Re: Any barge hands?
[Re: Mike in A-town]
#7223132
03/21/21 09:19 PM
03/21/21 09:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,221 Alaska and Washington State
waggler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,221
Alaska and Washington State
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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"
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Re: Any barge hands?
[Re: waggler]
#7223168
03/21/21 09:48 PM
03/21/21 09:48 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,629 alaska
3 Fingers
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,629
alaska
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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 “
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Re: Any barge hands?
[Re: Wolfdog91]
#7223212
03/21/21 10:32 PM
03/21/21 10:32 PM
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 279 Water Valley, Mississippi
cheechako
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 279
Water Valley, Mississippi
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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
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Re: Any barge hands?
[Re: Mike in A-town]
#7223296
03/22/21 03:39 AM
03/22/21 03:39 AM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,500 Kenai AK
KenaiKid
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,500
Kenai AK
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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.
Boco couldn't catch a cold. But if he did, it would be Top Lot.
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Re: Any barge hands?
[Re: Wolfdog91]
#7223456
03/22/21 10:15 AM
03/22/21 10:15 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,269 West Central Illinois
il.trapper
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,269
West Central Illinois
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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.
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Re: Any barge hands?
[Re: Wolfdog91]
#7223507
03/22/21 11:56 AM
03/22/21 11:56 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 880 WV Fla
River Birch
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 880
WV Fla
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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
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Re: Any barge hands?
[Re: River Birch]
#7223590
03/22/21 01:32 PM
03/22/21 01:32 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 3,302 S/W Wisconsin
rpmartin
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 3,302
S/W Wisconsin
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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
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Re: Any barge hands?
[Re: Savell]
#7224306
03/23/21 09:19 AM
03/23/21 09:19 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,894 Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,894
Amite county Mississippi
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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
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Re: Any barge hands?
[Re: Mike in A-town]
#7224318
03/23/21 09:24 AM
03/23/21 09:24 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,894 Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,894
Amite county Mississippi
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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
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