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Post by yachtsmanwilly on Apr 25, 2022 4:17:08 GMT -5
Its 0400 here and at 0530 we are taking the first tug trip of the year to go grab a crane/spud barge at Winthrop Harbor, Il. and bring it back here. Two day trip. We typically run about 10 mph light and 7-8 loaded @ 40 Gallons/ hour...Thats about 210 miles total. Pics around Wednesday! ws
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Post by Avenger on Apr 25, 2022 6:59:11 GMT -5
Have fun. Stay safe. I'm thinking that the lakes are still pretty cold this time of year.
Looking forward to the pics.
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Post by skycheney on Apr 25, 2022 15:35:10 GMT -5
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Post by Avenger on Apr 25, 2022 19:28:56 GMT -5
Well, fhek the swimming lessons then.
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Post by ppat324 on Apr 25, 2022 20:47:14 GMT -5
Talked to Willy earlier. They were close to Milwaukee and still heading south. Hoped to get to Winthrop harbor before dark. He said it was as rough as a cob out and that worries me. Nothing since then and that was around 330. Almost 9PM now. If I don't talk to him tonight, I will talk to him in the morning but we 99% of the time say good night to each other.
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Post by ppat324 on Apr 26, 2022 7:41:59 GMT -5
At 0630 they were rolling. Barge hooked up on hip. They were supposed to put barge in front and push but not sure if they did. Very cold day today. It was snowing when I got up. Right now, looking out the window at the lake, it is calm. Hope it stays that way.
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Post by yachtsmanwilly on Apr 29, 2022 17:47:55 GMT -5
Just a little follow up on this... Theres a stretch of lake south of Milwaukee called Wind Point for a good reason. Lotsa shitty water there too so it a 10 mile trip outside the pedestal lighthouse and back in. What was 1-3 footers with a breeze became 5-6 in a hurry with a stiff SW wind. Around that bend it subsided. We got into the harbor and made up for a push. Gain about 1-2 mph with that arrangement. Since theres no facing equipment on this tug, it a few hundred feet of 2 inch hawser rigged in and out of towing bits back to the capstan I spent 3 days repairing for this trip. The Capt. for the trip is a sharp cookie, but not a whiz on equipment. Im downstairs keeping a 1965 boat running, and he's in the pilot house telling the owner whats wrong. Nates a great guy (owner) but no mechanic either. The Lufkin gear box was running about 10 degrees warmer that whats been logged in the past. Another FM (fucking mystery), but when all is said and done, Nates believing the gears are gonna explode and sink the boat taking all down to visit Davey Jones. The whole deal trickled down to a tired capstan too. Capt. Braniac is dissatisfied that the unit stalls before it breaks a hawser. Hold it on long enough and it'll blow the fuses. Its a 20 HP motor, no more; no less and it stalls. PERIOD. Again dissatisfied, the Capt breaks the rig and puts the barge on the hip. This is all around 0600 and dark yet. We leave Kenosha and two hours later we are back at Wind Point; the weatherman was wrong. Still rough and windier yet, so we turn around and head back into Kenosha returning about noon. The barge crew is still there so they come out and meet us in the harbor and drop the spuds and leave us on the hip. We are heading back down Sunday afternoon to get air up and be ready for the trip Monday morning. Should get back here about 1800 hrs. So the pics are Nate on the barge, and a girl (I dont know if she was wearing silk earmuffs or not (!!) ), and a bad sign; Red right returning to Kenosha. The girl wasnt too bad, other than "At the academy they taught us this or that..." and once she looked at me in the engine room and yelled "I SURE COULD USE SOME HELP HERE WITH THESE LINES..." My retort was "Wheres Nate??" He's the deck hand, Im the engineer. LOL... Attachment DeletedAttachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
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Sadey
Prefers Maryanne to Ginger
Posts: 99
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Post by Sadey on Apr 29, 2022 17:53:05 GMT -5
Wind point is our old stomping grounds and I’ll second how cruel she can be. Safe travels Bill. See you in the barn on the 5th if your back.
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Post by yachtsmanwilly on Apr 29, 2022 18:04:37 GMT -5
Look forward to that Dave. Making progress finally. You missed the fun 14 years ago with Penisis across the hall. He didnt appreciate a windy day and he was from Leland Mi. Remember guys??? I had a bad habit off calling all those assholes out!!! Attachment DeletedAttachment DeletedAttachment Deleted
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Post by ppat324 on May 2, 2022 7:58:21 GMT -5
The guys are at it again. Trying to bring it on home. The Tugboat Cheyenne and barge are enroute. Wind is calm but sky is looking pretty dark and grey. 120 miles via car. Hopefully they make it today. I would hate to have to go rescue them somewhere. Not. They have crews that just drive them back and forth. ppat just collects the check.
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