Living On a Tugboat, and Part of a Dwindling Breed

[Soundbounder]

Of all the pleasure-boaters who dock in Manhattan once the weather turns nice, Rick Batchelder may be the only one with shreds of tires along the sides of his vessel and a pair of mounted water guns at the stern.

Then again, there do not seem to be too many other recreational mariners who live on a tugboat.

Mr. Batchelder, 58, believes he and his wife, Renee, are the only people in the country who do. He says they spend about half the year living aboard the tug, a workhorse of a boat that is better suited for towing aircraft carriers than sipping mai-tais from hammocks on the deck.

New York Times City Room Blog

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/20...room&seid=auto

[ron ll]

He really thinks he is the only person in the country living on a tugboat?!

[Hwyl]

There was a thread on here a while back about a very pretty girl living on one in the Pacific NW. Also 6 months a year is not "liveaboard".

[Paul Pless]

There was a thread on here a while back about a very pretty girl living on one in the Pacific NW. Also 6 months a year is not "liveaboard".

That thread included a great smackdown from that girl. When a certain kinda blighted bilgerat from Minnesota posted, "Hey, I know that Chick" to the thread that included a link to her story. She joined the forum, logged in, and posted," I'm that chick, and you've never met me!"

[Hwyl]

One of the better threads in this pit, sailor Dave proposed to her and I was tempted.

[Hwyl]

I think it was Betty B who said "Chick" I remember her response but I don't remember her saying "you never met me"

[Soundbounder]

He really thinks he is the only person in the country living on a tugboat?!

Even the author didn't believe it; that's why the headline is "part of a dwindling breed". not "last of a breed"

[Paul Pless]

I think it was Betty B who said "Chick" I remember her response but I don't remember her saying "you never met me"

nope it was captain blight

[Hwyl]

II doff my hat to you, you are correct http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...tle-CL-Tugboat

[Paul Pless]

I had just googled it too.

Its a good thread!

[Hwyl]

Her website is down, she probably married a re insurance executive and now lives in suburbia and is putting on a few extra pounds

[Nicholas Scheuer]

I once met a guy who lived alone aboard a Great Lakes Tug whose Home Port was South Haven, Michgan. He invited me aboard for a cup of coffee.

Moby Nick

[BETTY-B]

Good memory Gareth. I had originally posted that she told me that she didnt know that dude. She came by after all and posted herself. So I deleted my post. Anyways, I just happened to get an email from her day before yesterday. She's got her eye on an old schooner. Apparently the tug hasn't had the love that she gave it lately.

In Seattle alone there are several people that live aboard tugs. Year 'round!

[willmarsh3]

Living aboard a tugboat - pretty fascinating. I was bummed about seeing her website down. Nonetheless I wasted a good two hours looking at tugboat youtubes including a tugboat getting sunk by a submarine and a tugboat pushing contest.

[ron ll]

Biggest "yacht" permanently moored at Shilshole Marina is the 105' steel tug, "Maris Pearl", converted to a pleasure boat. Belongs to a friend of a friend. Altho he doesn't live aboard it, he actively cruises it a lot. Like a lot of old workboats, it's air start with no reverse gear or neutral; shuts down and starts the engine the other direction for reverse. He has a bow thruster tho and when he leaves, he uses the bow thruster to push away from the dock before he starts the engine. When he lands, he plans ahead as he has to shut her down before laying the dock.

[BETTY-B]

Biggest "yacht" permanently moored at Shilshole Marina is the 105' steel tug, "Maris Pearl", converted to a pleasure boat. Belongs to a friend of a friend. Altho he doesn't live aboard it, he actively cruises it a lot. Like a lot of old workboats, it's air start with no reverse gear or neutral; shuts down and starts the engine the other direction for reverse. He has a bow thruster tho and when he leaves, he uses the bow thruster to push away from the dock before he starts the engine. When he lands, he plans ahead as he has to shut her down before laying the dock.

I thought he was a liveaboard. A couple weeks ago the boat was gone. I figured he moved it. After a sail a few days later, I saw him on the way back in.

[ron ll]

I thought he was a liveaboard.

Nope. Just his toy.