Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

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JohnH
Posts: 277
Joined: December 6, 2014, 9:20 pm

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by JohnH »

Here is a video of the J B Ford being towed to the scrapyard in October of 2015

https://youtu.be/f8c8ozraJeU
GUEST

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by GUEST »

Darryl wrote:That's it, Captain Metz! The one on the Steinbrenner boat had a stairway up from the fantail. The Ford must have had passage from ahead of the doghouse. The Paul L. Teitjen's doghouse had a total of 12 berths! At the time I was on it, three firemen share one room, 4 deckhands another (when they could get four deckhands) and then the room I was in must have originally been for three coal-passers. I was the lone wiper in there. Manning requirements might have change much, much earlier when stokers were put in the boiler-room.
The ford had a ladder on the fantail to reach the doghouse. I know cause I climbed it many times calling the watch. the assistant engineers bunked up there. you could also access it from ladders forward the aft cabins. hot as hell..lol. but not as hot as the deck hands cabin up forward. I slept in a hammock on the boat deck many summer nights to escape that hotbox. this was after she was converted from coal to oil fired. no fly ash! when she was still a coal burner I used the forward deck as long as we weren't in the rivers. in my time we still had a bow watch in restricted waters. an air mattress and light blanket did the trick for comfortable z'sss. the mate would check the radar for rain and tell me go or no go... good guy... he would say... " I need my decky rested well to bring me coffee on time"...lol... when I went AB the rooms were outboard port side so you could get a breeze but I still slept under the stars at times... most the crew thought I was nuts, except my mate..LOL..LOVED THAT OLD SHIP....
Darryl

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by Darryl »

That's it, Captain Metz! The one on the Steinbrenner boat had a stairway up from the fantail. The Ford must have had passage from ahead of the doghouse. The Paul L. Teitjen's doghouse had a total of 12 berths! At the time I was on it, three firemen share one room, 4 deckhands another (when they could get four deckhands) and then the room I was in must have originally been for three coal-passers. I was the lone wiper in there. Manning requirements might have change much, much earlier when stokers were put in the boiler-room.
captrmetz

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by captrmetz »

Darryl this is for you.
Attachments
JB Ford Dog house. -2.jpg
Darryl

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by Darryl »

I can't say one way or another...
pilot

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by pilot »

Darryl did you sail with a AB named Robert Moras ??? He was on the Teijin about that time think he as a wheelsman
Darryl

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by Darryl »

Paul L. Teitjen.
pilot

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by pilot »

Darryl; What ship did you sail on that had a dog house like J B ford was it by chance a Kinsman boat. I worked on Str Ben Morrell
Guest

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by Guest »

I took several high res pic's of the Ford last summer from the harbor tour boat. If anyone is interested I'll be glad to send them or post them here.

David in GR MI
Darryl

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by Darryl »

Pilot. Actually, in 1972 I sailed on a boat like the J.B Ford but it was an ore boat which was about 100 feet longer and a few feet wider. But it had a doghouse on the stern. I'm putting a few notes together to describe that first boat experience. Years later, like around 2005, I took a relief job as an AB on the Alpena. That's my only time on a cement boat. D.
pilot

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by pilot »

I was wondering when and what rating did Darryl sail on Huron Cement boats. Do you remember any crew members from your days on Huron boats?
E J B

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by E J B »

Guest, I and I'm sure many others are fascinated by the daily routines and what sailors do during the normal course of their day.

What was a normal day for you-and an abnormal day too. Were you part of the deck crew, officer , engine room ??
guest

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by guest »

E J B wrote:We've heard great stories from the captains here. Sure wouldn't mind hearing some from Darryl about life on the other end of the boat..

How about it ?

I sailed on the FORD and all the Huron boats in the 70's, plus other fleets vessels.There are many past sailors on the board that can relate their experiences. What would you like to know?
captrmetz

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by captrmetz »

J.B. Ford Duluth Scrap Yard Aug, 21,2017
Attachments
J.B. Ford
J.B. Ford
captrmetz

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by captrmetz »

I drove to Duluth last week and seen the J.B. Ford at the scrap year.
E J B

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by E J B »

We've heard great stories from the captains here. Sure wouldn't mind hearing some from Darryl about life on the other end of the boat....

How about it ??
Darryl

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by Darryl »

PDBLK25, If you take the Helberg Marine Dr. by the Port Terminal in Duluth, you can stop less than 50 feet from the Ford's stern. When I do that, I tell who's ever in the car with me as I point to the doghouse above the fantail, that's where I lived for three months when I shoveled coal into the boilers of the first Great Lakes ore boat that I worked on. It's a shame they haven't saved her. She looks pretty unique to me.
garbear

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by garbear »

I drive near her at least once a week and I see no external work being done.
Pete in Holland MI

Re: Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by Pete in Holland MI »

Last I knew, scrap prices were holding up any work.

It's also the J.B. Ford, not the J.C.

Pete
PDBLK25

Scrapping of the J.C. Ford

Unread post by PDBLK25 »

Have they begun scrapping the cement carrier J.C. Ford, or is she enjoying a stay of execution until steel scrap prices rise ?
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