New Jersey Scuba Diving

Patrick McHugh

Charlie McGurr reef
Type:
artificial reef, tugboat
Built:
1951, Matton Shipyard, Cohoes NY USA as Edward Matton
Specs:
( 85 x 23 ft )
Sponsor:
Ocean Wreck Divers
Sunk:
Tuesday September 12, 2000 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:
40°02.473' -73°59.599'
Depth:
80 ft, top at 60 ft

This must have been a very decrepit old hulk of a canal tugboat when it was selected for use as a reef. The hull shows rust damage far in excess of what could have occurred in such a short time on the bottom, and the whole thing just looks beat-up. It is very similar to the Spartan, with the engine room roof cut off, and the engine removed, and the movable pilot house lowered. The washout under the stern is cavernous, with a large rudder and propeller.

Charlie McGurr reef
Charlie McGurr reef
The pilothouse. The spray-painted name Charles J. McGurr, for whom the reef is named, is barely visible, soon to be overgrown.

The interior of the ship is easily explored. The wheelhouse can be reached from the inside by squeezing down a narrow companionway. The vessel was completely stripped, but many of the interior fittings, including restored lamps and portholes, can now be purchased from www.TugBoatBrass.com.

Two-story wheelhouse

Built in 1951, by Matton Shipyard of Cohoes, New York (hull #301) as the Edward Matton. She was then acquired by the Morania Oil Tanker Corporation where she was renamed Morania No. 9. The tug was later sold and renamed Patrick J. McHugh.

tugboatinformation.com

Artificial Reef Sites, Artificial Reefs, Axel Carlson Artificial Reef, Moran Towing Company, New Jersey Artificial Reef Sites, New Jersey Artificial Reefs, Tugboats,

Comments on Patrick McHugh

Questions or Inquiries?

Just want to say Hello? Sign the .

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Click image to replace if unable to read.

Enter the digits from the image above, except for the last one:

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Photography - Accidents & Equipment Insurance

Having acquired all your nice expensive equipment, you may want to insure it against damage and flooding. Alright, perhaps not a cheap film camera, but a high-end housed 35mm, digital, or video camera certainly deserves the protection. On the other hand, with proper care and maintenance, and attention to detail when sealing it up, a modern camera housing is extremely unlikely to leak.

Here's something I learned the hard way:

Batteries + saltwater = one really nasty corrosive mess. Regular old alkalines are not nearly as destructive when you get them wet. What does this mean? Use NiMH batteries in the camera inside the housing, but use alkalines inside your strobes, so that if the battery compartment does flood, you can just rinse it out with fresh water and maybe lemon juice. The result of a wet NiMH battery will eat away the metal contacts of the battery compartment so fast that by the time you can do anything about it, it's too late. Alkaline batteries have plenty of oomph to drive a strobe, although not a camera. If your camera housing floods, the battery type won't really matter, since the saltwater will destroy the camera all by itself.

More: Photography - Accidents & Equipment Insurance ...

Disclaimer:

I make no claim as to the accuracy, validity, or appropriateness of any information found in this website. I will not be responsible for the consequences of any action that is based upon information found here. Scuba diving is an adventure sport, and as always, you alone are responsible for your own safety and well being.

Copyright © 1996-2026 Rich Galiano
unless otherwise noted

Powered by WordPress. No, really.
Cookies blah blah whatever

This website is 100% ad and AI-free

14 // 97175 // 144

Printed from njscuba.net