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were booked. "They'd say 'call in two weeks.' I'd call, and they'd say 'call in two weeks.' It went on for four months." Garpo's yard in Tottenville has been the salvation for many smaller tugs, but the Dorothy Elizabeth is extra-heavy — beyond the capacity of that Travel Lift. "A lot of companies use Feeney's" sixty miles upriver, at Kingston, "but they couldn't take us, either." That left Derektor's, in Bridgeport. "Everyone said they gave great service, and they turned out to be just the great- est." The fact that they're six hours away, each way, is just one of those crazy things about doing business in modern New York. One week after arriving in Bridgeport, the Dorothy Elizabeth was back in the water. Including transit time, it was an extra nine days without income. Still, coming back down, Capt. Vinik could feel the difference made by the freshly cleaned hull. He was soon making calls, to let everyone know he was back. At age twenty-six, Capt. Vinik reflects a lot of things about tugboating that go against the times. One day he'll be forty-six, and this gloss will have worn-off. No longer gumption and potential, the discussion will center on Capt. Vinik's record. If all goes well, he'll be one of the fix- tures in a peculiar business, where compe- tition is stiff — but everyone charters everyone, anyway. Someday, everything that's happened so far will reduce to, "oh yeah, I helped him get started." But that will be then, and this is still now. "It takes a whole harbor to raise a tugboat company," said Capt. Vinik, "it's like raising a child." And although this one is formally named Dorothy Elizabeth, it could also be named Phoenix. May, 2006 • MarineNews 29 Uncompromised Control WaterJet Bow/Stern Thrusters 75-2200 HP JT575AM HT600 Low Submergence Requirement Small Hull Penetrations Auxiliary Propulsion/ “Take Home” Capability Effective Thrust In Currents Proudly Made In The USA! www.davidclark.com/marine ©2005 David Clark Company Incorporated – Green headset domes are a David Clark Company Trademark. DAVID CLARK MARINE INTERCOM SYSTEMS DO IT ALL. WORKBOAT TOUGH… New Series 9500 and 9800 Marine Intercom Systems provide clear communication in high-noise marine environments. The Series 9500 is “Purpose-Built” for commercial vessels including law enforcement/homeland security, fire/rescue boats as well as tug and tow boats, barges and ferry boats. The Series 9800 is designed for communication at normal voice levels on “go-fast”, performance boats. Systems consist of comfortable, noise-attenuating headsets with stainless steel hardware and a weather-tight master station compatible with most mobile VHF, UHF and marine band radios. For more information about the Series 9500 and Series 9800 Marine Intercom Systems, contact David Clark Company at 800-298-6235 or visit www.davidclark.com/marine. Series 9500 Series 9800 PERFORMANCE BOAT FUN… Circle 209 on Reader Service Card Circle 247 on Reader Service Card Looks like Mike got his engine fixed. Dorothy Elizabeth eases a tanker into place at the KMI Outer- bridge terminal, close to the spot where the old tug once languished, never expected to run again. (Photo: Don Sutherland) MAY MN2006 4(25-32).qxd 5/10/2006 9:50 AM Page 29
