Bah Bah Black Sheep

[yachtsmanbill]

Got the flock outa here... The old HATT TRICK made the 400 mile run to Aqua Harbor in Pickwick Tenn.
Ran at 1500 @11.2 @ 18GPH on the GPS. Those GATO class HATTS can really outperform yer expectations. Story to follow when I can see straight; and hearing returns to normal. 12-71s drone caught up with me!!
MANY thanks to Doug Schuman et al-- Your TennTom books were
INVALUABLE !! What a trip !! Froze our little tails off... BAAAA! ws

 

[Boss Lady]

Glad you are back, I see you never got into water deep enough to submerge to periscope depth!

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Hey man-- some of the tenn tom was around 65 of seawater above the keel. Ran out of time to plot the torpedo run. kinda hard to figure the way that river runs in curlyQs Tell Paul thanks for looking into yer old gears. Kinda rich for me , besides, previous offerer called and still wants the sub.
Ill try to post a story tomorrow. I spent 2 weeks with a steel slivver in my left eye that was removed today AFTER the trip. 3 or 4 750 vikes with a beer chaser and ill feel like a buck 283. ($1.283) tee many martoonies. hick! check in later. ws COMSUBTENN

 

[Paul45c]

OK, I'm gonna say I need a translation, but that withstanding, it sounds like the makings of a legendary Hatt trip! Post the pics, Yottsmanwillie!!

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Ready for the new saga?? I'll be postin' it later today-- Ya'll gonna need to check in with www.urban dictionary.com for the direct translation for some of this one... Its FREE !!
Merchant ships Eraserhead Maru and Pinhead Maru sighted! Fire tubes 1,2 and 3!! Torpedoes running HOT, STRAIGHT and NORMAL.
SILENT running for now until dark when we surface for battery charging.
Dang the torpedoes, full speed ahead! ws

 

[ThirdHatt]

CONGRATS!!! I knew the old Cajun Q.., er, Hatt Trick was ready for a cruise! What's the plan now? Haul and get to work or hang until spring?

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Hey Byron-- fer now the HT is laying at the dock all bundled up for a long winters' nap. I am waiting for the water to come up a foot so we can haul and inspect the cutless bearings and port prop for a little rumble. It got no worse after 500 miles so I am assuming it may be an alignment too.
The L.I.J.B. called me yesterday and countered his offer. I told him it was our last figure PLUS expenses to move the 500 miles north. He may still go for it. If he doesnt, our stabe deal is still on. Did you see the 58yf on ebay?? I thought of you!! It went on yesterday.
Stay tuned for the saga today after I get 100 pix loaded to some stupid photobucket program. I am waiting for the ISO to help me.
Best wishes and happy holidays--- ws

 

[ThirdHatt]

OH NO!!! I thought you sent Guido after that guy to bust some kneecaps after the run-around he gave you, wasted your time and after stalling tried to lowball you!!! Unbelievable.

I did see the 58YF on ebay this morning. Heck of a project that somebody spent some duckies for new power and is now abandoning the project mid-stream. Hope the next buyer likes the direction that this owner has taken. Hell, if the guy still buys your 58TC you may beed to go scoop the 58YF and have the walk-in engine rooms with detroits and genset!

Looking forward to the saga.....

 

[yachtsmanbill]

These just came in from my fearless leader-- SENECA was in tow from Sault Ste Marie to Duluth when wind switched to the north bringing 17-20 foot seas breaking the 3 inch tow line. Boats were reportedly rolling at 45 degrees to port AND starboard in the beam seas. If the coast guards' boat hadnt broke down and needed towing to Marquette Mi. they could have easily passed another towline and saved the boat. Boat pictured here is on the beach and awaiting salvage.
USCG is charging 35K per day for a helo and MLB to stand by (50 miles away due to weather!) CRIPES !! These pics were from 1 and 2 days ago from the helo.
Notice the "ice tonnage". Never a dull moment on a tug boat.
Looks like the tenntom saga will hafta wait a bit as I am awaiting orders here to move the yard tug closer to Duluth. Lake Michigan can be almost as bad!!
Happy holidays! (?) ws

 

[34Hatt]

That second picture sure can send a chill down the spine

Glad you had a good trip North even though it was cold . I must have missed or forgot the reason of WHY did you move it north for winter that is the wrong direction most of us want to go
Did you get to see any STRANGE BIRDS along the way

 

[jim rosenthal]

That is really sad...are they going to be able to salvage that boat and refloat her? The picture really is creepy.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

The strangest "bird" we saw was an American Eagle circling in front of us as we waited for a lock and then it swooped down about 20 feet away from the pilothouse and grabbed a fish--MAGNIFICENT !!
The salvage plan for the tug is to next week (weather permitting) board and de-water with a stern tow to haul her off the sand. Shes about 200 feet offshore in 10 feet of water. No apparent damage and should float easily.
12-567 EMD is electric drive and probably ruined (2400volt generator, traction motor, switches etc. NEW insurance was in a binder and results remain to be seen ! Being naive as I am, I always thought the USCG was supposed to be on our side, but it seems that this all has changed. They are really gonna try to screw my pal. So far, after all this, they managed a pinch for no radio operators licence -- B F D !! Station was lic'd but not the capt. (commercial rules).
Late next week I'll probably run the small boat to Milwaukee or Manistique for a winter lay-up. Wanna go? NO BERTHS, HEAD, OR HEAT but lotsa filters.
-- Hmmm. ws

 

[yachtsmanbill]

That second picture sure can send a chill down the spine

Glad you had a good trip North even though it was cold . I must have missed or forgot the reason of WHY did you move it north for winter that is the wrong direction most of us want to go
Did you get to see any STRANGE BIRDS along the way

We moved the 58 due to the fact that she is now 450 miles closer to home. Sometimes I feel like Arthur Fiedler trying to "orchestrate" all the logistics; cars, time, money, fuel, docks, WEATHER, food, people, Man !! I am soo glad I'm retired. Such a life of liesure. LOL ws
Stay warm and dry!!

 

[Avenger]

Interesting pics there YB. Did that tug used to belong to Hess? Around here I think that they operated under Red Star Towing, but the colors were always a dead giveaway. Glad the sub's making the run okay, even if "der schnorkel" isn't needed! Enjoy the peace and relaxation of your retirement.

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

Did you get to see any STRANGE BIRDS along the way

YB,

glad you are safely back! You were missed. I think what Dan was fishing for was perhaps the sighting of a bird of the "FREEdom" species

BTW, I hope that tugboat is not ruined. I think its great that a group would take the time and expense to make something like that available for all to visit and enjoy.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

The SENECA out on the barge canal is a different tug - electric drive with a pair of Cummins, owned by the State, great little tug. This SENECA is the 94-foot former MARY L. MCALLISTER that North American had at Chicago, Green Bay, the Soo and Duluth (it was a spare boat that really got kicked around) - yes a bit tired but just before North American went under it was rebuilt - total engine rebuild and new shaft, wheel, bearing, etc - not a bad tug. She was at MCM with sister tug SIOUX for some upgrades. All of the tugs (SUSAN HOEY too) are owned by the Zenith Tugboat Company. SUSAN HOEY continued on towards Duluth and is soon to be renamed ANNA MARIE ALTMAN. A salvage plan has been submitted and the SENECA should be freed next week, weather permitting. There was no damage, no oil spill. SENECA will return to the Soo most likely after salvage ops are completed.
This is the response to boatnerd.com from the owner. Can you enlighten me as to who Hess is? Having "sometimers" causes me to lose a bit of memory sometimes, but at least not body functions...yet. I want to live in obscurity where things are just a bit fuzzy. LOL ws

 

[yachtsmanbill]

YB,

glad you are safely back! You were missed. I think what Dan was fishing for was perhaps the sighting of a bird of the "FREEdom" species

BTW, I hope that tugboat is not ruined. I think its great that a group would take the time and expense to make something like that available for all to visit and enjoy.

Thanks Bill !! So far no "freedom" bird sightings, but I had a pile of PMs when I got home from a new member Thurston J Rockerfella IX from Houston who knows him personally. He mentioned something about "clipped wings"
Actually this boat is part of the Duluth fleet and is the main ship docking tug. I ran her as cheif engineer last year for a few days and she is an extremely complicated boat to run. All the electrical gear is manually controlled as far as load and speed are concerned-- the engine room looks like something from Frankenstein's lab ! There is a 50 page 3 ring binder to follow just for startup-- the air starter is the easy part!
Checkout the website:http://www.northeasternmaritime.org/ ws

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I just checked out the EOTL website... nice job on that, but not nearly as nice as the boat job...WOW!!! Sure hope the HATT TRICK turns out as nice! ws

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I just checked out the EOTL website... nice job on that, but not nearly as nice as the boat job...WOW!!! Sure hope the HATT TRICK turns out as nice! ws

 

[Starman]

Seems like you had and intersting trip Bill.

Yes, the prices they gave to me, for you, for those tranny's did seem steep and thats what I told them today .........