Lil Rip !! I’d seen this unique tug twice before; both times were in the Rondout on rainy, dark days. To see Lil Rip yesterday in the euphoric October light . . . it has been worth the long wait. Long waits usually make outcomes more satisfying, eh? Lil Rip, the Empire State Building and even the Chrysler Building! I am
satisfied. Now I understand why my friend Jeff Anzevino chased it through 30 miles of the upriver portion of the Hudson to get pictures a few days ago. Go, Jeff! I’d like to do a whole post on Lil Rip: the three-exhaust configuration itself qualifies as unusual. Help me with some specs/genealogy and I’ll put up more fotos. Here she’s following bulker Florence Lily, delivered by Oshima Shipbuilding in Spring 2009. Lil Rip brings dynamic color (October leaf-red & yellow) to the otherwise gray cityscape;
It’s Miss Gill (ex-Samson, Karl Foss, Mister Mike) 1970 last week and smaller sibling
Captain D (ex-Dick Bollinger) 1974 from last summer.
Christine McAllister (ex-William L. Conlon) 1975 of Great Lakes Dock and Dredge, and Kimberly Turecamo (ex-Rebecca P) 1980.
Penn No. 4 (ex-Morania No. 4) 1973.
Co (ex-Draco) 1951 and based in New Bedford! Some rainy day I can imagine the fun to be had figuring out “re-namings” for vessels using this subtraction method. Like Falcon could become Fa . . . or DEP North River could re-enter as No River . . . you get the idea.
Take my word for this one: the tug dividing the shimmery water from the wintry sky is Volunteer (1982).
McAllister Brothers has an interesting stack/top of wheelhouse line. I can’t help notice the drab yellow & red foliage on the far bank.
All fotos by Will Van Dorp. Check out Jeff’s 2010 calendars, one of which is a fundraiser.
Bonus: two more Lil Rip closeups. Portside . . . with Goldman Sachs in background; safety buoy is Albany . . .?
and starboard. And to add here what I put in comment, if Lil Rip is little, I’m eager to see Rip or BIG RIP!
tugster: a waterblog 
6 comments
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October 28, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Jed
Ain’t NUTHIN’ little about Lil Rip.
October 28, 2009 at 2:54 pm
tugster
yeah . . and actually i forgot to write that i was wndering what BIG RIP looks like.
October 29, 2009 at 12:34 am
Jim
tugster — You picqued my curiosity with Lil Rip. I searched the US documentation data base for Lil Rip, Rip and Lil. Not there. Then, thinking she mught be down from Canada, I searched the Transport Canada data base and she is not there either. Very curious.
October 29, 2009 at 4:10 am
tugster
hi jim– i did the same. however, since posting, someone came forward with info. i will post more fots and reveal lil rip’s fascinating history. as they say in that other medium . . . stay tuned!
October 30, 2009 at 9:09 am
bowsprite
“stayed logged” doesn’t quite have the same feel.
October 30, 2009 at 9:31 am
bonnie
GREAT pictures!
I hope I can get to the tugboat races next year. Boy, was I sorry my dad wasn’t around for just one more day – but we did have a great time at Historic Ships Day the day before.
Hey, how is the W.O. Decker coming along? I heard she wasn’t at the race because of some repair issues?
Li’L Rip reminds me of the Allegheny River tugs I put up last night – same boxy pilot house, and those funny pushing arms with the stairs running up them. Stop by, I think you’ll like it!