1,613 Comments for Staten Island Boat Graveyard

After some study, the vessel is an Ex Navy landing craft for personnel. There were two ramps that came down on either side of the bow, the Davit was used to raise, lower and stow the ramps. Also I worked on a fireboat that had a small divit for handling the anchor. it was right up on the bow. not all boats hang an anchor all the time.

a very sad old boatthat once performed a great service a bit of a reflection on life in general dont you think

Trust me, it is an ex Navy rescue tug, there were three of them in the yard. Aftrer Navy service this became a tug names HILA It was one of the better preserved boats in the yard.

This is a bow shot of a former U.S. Navy tug, that is the only information I have on it.

I hope to try night shots here sometime soon...

these are very frightening photos, i'd love to see some night photos of the graveyard

Steve Hefner, Please contact me at: ahrensjim@hotmail,com

This was one of the Beacon, Newburgh ferrys, before that it was a ferry between Boston and East Boston, or perhaps South Boston. I think it was the Lieutenant Flarity or something like that then became the Beacon before becoming a Witte resident. Yes it was a steam boat!

To Big Guy, The story I heard about the Normandie is the Chief Engineer of the Normandie wanted to go aboard and open the sea cocks and let the Normandy settle to the bottom on a fairly even keel, the Navy who was in charge of the vessel said no. and the fireboats, who were engine companies, same as the land companies continued to pour water on it till the point when it capsized. The Hewitt was based at the base of the Brooklyn bridge so I am sure was at the Normandie fire at some time. Hewitt also responded to the GENERAL SLOCUM fire so you get an idea of how long this boat was in service to the city of New York.

I found the Ferry yesterday. I was in a boat. I got real close and got some pics. There was a yatch next to it that is suppose to be the Shah of Iran's boat.
http://www.stinner.com...been-to/mary-murray/

I'm Back! The Hewitt has reciprocating pumps but the ones with a big flywheel and crankshaft like a steam fire engine had. The ones you s\eak of dont have flwheels and rely on lost motion to operate the valves. they are very good pumps but lake the visual experience of the ones with the flywheel. Ever go to Rough and tumble in Kinzers Pa? that is the place to go to see steam and old gasoline engines running.

To James Hefner, Yes the Hewitt has its 3 reciprocation pumps still in it. There were two large ones and one about the same size as a steam fire engine, probably about 1000 gpm. I thought I was going to be able to recover builders plates off of them years back and went out with a ladder and rubber waders and was going to stay on the boat till low tide and put my ladder down and climb down and remove the builders plates, that simple. Only thing simple was me...the boat is full of mud. the ladder went down about three feet and stopped, so much for that excursion. I was able to get the gauges off of it though. I would think the Astoria would have lost motion fire pumps on it, I think they were kind of standard for ferrrys and the like. Keep in touch, Jim

It,s amazing they can dock a ship in 3ft of water or i wounder if it was deeper than that when it was first docked and deserted

it looks like a cooper besemer engine/ im looking for parts for 8 cylinder atlas superior m 45 engine to make an old army tug operational.

as brave as i think i am i would NOT go in there