moderate vibration was detected. And so began the game of “Whose Fault Was That?” Had the the shaft been installed properly or was it bent? Long story short, the tug was hauled, shaft pulled and sent off to be trued - just in case. It is suspected that it had not been aligned properly.  In retrospect, the steering problem was a fortunate stroke of serendipity because it brought attention to cracks where the yoke is welded to the arm. Off to the welding shop.

Meanwhile, the inimitable, unstoppable, always seeking howling new adventures, daring to attempt what others wouldn’t dream of, (you know who I’m talking about) the  Howells, Nellie D.  37VT63, have decided to undertake a multi-year cruise of the "Great Loop" in reverse and upstream. Heading west from Florida in March, heavy spring rains in the south made tough going. They spent two weeks in Fairhope, Alabama waiting for water levels on the Tombigbee River to drop. After many false hopes, they were able to start north, dodging logs and debris washed from shorelines during downpours. The severe weather even brought hail the size of eggs.  When asked about their adventures, Bicki said, "I have to say, people do the rivers all the time.  It is just a matter of learning what will kill you and figuring out the details.  We seem to thrive in that.  It has been a true learning experience and an adventure."