Darren's interview with the Jersey Journal

Darren was interviewed by the Jersey Journal and they have just published the article. Here is the link:
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2013/11/jersey_city_mans_love_of_tugboats_became_a_lifelong_dream.html

We will continue to keep you posted on Darren's progress as he forges ahead to save Bertha. Thanks again for all your interest, ideas and support.

Thank you!

Here's a big thank you to everyone who helped our campaign to save Bertha.  Weather you supported the campaign through direct financial support, helped us spread the word, or shared your pictures and memories - each action made a big difference.  

Unfortunately, we didn't reach our financial goal.  All contributions here on Indiegogo will be refunded automatically.   

Darren continues his search for a solution for Bertha.  He's currently looking to fund the work through a personal loan.  If anyone is interested in lending the money or a portion of the money needed to get her in the water, please get in touch at tugboatbertha@gmail.comand we'll follow up by phone.

Regardless of the outcome here on Indiegogo, if you wish to financially support his efforts to save Bertha, we ask that you contact us via email at tugboatbertha@gmail.com.  

NY1 has finally released their piece on Darren and Tugboat Bertha!  For anyone who didn't see the clip, you can now see it here!  

Bertha Updates

We have a few updates for you this week...  We're close to hitting the $5,000 mark on Bertha's Indiegogo's campaign.  Although we are a bit far from the overall goal, there is still lots of time left to go.  So please take a minute and share the link with your friends and networks.  Your help in spreading the word is much appreciated!

No news yet on getting an unrestricted copy of the NY1 interview to share - but it is in the works.

Our friend Will Van Dorp has written another beautiful photo essay.  Check out that essay here Bertha update on Tugster.

Also, we're received some more photos of Bertha from her time in NY Harbor from Eric Fischer.  Thanks Eric.  Here are a few of his Bertha shots...

And one more photo - Darren recently dug up Bertha's original plaque from her construction by Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth & Co, Newcastle on Tyne, England, in 1925!

The NY1 video link.

For those with Time Warner subscriptions, you can see the interview with Darren here:
NY1 Interview

We are working on getting a copy of the interview without restricted access!

Darren's on NY1

Good morning!  Great news to share with friends of Tugboat Bertha.  Yesterday, NY1 did a special interview with Darren about saving Tugboat Bertha.  

Check out his interview.  It will be aired at 11:15 on NY1. 

It may also be aired again this afternoon in case you can't tune in at 11:15.  Check at 15 minutes after the hour.  

More Photos of Bertha in NY Harbour

We received some great photos from friends of Tugboat Bertha over the last few weeks. Here are a few.  A big shout out to Lucie for pulling these together!  Please send your photos of Tugboat Bertha to: tugboatbertha@gmail.com

Tugboat Bertha alongside in NY Harbour.

Good friends and food on an afternoon cruise.

Bertha's aft deck.

The Captain at the helm of Bertha!

Lloyd Johnson, who owned Tugboat Bertha for 9 years in the 80's, had this article to share...

Lloyd Johnson and Tugboat Bertha featured in this 1988 article.

Bertha's on Tugster!

Since starting this campaign, we've received wonderful support from every one of you! Thank you for reaching out with your photos, financial support, ideas, articles, and for sharing your memories of Bertha! It means a lot. 

Will Van Dorp has jumped in to help us spread the word.  He's written a great article about Bertha and found some photos of Bertha we didn't have access to.  Check out Will's blog, tugster: a waterblog, and the Bertha stories here:

• Tugster on Bertha's Future
• Tugster on Bertha's Past

Today is a huge day!

We just launched our funding campaign.  We need all the help we can get to save Bertha from being scrapped on November 1!

Please visit us on Indiegogo, show your support, or share with your friends.

"Historic Vessel or Scrap Metal" on Indiegogo

Many thanks,
Darren and the friends of Tugboat Bertha

We're also on Facebook!

We're also posting interesting photos like this one to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/Tugboat.Bertha.

Another great day aboard Bertha in NY Harbour!

Please share your Bertha photos with us and help us spread the word.

Help Save Tugboat Bertha!

Finishing the Dream

Darren's dream of restoring Bertha IS WITHIN REACH.  However, she is in need of financial support at this time or she will be cut up for scrap metal this fall.

 

She has a long and varied history and her captain is on mission to save her so she can once again contribute to the diverse and important maritime history in New York Harbour.

Photo by Dan Welch

Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy brought high storm surge and sustained high winds to the North East; Staten Island was not spared.  Sitting on her stands in the Tottenville yard, Bertha sustained some damage most notably to her transmission and engines.

Photo by Dan Welch

Photo by Dan Welch

However, with an estimated 70% of her overall restoration complete, rather than take this additional Sandy hardship as a sign to throw in the towel, Darren has refocused his resources to address any Sandy damage and to complete Bertha’s restoration. 

The Second Stage of Restoration – 18,000 New Rivets, Cooling, and Wheelhouse

In 2003, Darren sailed Bertha to Tottenville shipyard in Staten Island, New York, to continue her restoration on the hard. Using traditional techniques, Darren, a blacksmith by the name of Tom Ryan, and a team of workers and volunteers riveted the entire vessel. In total, 18,000 rivets were installed to hold her 100 tons of steel together. Other restoration work was completed in Tottenville including:

• Removing the original rotted rub rails and bulwarks and the entire deck house;
• Rebuilding new decks and deck house to historic integrity;
• Designing, building, and installing steel channel construction on the hull to circulate sea water to cool engines; and
• Removing the modern wheelhouse and designing and constructing a modified, historic, riveted replacement.

During this phase of restoration, Darren and his team hosted riveting demonstrations to the public at the Tottenville shipyard. Traveling on the John J. Harvey, over 50 people from Society of Industrial Technology Roebling Chapter visited the shipyard.

The First Stage of Restoration – New Steel and Props

From Saint John’s, Newfoundland, Darren sailed Bertha to the well-known port of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia to begin the first refit.  It was with Lunenburg’s Industrial Foundry and Engineering Limited, a foundry with over 100 years of maritime experience, that over 10 tons of steel were replaced below the rub rail, new twin bronze propellers were cast, the stern deck was replaced to maintain an uninterrupted deck surface, and modifications were made to the steering to prepare for the journey to her new home in New York City.

For four years, Bertha was docked at Pier 63 in the company of Tug Pegasus, The Lightship Frying Pan, and The John J. Harvey fireboat, and was an active participant in the lively waterfront community of lower Manhattan. During this time, she sailed over 100 trips around NYC, participated as a rescue boat during 9/11 rescue efforts (tender to Tugboat Bertha), traveled up the Hudson River to Catskill, and down river to the Jersey shore several times.

Photo by Malcolm Brooks

A Little About Bertha

She’s a 1925 tug built in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.  The same town that is known for its Newcastle beer was, at one time, a prime manufacturing location of W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd’s shipbuilding operations, and where the unique and beautiful timber tug Bertha was built. 

Unlike other timber tugs, Bertha was 80 feet long, built with a flat bottom, and was fitted with winches so she could haul herself over land between creeks. She was one of only four tugs (all named after 4 sisters) built in this style that traveled to Newfoundland, Canada to work and was the only one that was shipped to the East Coast of Canada completely assembled. With stunning lines and tough riveted steel construction, she remained a working tug in Newfoundland for decades sending lumber back to the UK. 

Bertha worked for nearly 50 years hauling timber in Deer Lake, Newfoundland.  Her name was changed from Bertha to Deer Lake in 1949 when Newfoundland joined Canada.  After this period, she was used for a variety of different uses including building wharves and was even known to have hosted a play.  She was then left on a beach, with a large hole in her side.  Some time later, she was rescued and taken to Toronto where she worked as an excursion vessel.  And again, some time later, was left leaking and sinking into the mud in Lake Erie. 

In 1996, she was bought by Wally Pennell.  He had known the boat growing up in Deer Lake and long admired her.  Wally made some repairs to the tugboat and then brought Deer Lake back to Newfoundland where she participated in coastal celebrations for the 500-year anniversary of John Cabot’s arrival in Newfoundland.  With significant expense and upkeep, Wally decided to sell the boat. 

In1999, Darren Vigilant, an industrial designer and metal fabricator from New York City, bought her, changed her name back to her original name, Bertha, and started his journey of restoration. 

Read Darren’s Bio here.

Darren Vigilant Biography

In 1989, Darren Vigilant graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Industrial Design. After completing the 5-year program, he worked for himself with the goals of financing a motorcycle tour and customizing a 1990 BMW for the journey. With his goals in hand, Darren shipped his motorcycle to Germany where he began the trip. Over the course of a year, he traveled through Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, and Morocco traversing 35,000 miles.

In 1992, upon returning to the United States, Darren began Vigilant Design. Over the last 21 years, he has grown the business from a small operation under his father’s auto body shop to a sizeable design and fabrication business operating in a 12,000 square foot building in Jersey City. The focus of Vigilant Design is fabricating high-end furniture and architectural metal work. In addition to building the pieces, Darren often works in collaboration with designers, architects, and machinists to resolve mechanical and technical issues.

In 1999, Darren embarked on another project. He traveled north to Newfoundland, Canada to purchase and begin a restoration of tugboat Bertha and ultimately sail Bertha to his home of New York City.  His father Paul Vigilant and Wally Pennell, the former owner of the tug, accompanied Darren on this voyage down the coast.

Bertha’s restoration has been continuous and is very close to completion. Restoring Bertha has been Darren's passion for 14 years.