Katahdin Blogs
Back North and the Big Blowdown
It's time to return to Alaska again--to destruction, frozen pipes and this time uprooted trees--lots of them. We had an Easter storm that even the Easter bunny couldn't stand. Move over Punxsutawney Phil....... It's good-bye to Tucson for a few months and time to...
Fall retreat, Hawaii and more maritime history
I left Kupreanof September 20 for Seattle on the ferry--another disaster which I'll address in a separate Alaska Ferry Post soon. This time, I drove my new Toyota Tundra on board loaded with all sorts of tug stuff and two coolers of food/halibut, etc. And that gave...
Katahdin Refit Seattle
Eighteen years in Alaska has not been easy on the old girl--it's time to fess up about deferred maintenance and get out the wrecking bars and nail pullers. This is the Texas deck portside looking aft--this is the step into the pilot house where I had made temporary...
Katahdin Part III–The Engine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_KOzlJlXgE So as not to let down our most ardent fans--here is the next chapter in the refit of this 112 year old tug.... OK--we've painted the upper and lower house, plus hauled out on the marine rail and cleaned & painted the...
Katahdin Part II–The Haulout
Now it's time to haul the Katahdin out of the water and clean the hull. I have to tow her with our skiff and can do this only at high slack. Problem is, that everyone else moves around at high slack--including this skiff, two seaplanes, a fuel barge and a ferry so...
Katahdin Part I–The House
This is what 10 years in Alaska will do to a boat. Actually, it's about 6 years--the amount of time we have spent rebuilding our homestead across the Narrows. Now it's time to turn our attention back to the Katahdin--my first home here in Alaska. The "Kat" was...