Well, maybe not that different, since I’m not reinventing myself. But enjoy these fotos, and while looking at them, figure out where you’ve seen this tug before on this blog. Look carefully. It took me about 30 seconds to recognize the red tug below as a more pristine version of a tug that appears here periodically. Fotos were taken in the 1980s by Seth Tane, who generously shares them here.
In its current state, this tug, using the same name, has considerably more equipment on board. What hasn’t changed is the profile of the Palisades in the background of some of these fotos, taken in or near Hastings-on-Hudson, NY.
This tug today still operates commercially, pulling loads like the one below.
A major change in the tug relates to visibility; the portholes would make me claustrophobic. However, since the mystery tug was built on the Great Lakes, maybe portholes conserve heat better in winter. Tug Daniel A. White, below left, has more conventional glass. Anyone know what has become of Daniel A. White?
If you guessed Patty Nolan, you were correct. Here’s her current work page, showing her original form. Click on the following links for a sampling of Patty Nolan fotos from the past few years, like modelling 2011 summer beach fashion, at work in the East River, moving snail-like with house, and finally . . . for now . . . Patty Nolan outlaw fashionista.
Thanks much to Seth for these fotos from the early 1980s.
Below is a foto (poor quality) that I took in December 2000. I clearly had forgotten how barren the Jersey City shore just north of the Morris Canal looked a mere 11 years ago, almost reminiscent of a desert town. This foto was among a batch my sister handed me at Thanksgiving, but those foto gave me
an idea. Maybe you have fotos in a drawer, a shoebox, and album, etc. that show some part of the sixth boro and/or vessels there. And if I may so brazen, tugster would LOVE to see any fotos you might come across and are willing to share.
Here was Something Different 4.
tugster: a waterblog 
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December 5, 2011 at 7:16 pm
eastriver
Hmm. Must say I like Patty Nolan, very handsome and no-nonsense. But what happened to the radar? I always wondered about port-light wheelhouses, looking at lightships such as Ambrose; but then I realized they were not underway most of the time. Clearly not true with Patty; but perhaps a bargain had something to do with it.
Daniel A White looks much like those Navy tugs of the linage of Spuyten Duyvel. Don’t know the White, but were they the same sort?
December 9, 2011 at 10:02 am
Capn. Dave
The Patty originally had traditional square “dropping” windows. These were welded up and replaced with the portlights somewhere along the line. I suspect this had more to do with security and being tied to a construction dock for long periods than any need for increased seaworthiness. When we bought the Patty the portlights in the wheelhouse had to go. Not only was the field of vision very limited, it was like looking through a Coke bottle. We still have the original lights – 13″ diameter – stripped and in storage. Each one weighs about 36 pounds and has 1″ thick glass. Tried to sell them on EBay without luck. Any nautical antique folks out there?