"ARTHUR FOSS" American Treasure

[gary porter]

Just read an article in our local paper last week
that the President's Committee on the Arts and the
Humanities has awarded $100,000 for the restoration'
of the hull and decks of the "Arthur Foss".
The Arthur Foss was built in 1889 of Doug Fir and
worked the Columbia river area under the name "Wallowa"
The 129' Tug joined the Gold Rush to Alaska in 1898
towing ships from Seattle.
The Tug is in Lake Union now and I was wondering if
LUDD is going to do the restoration. Rodger, or anyone know
anything about that?? Anyway , its great to see some money
going to such projects. Many of the old ships etc from
that time have long since been destroyed.
Gary smile.gif

[ 09-30-2002, 02:40 PM: Message edited by: gary porter ]

[Kermit]

Have a look here. Give a listen to the engine underway at 100 (that's one-hundred) rpm. Makes 700 hp at 200 rpm.

http://home.pacifier.com/~rboggs/ARTHUR.HTML

He's some tug. I got a ride once with my shanty-singing mates from Seattle to Olympia. Still a tug, not a yacht. He's needing more attention than that hundred grand will accomplish, but hey. I can still remember watching that enormous diesel (he was originally steam), and then noticing lashed at one end of a catwalk around the cylinder heads the biggest piston I've ever. About the size of a garbage can. Good he's being cared for. smile.gif

[ 09-30-2002, 03:47 PM: Message edited by: Kermit ]

[Meerkat]

I've seen the husky tugboat "Authur Foss" several times at the annual Center for Wooden Boats 4th of july festivals. I don't know if she belongs to the CWB or not or who will spearhead the restoration. I bet the Community College boatbuilding school will have some hand in it - they built a new pilot house for the "Virginia" and some other work. They are currently restoring a fine old yacht that was burnt in the Shilshoe (sp?) fire last year.

The old Navy Reserve training center at the S. end of L. Union has been turned over to the city and it's being converted into a Maritime Heritage Center. They've put up some _serious_ new pilings etc. on the lake front there and last time I was at the CWB, there where several ships there that I had not seen before - all old.

Even the old sail timber freighter, the "Waiwona" (she of the seams 'calked' with moss - no lie!) has seen some action - she's been swapped from 'bow in' to 'bow out' and her new bowsprit is _finally_ in after some _years_ of working on it. Rumor has it that a full refit is a $10 million job though. The moss growing out many of her seams can't be good.

[RGM]

Doing some restoration work on the ARTHUR FOSS would be great! I saw a small paragraph in a newspaper regarding the 100K. I was going to make contact with them to see what their plans were. 100K won't go far on a project like that. However, if used prudently it could give them a decent start. Once they are able to demonstrate some meaningful use of the funds it will be easier for them to obtain additional funding. Meerkat, the old yacht that the Seattle Community College is rebuilding burned in the recent Seattle Yacht Club fire. I doubt if they would get too involved in an "offsite" project such as the ARTHUR. The instructor, Dave Mullins, tries to keep things in the class room where time and effort can be watched over closely.

[Meerkat]

RGM they might do some prefab like they did on the 'Virginia'... I believe the new pilot house was constructed offsite (at the school) and then hoisted into place. I know they did some other bits that would have had to be onsite since it's awefully hard to get a ship over into the Central District ;) . This was according to Mr. Mullins himself or his unindicted conconspiritor at the school booth at the CWB festival back in July.

[ 09-30-2002, 05:44 PM: Message edited by: meerkat ]

[gary porter]

Kermit, Meerkat, and RGM, Thanks for the info and for replying. As I understand it the 100k was for hull and deck restoration and or repair. I wasn't sure how many places on Lake Union could handle a tug that size. Actually I guess it could be done anywhere that they choose to take it. Who actually owns the Arthur Foss now? I'd sure like to get envolved in a project like that some time even if it were just volunteering some labor. I was recently in Port Townsend for the show but didn't make it to Lake Union,,,maybe next time.
Gary

[RGM]

Meerkat, I'll email you some pictures of the pilot house being hoisted onto the V-5. In addition to "pre-fabbing" the pilot house the school also built some doors for the boat.
I spoke to the folks that take care of the ARTHUR FOSS, Northwest Seaport-Maritime Heritage Center. They thought that it was pretty funny that while everyone else is celebrating their good fortune, they haven't received word (officially) that they will be receiving the 100K, actually they indicated they might get 150K. It would be a matching fund grant, those can get a little tricky. Hopefully they will get the official word soon. Additionally, it sounds as though the old Lightship SWIFTSURE (also under their care) is in line for a pretty good sized grant (approx. 500K I think). Hope it all works out for them.

[Meerkat]

AH! So that's what the "Swiftsure" is! Barrett and I saw her at the Marine Heritage Center while I was showing her the CWB. Should have known by the huge lights on the aft mast. One heck of a bow on that ship!