Because I’d posted about Grouper in winter, spring, and summer, I wanted an autumnal foto as well. Yet I feared it wouldn’t be there. What I found was worse: it was still there but vandals had left their marks.
They knocked windows out, and that could mean the beginning of the end, especially with winter approaching. While taking fotos, I met the owner, who
said the vandal was caught and the tug will soon be hauled out. He also said it had a very deep draft: 18′! Other reliable sources say 12.’ I’d love
to get up there again when it’s hauled to foto the hull and machinery. Please get in touch, D.
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October 29, 2008 at 10:59 am
tana
18′ draft? WOW. Bowie was only 9′.
October 30, 2008 at 3:07 pm
tugster
as i stated in the post, the owner said draft was 18′ and another respected source said 12′ i’m inclined to believe the 12′ bit i’ve never seen it hauled. i can’t wait to, regardless.
November 25, 2009 at 6:53 pm
jon
Tugster,
So, here’s what I have on this tugboat. Construction finished November 1912 by Great Lakes Tow Co. Called the “Gary” Sold to Reiss Coal Co 1934 an named the “Green Bay” working in WI , Lake Michigan untill about 1981?. Various names and owners after Reiss Coal Co. to include “Alaska”, “Oneida”, “Iroquois”, “Grouper”. Steam power changed to diesel 1957 (Kahlenburg). 73.33′ long x 18.5′ wide. Draft 10.16
gross tonage=71 net tonage= 36
I wish we could save her. Paint looks bad, but she’s still solid. I have found various pictures of her during her life. If interested in them, let me know
November 26, 2009 at 5:58 am
tugster
hi jon- please send the additional fotos; i’ll put them up.
August 17, 2010 at 9:10 pm
jeff
Here is a pic of the green bay aka grouper in dry dock. http://www.flickr.com/photos/28495439@N05/
August 18, 2010 at 6:15 pm
tugster
what’s the date on the drydock pic?
August 21, 2010 at 1:50 pm
jeff
2000-2001
August 24, 2010 at 8:56 am
Ed Drury
The wreck of the steam ferry Astoria is no more. A floating crane and a backhoe destroyed the remains last month. It was barged away for scrap, steam engines and all. She has been laying on the bottom in the Arthur Kill for as long as I can remember. Twenty or so years ago one old water rat cut his finger off with a hand hacksaw trying to steal the seward propeller and many have explored the wreck. As of today the equipment is still out there tearing up more wrecks.