Saw this on a road trip today.

[Prins Willem]

I took a road trip up to Sturgeon Bay today to see the new Freshwater Fury exhibit at the Door County Maritime Museum. They also have the tug John Purves open for tours now so it was a twofer. The volunteers at DCMM did a great job on getting her ready for her new career as a museum boat.

Across the canal at Great Lakes Yacht Services was this slick little boat you may find interesting.

[420TEE]

I like the T-Bird too.

[Aerominded]

Handsome tug! too bad they couldn't keep it operable- for boat parades, etc...

T-bird looks good too! ;)

[Predreadnut]

Great pictures!! Man, thats a big tug. I love all the brass on the control panels. I usually lean toward antique stuff,but that superyacht is really cool.

[Prins Willem]

I thought I'd add a couple of more photos from the trip. Selvick Towing ties up just east of the John Purves. Here are a few of their tugs.

[Aerominded]

Great photos, Prins! "Sharon" looks like a modified Army 45' ST/YTL... :)

[Shaun Hendricks]

That engine room looks clean enough to eat off of. Really nice restoration job. Count me in with Aero, that tug needs to be in motion and going to boat shows. I'm not a big fan of 'static' museum boats. I like it when they go to several nearby harbors and show themselves off at shows. They get wider viewing that way.

[Prins Willem]

The docent who gave the tour said it was a condition of the donation that she be rendered inoperable.

I get the impression the museum doesn't want to be responsible for a "active" vessel. The docent also mentioned they are considering a permanent cradle underwater so she no longer floats. This will get it off of the Coast Guard radar and do away with a lot of maritime regs they now have to follow. On the NOAA Vessel Documentation Query the John Purves is listed as a passenger vessel. I can understand the DCMM's not wanting the funding and staffing hassles attendant with a live boat. I am glad they can make it possible to save her from the breakers and allow people to enjoy her for many years to come.

[Shaun Hendricks]

That's true, given a choice between breakers or a static museum, I definitely agree with the static idea. It just seems a shame to waste such a beauty.

Sadly, most folks wouldn't 'travel' to see a tug as a static display but would if they went to a harbor show and she was tied up along with the other show boats.

Maybe instead of a cradle they could dry dock her and let people see the hull and working 'outside' of the tug as well. Give them an education on tugs up close and personal.