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Cleveland Rockwell–NW Coast Surveyor & Artist
Cleveland Rockwell had a successful 19th-century career in the military and the federal Coastal Survey. Educated as a cartographer and mechanical engineer, Rockwell started his professional life with the U.S. Coastal Survey, collecting survey data and drawing maps. In 1861, … Continue reading
In 1958, a 1700′ Tsunami Hit Lituya Bay, Alaska
When I moved to Astoria almost a decade ago, I began to enjoy the pleasures of living on the edge of the continent, like the short trip to the beach, and the ever-changing weather. But when I attended a community … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Nautical History, NW boats and boaters, Worth Reading
Tagged Lituya Bay, mega tsunami
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10 Reasons Not to Fly with a Full–Size Bike
The plan was simple: I would give my Bike Friday a year off from the wear-and-tear of another journey in Latin America and instead take an old mountain bike that I would donate to some worthy person when I flew … Continue reading
Botterjacht Groote Beer’s Nazi Past All a Fraud
Back in the 1990’s, I wrote what I assumed would be the final American story about the Groote Beer, the 52′ Dutch botterjacht that had spent many years on the west coast, especially on the Columbia River in the 1950s–when … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, NW boats and boaters, Sailors & Yachts, Worth Reading
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Fred Wahl Opens New Yard on 38 Acre Island
Bolon Island Move “We’ve really outgrown the old boatyard. Having just one ways really slows us down,” stated Fred’s son Mike Wahl. “On the new property we will be able to haul a large number of boats and move them … Continue reading
Posted in Commercial craft, Commercial Fishing, Shipyards, Worth Reading
Tagged Ruby Marine
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US Coast Guard 1934 Wooden MLB
Restoration of Wooden Lifeboat Is One Man’s Dream The Port of Astoria’s haul-out yard may not sound like a great place to find a boating story, but there is always a variety of working boats and yachts on the hard–and … Continue reading
Posted in Nautical History, NW boats and boaters, Worth Reading
Tagged MLB 36, MLB 36391
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Death of the Antarctic Ship Hero
How a Notable Vessel Met Its End on Willapa Bay Fifty years ago, the 125′ X 30′ expedition ship Hero was taking shape at the Harvey Gamage Boatyard in Maine. Designed by Potter & M’Arthur, Inc., naval architects of Boston, … Continue reading
Ice Bird, Hero, Calypso at Palmer in 1972
Three remarkable craft made an unplanned rendezvous on the Antarctica Peninsula at Palmer Station in the summer of 1972. The 125′ American research vessel Hero and the 154′ ex-WW II minesweeper Calypso were both traditional wooden vessels while the 32′ … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Ocean Racing & Records, Sailors & Yachts, Worth Reading
Tagged David Lewis, jacques cousteau
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Caden Foss: 110′ Multi-Purpose Tier 4 Tug
The Pacific Northwest has been at the forefront of North American tug design since the 1980’s, and has brought many innovations to both ship-handling and long-haul tugs. Over the years, a handful of boats have attempted to combine both these … Continue reading
Posted in Commercial craft, Shipyards
Tagged Caden foss, Caterpillar Tier 4, Rapp electric tow winch
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