I had to rub my eyes a few times but confirmed via AIS what I saw out in the Straits of Jaun de Fuca. it was the same 1950’s army landing craft that had sunk off the shores of Beach Drive in late 2011.
She looked as good as new cruising south towards Admiralty inlet. Her current position appears to be in Lake Union according to MarineTraffic.Com.
Please join me in wishing Justin calm, safe seas for the rest of her career.
Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog
About Scupper
I am the current captain of this boat. I started in 2017 and it is re powered with twin 6.7qsb cummins and new shafts and trans and larger keel coolers. It recently had an eletrical fire (Maybe battery short inside) but is getting repaired and I am cleaning it up even better than before. On deck there is a 2016 mantis 3612 18ton crane that always sits on the bow for construction stuff. I am licensed foe both crane and boat. 100 ton inland and hydraulic and lattice crane license. This is March 19 2021. I am only 26 years old and have been running this for the past 4 years. Along with another tug “Margaret ann” that also resides with the company. I am the only one left that knows how to operate both vessels despite all the “old timers” have retired and passed it down to me. The work is super busy as I maintain the entire vessel and skiff and crane. Painting, engine maintenance and light repair, refurbishing old metal that has rusted away. The boat also has a double bottom now. I have hit a sand beach at 6kts and the boat glides nicely up on shore an additional 15+ft. (The tide was coming up anyways). The two anchor spuds that drop down to hold the boat in its place can handle around 35-40mph winds and then it will start drifting slowly.
Wow, now that’s what I call a “refit”. Great to hear a classic like the Justin is in your hands.