August 2002

Don Sutherland, Tugboat Restoration 101
at the Maritime Museum
Tuesday, Sept. 10, 7:00 pm

An Illustrated Presentation about Tugboats

Don Sutherland will present "Tugboat Restoration 101" at the Hudson River Maritime Museum on Tuesday, September 10, at 7:00 pm. Admission $3.00, for museum members, $2.00. For more information call 845-338-0071.

Tugboat Elise Ann Conners Docked at the Hudson River Maritime Museum click for larger photos

Everybody loves tugboats, and as far as historic preservation is concerned, tugs are the second most popular vessels in North America (guess which is first?). "Tugboat Preservation 101" is a non-technical, lighthearted, entry-level look at these handsome, tough boats as they're found on various American waterways.

Being entry-level, the profusely illustrated presentation begins with the question, "what is a tugboat?" From there, it goes on to depict some of the best and most famous historic tugs in the nation.

Don Sutherland has been a freelance writer, photographer, multimedia producer, and consultant for 35 years, and is principal of Sutherland Multimedia on Staten Island, NY. Best-known as a "guru" in the digital photography arena, he was an early adopter of digital cameras and related systems, and today uses digital cameras exclusively (all photos for "Tug Preservation 101" were shot with digicams).

Don is Technical Editor and columnist for Digital Camera magazine, and digital photography editor and columnist for Photo Trade News. He is also a contributing editor and columnist for Marine News magazine. His article on the maritime response to the World Trade Center cleanup was declared "Article of the Year" for 2001 by Maritime Reporter magazine.

His article, His "Save the Tugs," published in the February 27, 2002 edition of Marine News, is the foundation of this presentation.

tugboat Hay-De

Tugboat Hay-De: Is This 1887 Tugboat Sunk?
The Hay-De, a tugboat docked in Staten Island, N.Y., was in imminent danger of being sunk as a reef.

Hay-De was built as New York Central 13 in 1887 by the John Dialogue Co. of Camden, N.J. Its riveted iron hull is one of about a half-dozen surviving Dialogue hulls. The boat's engine was dieselized in the 1950s and still works. Although the boat floats without leaking, the midsection of the deck house was removed in 1980.

Well past the 11th hour, a buyer appeared for Hay-De. The tug has been moved from Staten Island to a temporary mooring on the Manhattan shore. Plans are for her to return to Staten Island in October, to be lifted ashore, and restored on land. The owner/restorer already has one well-known ship restoration project behind him, and is the most highly qualified of all the people who expressed interest in the tug. Don will discuss the restoration of the Hey-De in his presentation at the Museum.

Directions to the Hudson River Maritime Museum