Marine Techniques Publishing | Author of the Mariner's Employment Guide

A tribute to an old Tug

Along time ago,
Oh wouldn't you know,
A tug was born,
and logs she did tow.

She had a steam engine,
was big and black.
Fire in her boilers,
made smoke from her stack.

She was young and strong,
worked hard all day.
She had many names,
she got along the way.

As she grew older,
she needed many repairs,
but she got lucky,
cause her owners cared.

She got new planks,
and a new engine too!.
Now she had a diesel,
that was shining new.

A special man bought her,
and brought kids aboard.
He taught and loved them,
these kids he adored.

They went on adventures,
Learning at Sea.
The tug was so happy !!
It was just meant to be.

But money ran out,
and the boat was sold.
But the memories were theirs,
Forever to hold.

They did not know,
where the old Tug went.
Oh where did she go?
Oh where was she sent?

A long time passed,
before they saw her again.
They thought she had sunk,
Now they were all grown men.

But she was still,
alive and well.
Getting some new paint.
She was looking quiet swell !!

They came to see her,
Couldn't believe she was still alive,
The old Tug had made it,
The old Tug survived.

Once again she would take them,
out for a ride.
Splashing through the waves,
and riding the tide.

But this is a lucky Tug,
for some of her friends,
they didn't make it,
and they met their ends.

For if someone doesn't love them,
they will all disappear.
And that makes the old Tug,
cry big black tears.

For a big old Tug,
loves nothing more.
Than the smile of a kid,
Makes her heart soar.

So when you see an old Tug,
Some love you should lend.
Cause she really needs you,
She will be your best Friend.

Capt. Andrea McDonald is the owner of the 1908 Historical Tugboat “Excaliber”
Captain McDonald has devoted her life to preserving fine old wooden Tugboats and vessels.
You may view her live-a-board “Excaliber” at her web site: www.excaliber1908.com/

To my friends

To my Tugboat friends,
I have this to say.
Tied to a dock,
or anchored in the bay.

If you were not there,
how sad I would be.
No sweet old Tugs,
for all to see.

More wonderful Folks,
You will never meet.
Cause owning a Tug,
just cant be beat.

Tugs do it well,
and Tugs do it right.
Weather towing a barge,
or in a pushing fight !

Nothing like seeing,
2 big black Tugs
Pushing each other,
why that's a tug boat Hug !!

Have you ever seen
some Tugboats Race?
They are not real fast,
Its a fight for last place.

But they stir up the ocean,
really quite well,
Leave a huge wake,
You'll think you’re in hell.

When the big Tugs run
its an awesome sight.
Tugs sure know how to play,
and they do it just right.

Not all Tugs are big
Some as cute as a bug
Have you ever seen
a baby Tug?

Even though small,
they can still pull their weight.
Don’t need a big crew,
chuck out the first mate.

But no matter the size
A Tug does it all.
No other boat
has the balls.

I love my Tugs
there is nothing finer.
screw your yacht
and your Bayliner.

Give me the smell of diesel
and a big black hull
For owning a Tug
is never dull.

So I thank all the Tug nuts
far and wide
For keeping them going
and taking great pride.

For a world without Tugs,
is just not for me.
Living on a Tug
is the place to be !!!

Capt. Andrea McDonald is the owner of the 1908 Historical Tugboat “Excaliber”
Captain McDonald has devoted her life to preserving fine old wooden Tugboats and vessels.
You may view her live-a-board “Excaliber” at her web site: www.excaliber1908.com/

Life Changes

There once was a time,
I was wild and free.
Lived in the mountains,
my horses and me.

No humans around,
for far and wide.
Hunted food,
then Tanned the hides.

Woke up each morning,
at the crack of dawn.
wide open meadows,
little newborn fawns.

Birds in the trees,
would sing me songs,
Then I sang for them,
as I rode along.

Upon the back,
of my big bay mare.
Free and wild,
without a single care.

I roamed the hills,
valleys so wide.
Explored all the places,
the animals would hide.

Each day was a adventure,
through the hills we would roam.
Never the same place,
but always home.

I road like lighting
on the wind so free
the back of a horse
is what carried me.

I rode as fast
as that horse could run
why we rode right into
that setting sun

Slept under the stars
in no bed did I lay
next to the fire
is where I would stay

The glow of the embers
would shine in my eyes
off in the distance
the Coyote's cry's

His lonely bay
oh how I know well
he speaks of my heart
but won't ever tell

Those days are gone
I came down from that hill.
But a restless soul
will never be still

Then on to the Ocean
Where now I reside
A big black Tug
is a good place to hide

For who would think
they would find me here
Just trying to forget
the passing years

I yearn for the day
to again be free
Jump in my cutter
and sail by the lee

Now it will be,
the waves I will ride
Forget about all,
the tears I've cried

Wake once more
to the sun on my face
much older now
a much different place

But free again
someday I shall be
I will end my days
Upon the sea...

Capt. Andrea McDonald is the owner of the 1908 Historical Tugboat “Excaliber”
Captain McDonald has devoted her life to preserving fine old wooden Tugboats and vessels.
You may view her live-a-board “Excaliber” at her web site: www.excaliber1908.com/

Excaliber

I am married to a Tugboat.
You might find this strange,
certainly different,
and hard to arrange.

She is always there,
not your average wife,
she doesn't complain,
But she does run my life !!!

She is what you’d call a big gal,
not real sexy, or sleek.
She is 220 tons of wooden ship,
lots of brass though and even some teak.

Some like the young ones,
But I like mine OLD !!!
she doesn't have wrinkles,
and she's still strong and bold.

Thick black planks,
from long gone trees.
huge heavy beams,
and hanging knees.

I’m her Captain,
made legal by law,
not so bad,
no mother in law !!

I don’t have to worry,
about her running around,
Just if she breaks lose,
and runs aground.

That would be bad,
and not much fun,
have you ever tried to move
a stuck 220 tons !!

The only thing worse
than a horrible stranding,
is her single screw
and making a landing!

She just doesn't turn,
she just does not go,
like docking a building,
oh wouldn't you know.

Unless of course,
it’s where you DONT want to be,
that is where you end up,
for everyone to see.

You pray for no wind,
and a currents even worse,
it's the single screw nightmare,
it’s the single screw curse.

With her huge size,
not much she can't crush.
She will break things in two,
and turn them to mush.

Yet that same big ship,
if caught in a squall,
will bring you home,
not hurt at all.

Yes I’m proud of my wife,
as I give her a hug,
her name is EXCALIBER.
the big black TUG.

Yes, I am married to a Tugboat,
and this I will say,
I dearly love her,
wouldn't have it any other way…

Capt. Andrea McDonald is the owner of the 1908 Historical Tugboat “Excaliber”
Captain McDonald has devoted her life to preserving fine old wooden Tugboats
and vessels.
You may view her live-a-board “Excaliber” at her web site: www.excaliber1908.com/

Facing the sea

From tomorrow, be a happy man
Travelling around the world
From tomorrow, care about food and vegetables
I have a house, facing the sea
During the warmth of spring, all the flowers bloom
From tomorrow, talk to every loved one
Tell them my happiness
The lightning of the happiness tells me
I will tell everyone
Giving a warm name to every river, every mountain
Strangers, I also pray for you
Wish you a brilliant future
Wish all shall be well
Wish you gain joy on earth
I only wish to face the sea
During the warmth of spring, all the flowers bloom

Poem I wrote for the first wooden boat I rescued

Its not that I cant speak,
but that only a few can hear.
They can know the stories,
of all the passing years.

Most are truelly blind,
to what is really dear.
That tiny drip of water,
that is really an old boats tears.

Once I was a beauty,
shinning paint and varnished teak.
Now I’m old and broken,
discarded, lonely and weak.

I lay hear by the ocean,

But now I sit here forgotten,
just a remnant of my past.

I wait for that special someone,
the one who isn’t blind?
To them I'll be a treasure,
a rare and unique find.

They'll take me home and fix me,
make me look like new.
Love me and enjoy me,
make my dreams come true.

I will take them places,
vast oceans, adventures anew.
Keep them safe and protect them,
now I have a job to do.

Next time you see and old boat,
rotting on that bend.
Really take a good look,
she just might be a friend.

Look a little closer,
beyond that rotting wood.
Can you hear my heartbeat?
the special ones sure could.

Don’t turn your back on me,
and leave me hear to die.
Don’t close your eyes,
and continue passing bye.

I’m stuck here just waiting,
for now till someone see's.
Maybe it’s you I’m waiting for?
could that possibly be???

Capt. Andrea McDonald is the owner of the 1908 Historical Tugboat “Excaliber”
Captain McDonald has devoted her life to preserving fine old wooden
Tugboats and vessels.
You may view her live-a-board “Excaliber” at her web site: www.excaliber1908.com/

Grand Old Lake

You’re a grand old lake
Skaneateles Lake
And we sail
And we swim
On your waves

You’re the emblem of
Our family’s love
And decades of fun that you gave

Every heart beats true
For your waters of blue
And the memories that we’ll make
For our family tree won’t be forgot
Just as long as we have our lake.

Grease monkeys lament

How many song birds
will die
their song never sung
How many more grease monkeys
shall lie frustrated in the engine room
stung their lives work never begun

All I wanted to do was be a sea king
Get drunk dance and sing
Make love to every lass in every port and make her mine
Share life’s sweet moments a tender wine

On bulk carriers the life was great
On UMS, eight to five I could not wait
To pop my XXX beers , see great movies
Chat with Mates
Yes I wrote some books
About great places hot chicks hotter looks
And hottest action with a German girl on a swing
A Japanese lady my first who bought my virginity

Yes … but then I joined ULCC tankers
And turned into a desperate grease monkey wanker
The girls were a distant dream
And beer wine and gin a forbidden thing
Mates turned into petrified automatons
The first Snafu is your last snafu...

Tankers were a waste land whipped by luck
what thoughts can I give them that life does not suck

Then I Joined Offshore vessels
life turned super good
The Girls in Vietnam thought I was super Dude

(submitted Monday, May 18, 2009)
Copyright by Mehernosh Shroff, Marine Class 1 Engineering Officer,
Chief Engineer – Founder & Chairman of Seaworthy & Growmor
Group of Companies, Mumbai (Bombay), India

Mariner's Balled

Maritime Mariner Captain Ottis Hornbee
Dauntlessly
Sailed his ship upon the open sea
Fished and sailed all day did he
But alas in desperation the catch was hard to see
That's how it all came to be
Captain Ottis Hornbee
Lost at sea

As legend might portray
The ship's crew gathered around that day
Bade a hardy fare well from the bay
Said they
Rest in peace as you lay
Near the maritime barrack of clay
For mariners never die, they say
They just slowly fade away

As the legend might go on to say
We bare a badge to display
The images that appear to this very day
Far out at sea this solemn way
Majestic travels of the sea
Mariner's dream to be free, we agree
But sudden danger lured, prevailed
Captain Ottis Hornbee
Lost at sea

Fade away
Fade away
Fade away
That's the mariner's final hooray
Thus the laws of the sea must play
Rest in peace as you lay
Near the barracks of clay
For maritime Mariners never die they say
They just slowly fade away.