January 23, 2010
It has been very pleasant here in Seattle, the other day it was 61 degrees when we went ashore to go shopping. We are in the clutches of El Nino where we get the nice weather and southern California gets our storms, and they have just about been washed out down there. The bad part for us is no snow pack in the mountains. We were on the top of a hill and we could see both mountain ranges – the Olympics and the Cascades – and only a bit of snow on top. Our carpenter friend, Paul, who lives in Idaho on the side of a mountain, reports no snow but the ground has frozen down about 3 to 4 feet without the snow insulation.
These are tough times economically, both my sister, Merry, & I were Depression kids and I can remember all the stories from the folks on how hard it was. My dad took over Fremont Boat Market in 1928 and married May in 1929 and then the big Depression hit and I don’t think that he showed a profit for 10 years. In fact there is a story around that we would still be in the Great Depression if World War II had not happened. Seems like a long time ago but here we are back into it again. We should all feel very fortunate that we have a job and or someone wants to employ us or use the services that we offer. My answer to all this has never changed over the last 50 years, work hard and every day apply yourself like there is no tomorrow; hard work cures a lot of problems. I just love seeing the tugs backing out to go do another job, it’s nice to have great customers. Through hard work and perseverance and being very innovative Margie now has 100 % occupancy in our office building since we lost a major tenant in June of 2009. Bravo Zulu Margie. I will certainly breathe easier when this is all behind us.
Photos this month of us towing yachts and big fishing vessels.
STINGER PUSHING A YACHT.
STINGER STANDING BY AMERICAN NO. 1 OUTSIDE THE LOCKS.
STINGER TOWING ANOTHER YACHT.
DIXIE WITH DEFENDER ALONGSIDE ON A CALM DAY.
DIXIE WITH REBECCA IRENE IN TOW ALONGSIDE.
OUR DIXIE WITH REBECCA IRENE ALONGSIDE.
SUNSET BAY
ARICA AND CAPE HORN
Our man in Ladysmith (well actually there are 2 men in Ladysmith) Michael Dean sent me several photos of Canadian tugs which I will share with you; I think I have the names right. Our other man is Ron Burchett who sends me neat stuff all the time. Michael is a very famous Canadian artist who we meet 25 years ago out in Port Hardy at the ferry terminal. Our house and office could be a display center for Michael’s paintings we have so many of his.
SEASPAN REGENT WITH LOG BARGE IN TOW. --M. DEAN
OUTSIDE TUG IS NUMAS WARRIOR--- M. DEAN
OLD TUG AT KELSEY BAY -- M. DEAN I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF HER.
SEASPAN PROTECTOR -- M. DEAN
MERIN J AND CRUISE SHIP--M. DEAN
BOYER TUG NORMA H IN BURLEITH ARM--- M. DEAN
SALTAIR HUSTLER AND NORMA H IN BACKGROUND. -- M. DEAN
NORMA H AND LOG BARGE. -- M. DEAN
NORMA H -- M. DEAN
COAST ISLE AT SALTAIR'S DOCK IN LADYSMITH. -- M. DEAN
Our man in Maple Bay is Mike Wright who owns the tug VICTORY XII and works for the large Marina there. He builds RC models that are just beautiful; in fact in the Crowley building on Harbour Island in Seattle there is a model of the SEA VICTORY that Mike built… of course it’s in good company there with Ron Burchett’s Models. I have in our office 2 beautiful paintings of tug boats done on wooden plaques that Mike did. Here are some of Mike’s photos that he sent me.
SEASPAN COMMODORE -- MIKE WRIGHT
LOOKS LIKE SEASPAN COMMODORE AND LOG BARGE -- M. WRIGHT
SEASPAN COMMANDER --- MIKE WRIGHT
MIKE WRIGHT'S INVADER CLASS CROWLEY TUG MODEL SHOWS REAL MUSCLE TOWING AN INFLATABLE FULL OF PEOPLE.
In the next issue of the blog I will share with you photos that our man on Whidbey Island, Stan Willhight, just sent me. Stan also told me that our blog started appearing on the New York City website of Tugster at www.tugster.wordpress.com.
The tide has turned- – - – - – FAIRTIDE MARK.
PS: Did you get to see the movie Our Man in Havana with Alec Guiness yet?
MOTOR LIFEBOAT INVINCIBLE ON GRAYS HARBOR BAR WITH A LITE CHOP RUNNING. MY FAVORITE BOAT AS IT SAVED MY LIFE COUNTLESS TIMES.
RENTAL PROPERTIES & SERVICES WE OFFER.
· Quiet, protected open boat moorage to 70 feet at FREMONT BOAT COMPANY at 206-632-0152.
· Great office space at the O.H. Doc Freeman office building. Water views over our marina on Lake Union. We now have a wait list available. Call Margie at 206-632-0152.
· Tugboat service & barge rentals call Erik or Tom at 206-632-0151 and
· Dog walking, Petsitting and Lodging – call Heidi Freeman at Happy Camper Pet Service, 206-784-5291.
· Single family homes for lease in the North Seattle area call Margie at 206-632-0152 or Erik at 206-632-0151.
· Covered & open boat moorage plus brokerage situation available at DOC’S DOCK on Lake Union. Call Dayle at 206-697-4552.
· New book for sale “TUGBOATS ON PUGET SOUND”. Call 206-632-0152 to buy your signed copy; or pick one up from Fremont Boat Co. at 1059 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103.
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