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Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Mike in A-town] #7223132
03/21/21 09:19 PM
03/21/21 09:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,153
Alaska and Washington State
W
waggler Offline
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waggler  Offline
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W

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,153
Alaska and Washington State
Originally Posted by Mike in A-town
Wolfie, I've never done it. But you're young, unmarried, and still in reasonably good condition. If I were in your shoes I'd give it a go. You might hate it but try it for a season and see... Might be the coolest job ever. And even if you hate it you can tell your grandkids about doing it.

Lots of stuff I kinda wish I had done before I had a family and settled on twisting wire nuts for a living.

Mike

X2
And if you do it, keep track of your "sea time". Then in a couple of years get your captains license.
That can get your foot in the door of a lot of great paying gigs.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Any barge hands? [Re: waggler] #7223168
03/21/21 09:48 PM
03/21/21 09:48 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,623
alaska
3
3 Fingers Offline
trapper
3 Fingers  Offline
trapper
3

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,623
alaska
Originally Posted by waggler
Originally Posted by Mike in A-town
Wolfie, I've never done it. But you're young, unmarried, and still in reasonably good condition. If I were in your shoes I'd give it a go. You might hate it but try it for a season and see... Might be the coolest job ever. And even if you hate it you can tell your grandkids about doing it.

Lots of stuff I kinda wish I had done before I had a family and settled on twisting wire nuts for a living.

Mike

X2
And if you do it, keep track of your "sea time". Then in a couple of years get your captains license.
That can get your foot in the door of a lot of great paying gigs.

This. And getting an AB is good because of more jobs available. Friend of mine always says “guys with a 100 ton are dime a dozen but a good captain is hard to find “

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223175
03/21/21 09:55 PM
03/21/21 09:55 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 144
Ballard Co Ky
D
Donnie Shafer Offline
trapper
Donnie Shafer  Offline
trapper
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 144
Ballard Co Ky
Been on the river for 36 years,past 31 in the wheelhouse.I run a fleetboat and go home every night.I have been on a live on situation for a few years.Its hard work but I have enjoyed it

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223185
03/21/21 10:09 PM
03/21/21 10:09 PM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,015
SE Iowa USA
A
AKAjust Offline
trapper
AKAjust  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,015
SE Iowa USA
Wifes uncle worked on barges on the big river. Gone for days at a time she remembers. He has passed away like most of our aunts and uncles.
just

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223191
03/21/21 10:15 PM
03/21/21 10:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 97
Ky
S
squirrelslayer Offline
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squirrelslayer  Offline
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S

Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 97
Ky
Worked as a deckhand on the river for 5 years. I was on a line haul boat mostly on the Ohio river but also spent time on the lower and upper Mississippi and a good bit of time in the fleets. It was a cool job for the most part. I worked a 28on/28off day schedule and found that basically resulted in having the opposite time off from one year to the next. For example one year I'd be off for say November that meant the next year I'd be off October and December but on for November. Not that that matters but as far as being an outdoorsman it made it nice to at least hit hunting/fishing/trapping seasons square every other year. I worked for Ingram and really liked the job but when coal shut down it really put a hurting on the industry and the last year I worked there they had so many boats tied up that I would get shipped to a different boat every trip which makes it difficult to advance. While I was there they shut down promotions which left me as a senior deckhand and I lost interest when they started sending me to boats to run lead on watches but wouldn't promote or even give me the pay increase of a lead man. I only say this because Ingram is known as a higher tier towboating company and if they struggled that much I assume it was river wide. I still have contact with some of the guys on the river and its improved some but not a lot. I quit in June of 19. Fwiw

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223202
03/21/21 10:24 PM
03/21/21 10:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,429
Georgia
warrior Online content
trapper
warrior  Online Content
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,429
Georgia
It can get a little hairy this time of year when the Tombigbee is running full.

http://www.maritimeconsultant.com/tugboat.htm


[Linked Image]
Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223212
03/21/21 10:32 PM
03/21/21 10:32 PM
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 279
Water Valley, Mississippi
cheechako Offline
trapper
cheechako  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2020
Posts: 279
Water Valley, Mississippi
Talk to Mike Jerrell on here or on Facebook. He’s in Philadelphia MS and has piloted tow boats for years. Mike’s a good guy and would probably love to talk to you about it.


The trapper formerly known as sanfo008
Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223222
03/21/21 10:46 PM
03/21/21 10:46 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 188
Southeast, Alaska
S
SE.Current Offline
trapper
SE.Current  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 188
Southeast, Alaska
Had to find a land job once the logging started to shut down. [Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Mike in A-town] #7223296
03/22/21 03:39 AM
03/22/21 03:39 AM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,500
Kenai AK
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KenaiKid Offline
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KenaiKid  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,500
Kenai AK
Originally Posted by Mike in A-town
Wolfie, I've never done it. But you're young, unmarried, and still in reasonably good condition. If I were in your shoes I'd give it a go. You might hate it but try it for a season and see... Might be the coolest job ever. And even if you hate it you can tell your grandkids about doing it.

Lots of stuff I kinda wish I had done before I had a family and settled on twisting wire nuts for a living.

Mike


x3. If it interests you, do it man. I wish I had tried out a lot more jobs when I was single and unencumbered.

Last edited by KenaiKid; 03/22/21 03:39 AM.

Originally Posted by Dirt
Originally Posted by Rat Masterson
Boco couldn't catch a cold.

But if he did, it would be Top Lot.
Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223414
03/22/21 08:59 AM
03/22/21 08:59 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,801
Beaman Iowa 55
M
Mike Cope Offline
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Mike Cope  Offline
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M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,801
Beaman Iowa 55
Matt Jones worked the river barges for a while, Might want to message him prob be best on facebook

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223456
03/22/21 10:15 AM
03/22/21 10:15 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,269
West Central Illinois
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il.trapper Offline
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il.trapper  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,269
West Central Illinois
I haven't, but have known a few that have worked the river lines. They all enjoyed it to an extent. Dangerous at times, cold at times, hot at others. One fella I knew was a cook, he wouldn't have traded that job for any other. another fella started real young, was doing well at it, till he lost a leg in a cable while tying barges. He still works on them though as far as I know. Another fella started when he was in his early 30's. He was a bossy type guy and found out real quick what not to do or say on a barge line. He found himself locked below deck for a day or two in total darkness, before they decided he had learned his lesson. He learned and stayed with it about 3 yrs then quit. He was on the biggest tow boat on the Mississippi river, his uncle was the captain. When he quit and came back he was a totally different person. His arrogance was gone and was very respectful of others he worked with. Evidently it is a hardened bunch that take care of themselves very well.

What I heard from all of them, and a few others, was it is hard work, but pays well, and they all said if your supposed to be gone 28-30 days figure you will gone that plus another week or so. They all also said those boats have the best grubb you can ever ask for.

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223459
03/22/21 10:17 AM
03/22/21 10:17 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,463
ny
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ny
Plus it'll allow duck girl to find another outlet for her "hobby" grin

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223496
03/22/21 11:42 AM
03/22/21 11:42 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 278
western ky
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pappy t Offline
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 278
western ky
I've been working on the river for 38 years. Started out as a deckhand and worked my way up to chief engineer. I travel mainly the Mississippi river but done a few years on the Ohio. On 28 days/off 28 days. You'll start as a deckhand more than likely. Comparable to hay hauling to me. You need a good back and a weak mind. LOL. Pay is decent with good benefits and the opportunity to work your way up to the pilothouse as pilot or captain or back to the engine room as engineer as I did. Companies differ on pay, benefits and time on/off so choose wisely.

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223507
03/22/21 11:56 AM
03/22/21 11:56 AM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 873
WV Fla
River Birch Offline
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River Birch  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 873
WV Fla
One more thing you may want to pursue is (its a plus that you have a military background!) doing a job search at Army Corps of Engineers. They do lot's of on the water work... Best of luck to you!

Last edited by River Birch; 03/22/21 12:05 PM.

Lifetime Member NJTA...WTTA Caught the bug in 1979
Re: Any barge hands? [Re: River Birch] #7223590
03/22/21 01:32 PM
03/22/21 01:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 3,232
S/W Wisconsin
rpmartin Offline
trapper
rpmartin  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 3,232
S/W Wisconsin
Originally Posted by River Birch
One more thing you may want to pursue is (its a plus that you have a military background!) doing a job search at Army Corps of Engineers. They do lot's of on the water work... Best of luck to you!


This is the best answer yet. This is what i would do, start filling out every application you can for the corp at lock and dam's and any other corp job that looks interesting to you. Then get a job on the river until you get hired by the Corp. With your knowledge and background you will get hired for sure.


Life member,
NRA, NTA, RMEF, Pheasants Forever.
WTA,TTA,FTA,SA,GOA, member


Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Wolfdog91] #7223711
03/22/21 04:11 PM
03/22/21 04:11 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,892
new york
M
mike mason Offline
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mike mason  Offline
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M

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,892
new york
A friend ran barges on the Hudson River from Albany to NYC and NJ. He made awesome $$ and had quite a few days off.

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Savell] #7224306
03/23/21 09:19 AM
03/23/21 09:19 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,774
Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91 Offline OP
trapper
Wolfdog91  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,774
Amite county Mississippi
Originally Posted by Savell
A friend of mine works a barge ... seems to be just a lot of rope tying and life jacket wearing from listening to him lol

Well I like messing with rope so as long as it pays good lol

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: SJA] #7224310
03/23/21 09:20 AM
03/23/21 09:20 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,774
Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91 Offline OP
trapper
Wolfdog91  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,774
Amite county Mississippi
Originally Posted by SJA
Wd91, you a tankie?

??

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: Mike in A-town] #7224318
03/23/21 09:24 AM
03/23/21 09:24 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,774
Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91 Offline OP
trapper
Wolfdog91  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,774
Amite county Mississippi
Originally Posted by Mike in A-town
Wolfie, I've never done it. But you're young, unmarried, and still in reasonably good condition. If I were in your shoes I'd give it a go. You might hate it but try it for a season and see... Might be the coolest job ever. And even if you hate it you can tell your grandkids about doing it.

Lots of stuff I kinda wish I had done before I had a family and settled on twisting wire nuts for a living.

Mike


Yeah I'm looking at it like that right now to be honest. A couple of my friends I was in the guard with with in the barges and they seem to be living it up ,can't ever seem to get a holt of em though. Honestly I do really really enjoy my current job just not enough money and I'll m just not interested in sitting at lowes for the next 20 years lol

Re: Any barge hands? [Re: River Birch] #7224322
03/23/21 09:26 AM
03/23/21 09:26 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,774
Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91 Offline OP
trapper
Wolfdog91  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,774
Amite county Mississippi
Originally Posted by River Birch


Kinda interesting you bring this up, a year ago to this day I was put on furlough from work (as a Captain) things are slowly returning, however I will probably have to up and move. Loose my seniority and just have to start over some where else...


Here are a bunch of pic's from my last week...


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]



,.,.

Love those pictures! So stupid question but when y'all have down time ,ate y'all allowed to fish off the boat or at the dock ? I've just always have been curious about that. Figured y'all would be busy alot but again stupid question ll

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