Boats

The photo at right is one taken by Tom Lovett on a fishing expedition in the late 1950's. I really like the way it shows the recreational boat and the commercial oiler. The scene of a diesel powered tug pushing a fuel barge up the intercoastal somewhere along the wilderness of South Padre Island, probably just south of the Port Mansfield cut, could be repeated today. The tug and barge today would look identical to the one in the picture. The recreational boat is a very different story. If that were to be seen in the same location today, the coast guard would likely be called to round up the obviously deranged individual who would take such an inadequate and inappropriate boat on such an outing.

Imagine taking that old v-hull (marine plywood) boat pushed by a 10 - 15 horse Johnson outboard up the Laguna Madre for several hours! Thank goodness for fiberglass, dargel/shallow sport, and hi-power outboards.