First you decide on a course. Or someone commands you to steer a course. Then, if you’re at the helm of 80-year-old tug Governor Cleveland, here’s what you act on, a conventional wheel.
If you’ve at the helm in the upper wheelhouse of Janice Ann Reinauer (see bottom foto at that link), you’ll steer just as well with the tiny monkey-fist knob on the joystick lower right.
I wonder how helmsmen will steer ships 80 years from now and what courses will hold value.
Steering or not, we’re all nearly at the end of another year. This is my last post for 2007 and until mid-January. It’s time –as happened last year– to head up the Winooski. If you’re in New York, steer your way down to South Street any day now to see the Peking move! Or steer yourself down to the Narrows to see the three Queens . That’ll happen a week or so after Three Kings Day.

2007 has brought me its highs and lows. Thanks for reading and commenting. Enjoy the archives. I wish you all a better 2008. Peace everywhere and joy! This last foto by coyote.
5 comments
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December 29, 2007 at 10:32 pm
mageb
I know we will all find a way to stear for calm water. We will see you when you get back. Happy New Year to you from us here on the left coast.
January 1, 2008 at 11:31 am
michael
May the Winooski be restorative. Happy New Year!
January 2, 2008 at 11:34 am
Fjorder
Happy New Year’s. When you get back, check out Volvo Penta’s IPS system in regards to steerage. Like Hinckley’s JetStick—a great match for its waterjet propulsion systems—IPS employs a joystick for steerage. Both are very intuitive systems and really come in handy in close-quarters and crowded harbors…
January 2, 2008 at 3:04 pm
leslie
Blisses and blugs to the Tugster. 🙂
Happy New Year and a safe one on the Winooski!
January 3, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Edward
is there no kingspoke on a tug’s wheel? I’m used to seeing the line wrapped around the spoke that indicates “neutral rudder”. is that just a sailing thing?
And happy new year, congratulations on your Tillie.