There’s just something entrancing about rusty things. Just beneath the surface usually lies an interesting story. Some are obvious or easy to discover, while others remain a mystery forever leaving the observers to their own imagination. In today’s post we’re heading up island to check out a new spot we haven’t featured at The Hollow yet, that is the Ladysmith Marina. We discovered an area in the tiny town of Ladysmith last year that kept us busy for an entire day of shooting, and we begin this adventure together checking out something that was on display at the marina that captured my imagination.
Rusty Tugboat – Ladysmith Marina, Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Whenever I discover things like this, a special friend of ours who lives on the East Coast of the US always comes to mind. We have ruminated over our love of rusty machinery and implements over the years, sharing a passion for all things mechanical especially if they have a rich history and are slightly worn. It’s in the natural weathering that we find the character of the object.
I believe we are looking at the remnants of what once was a well-loved tugboat. The Ladysmith Marina is just off camera to the right, and as you come upon it and work your way towards the docks to see the breathtaking scenery, you come across this gem.
Rusty Tugboat – Ladysmith Marina, Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
As a little boy, my favorite toys were always mechanical things that were real. My mom bought a brand-new car at one point, and she loved it. It would spend most of its life in our garage, shielding it from the harsh winters and brutal summers on the prairies. This made it even more appealing as I could go and sit in it and pretend to be Starsky & Hutch or some other favorite crime fighting team, chasing down the bad-guys in a definitive effort to make the world a better place to be, a safer place for all of its citizens. Countless hours behind the wheel making the screeching sound of squealing tires were regular occurrences as I escaped in my mind.
If I had a tugboat like this in my yard, I would have been in heaven.
Rusty Tugboat – Ladysmith Marina, Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Needless to say, I am not entirely sure they make tetanus shots strong enough to combat the injuries I would have sustained as a young trouble-maker if I had this as a toy. This is likely directly related to the fact I had no such thing. As an adult (at least according to my driver’s license) today, I find that same special magic can be discovered in items like this, albeit in a much safer and more mature manner. Today I tend to play with these things through the lens of my camera.
At least that’s what I tell everyone who asks. You can rest assured that I didn’t climb up into the cockpit of the tug here on this day to turn the wheel and push and pull the levers, all the while making engine sounds and shouting at passing boats to “get out of the way”!
At least … that’s the story I am sticking to.
Photo Credits
Photos are © Scott Johnson – All Rights Reserved
First published at Toad Hollow Photography
Recent Scott Johnson Articles:
- A Settler’s Story
- Sweet Desolation
- The Second Life Of A Rusty Tugboat
- Reaching For The Heavens
- Greet The Morning
As there was little technical information about the this tug given in the article, I’ll add a couple of observations about it.
This was a special built, and use, logging tug. It was built to work rafts of logs floating in the water.
First, notice the straight, slab sides. This was to keep the tug from riding up onto the floating logs that it worked.
Secondly, notice the steel cage sticking down under the bow. That was to keep logs from getting in the propeller.
Third, although I haven’t actually looked close at the tug in person.( I live just a bit south of Ladysmith ), I believe it is an early version of a tractor tug. Instead of having an actual rudder to steer with, the entire drive train swiveled to point in the direction of travel.
Capt. Turk ( Master Mariner, Master of Ocean going towing vessels of any tonnage, Retired )
Magnifique article, encore une fois
Thank you so very much, my friend, we really appreciate your kind support and words!