The crew of the Tugboat Margot hurries to complete their work in drydock before their 2012 season begins on the Erie and Oswego canals. Although the crew must

The Tug Margot is a 90-foot-long “Super Canaler,” the last of about a half-dozen boats built in the 1950s to transport oil on the New York State Canal

In the past, the New York State Marine Highway Transportation Company used the Margot to ship project cargo, i.e. manufactured goods that are overweight and too large to

The New York State Canal season typically runs from around the last week in April through November, but much depends on the weather. Last year, the canal suffered

Tim Dufel, engineer and co-owner of NYS Marine Highway Transportation Company, gives a brief tour of the Margot’s lower engine room. The Margot has a 1,400 horsepower, eight

Tim Dufel, the Margot’s engineer, explains his latest project to repair the assembly around the boat’s shaft and tail shaft. Even routine repair and patch jobs turn into