Boatnerd Discussion Forum

There IS something about that smell of coal smoke!
Some people find it offensive and in the old days there was way too much of it. Really bad for your health.
Our modern society was built on it however and we survived it.

I was "privaleged" to shovel 7 tons a day into a 150 ton steam locomotive for a number of years as a tourist destination. Finally I graduated to Engineer. We had a team of Vietnam Veterans in the cab, my buddy's job was to try to suck holes in my fire and my job was to prevent that from happening (and keep water in the boiler). The usual result was a lot of loud sounds and a lot of black smoke. Tourists loved it! It is quite an art to get coal to start on fire, takes a lot of wood, fuel oil, and newspaper (stole the fuel oil from the tanks of some of the diesels on the property) . Rough on a hangover!

Ah yes, the smell of coal smoke waif'n thru the Piot House windows. Well I remember the Edna G and the Vet's club on a Friday night in "A Couple of Harbors"...

As far as putting the tug onto dry land it would probably have to be placed into some type of cradle to prevent further deterioration. I thought I heard somewhere that the Huron lightship has had some serious issues related to being filled in with soil around the hull.

It is not an easy job keeping any museum "afloat" these days.
Money is always an issue unless you have federal funding (most museums do not). Even the federally funded museums are "under scrutiny" for dollars as tax dollars head elsewhere.
Marine machinery requires expensive painting and hull maintenance (usually at a drydock - expensive) and towing to the place of drydocking (also expensive). The hull maintenance does not go away as corrosion takes it's toll continuously. There is always the threat of freezing a hull penetration (sea cock) during the winter. Pumping grease into a sea cock helps, but not in the best interests of the Coast Guard environmental rules. Dredging of the slip sometimes becomes an issue.
Volunteers are a wonderful asset (been one for years), but day to day operations may require a paid staff which can run up a bill.
I know that Two Harbors is a location for boat watchers, but I think you need a more steady income from regular tourists as well.
Donations are a great help, but companies are not in a "giving mode" right now, more of a "survival mode".
I am not trying to say Two Harbors shouldn't be the home of the Edna G, but just putting out a reality check here.
I really wish the big foundations would sped some of their billions of donations on the Maritime History, but most of their cash is going to humanitarian missions, not historic preservation.
And remember, this has to go on far longer than the passions for preservation that the current volunteers have. Rust never stops!

Guess I'd be curious to see the number of visitors the Irvin gets here in Duluth, Valley Camp at the Soo, and the City of Miwaukee and Acacia in a city the size of Manistee.

[quote="Coalburner"]As a person who is involved with museum preservation and the costs involved, I have a suggestion for the lovers of the Edna G.
I recently looked at the online video of the tug (and have known about her for many years) and she is definitely a beauty.
I think that she needs to be moved to Duluth and placed on land (if her hull is indeed as "tender" as I hear). I would hate to see her sink at the dock, it does happen!! I believe another old tug sank at the dock in Duluth also.
Two Harbors is not exactly a tourist destination and what she needs is MONEY to keep her afloat (or at least cared for on land).
Duluth (or maybe the SOO) is a destination of choice for maritime fans. There was talk of saving another old laker or two (E.M. Ford or others), but now you are going from 100 feet to 750 feet of old metal that needs painting, labor. and preservation.
To quote a movie I saw "nostalgia is expensive".
I have had my eye on the steam tug Reiss (Q.A. Gilmore) for a long time, but the financials are daunting.
There is an absolutely beautiful steam powered yacht Delphine (1921) that belonged to the Dodge (cars) family that is still steam powered and is currently in Europe as a charter. I am very concerned that she will be converted to diesel. She belongs on the "Lakes" too!

Per my name "coalburner", you know where my heart is.
I do like old diesel also.[/quote]

Edna G. has no connection to Duluth. She spent her career in Two Harbors. Where would you put her in Duluth? Two Harbors is a draw because of the ore docks. There is a lot of traffic in Two Harbors yr. round. There are too many floating museums around the Great Lakes that have no connection to the city they are in. The Edna G. deserves to stay in Two Harbors.
http://www.friendsofednag.org

In Duluth, both a retired COE tug & a CG buoy tendered both failed to make a go of it despite being associated with the Irvin. A retired CG buoy tender also failed at St Ignace. For whatever reason, people are drawn to the bigger boats, not so much the smaller ones.

As a person who is involved with museum preservation and the costs involved, I have a suggestion for the lovers of the Edna G.
I recently looked at the online video of the tug (and have known about her for many years) and she is definitely a beauty.
I think that she needs to be moved to Duluth and placed on land (if her hull is indeed as "tender" as I hear). I would hate to see her sink at the dock, it does happen!! I believe another old tug sank at the dock in Duluth also.
Two Harbors is not exactly a tourist destination and what she needs is MONEY to keep her afloat (or at least cared for on land).
Duluth (or maybe the SOO) is a destination of choice for maritime fans. There was talk of saving another old laker or two (E.M. Ford or others), but now you are going from 100 feet to 750 feet of old metal that needs painting, labor. and preservation.
To quote a movie I saw "nostalgia is expensive".
I have had my eye on the steam tug Reiss (Q.A. Gilmore) for a long time, but the financials are daunting.
There is an absolutely beautiful steam powered yacht Delphine (1921) that belonged to the Dodge (cars) family that is still steam powered and is currently in Europe as a charter. I am very concerned that she will be converted to diesel. She belongs on the "Lakes" too!

Per my name "coalburner", you know where my heart is.
I do like old diesel also.