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19 August 2004Veteran fireboat splashes into Rhinecliff
by Darrell F. Kuhn
Vessel is environmentally-friendly with biodiesel fuel
RHINECLIFF - Friday the 13th was a lucky day for people visiting the dock area along the Hudson River, because they got a free boat ride on the river.
The John J. Harvey Fireboat, which visited Rhinecliff for the second straight year, hosted the river ride.
Anyone visiting the boat also got a chance to tour the vessel, talk to crew members, learn some boat knowledge, and learn about the history of the John J. Harvey.
The John J. Harvey Fireboat stopped in Rhinecliff on Aug. 13 during its fourth annual trip up the Hudson River.
The trip starts in New York City, goes to Troy, and then back to New York City, making various stops along the way.
The fireboat is visiting Rhinecliff again tomorrow, Aug. 20, at 3 p.m. Visitors can tour and ride the boat in Rhinecliff again.
"The trip is about promoting waterfront access and drawing attention to the repairs needed on the boat," said Thorner Harris, a John J. Harvey crew member. "It's also to link communities."
Carter Craft of the New York City-based Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance said a $320,000 matching grant was awarded to do the necessary repairs and restoration of the fireboat.
The New York State Office of Parks, Restoration, and Historic Preservation awarded the matching grant in May.
Craft said the matching grant requires the fireboat's owners, friends, and supporters to raise $320,000 on their own to match the $320,000 the state agency has granted them.
"They won't give out the money until we show them the match," Craft explained. "It's for the restoration of the boat, the engine, overhauls, and we need one new propeller."
Craft said the alliance also received a $30,000 grant from the New York Department of State in February to support the boat's trip up the Hudson River this year and next year.
Biodiesel experiment
This year, according to Craft, the boat operators are experimenting with a newer form of fuel, called biodiesel, which is cooking grease, left over from cooking food. The biodiesel on board the John J. Harvey smells like corn oil.
"It's the only sort of substitute diesel fuel product approved by the EPA (federal Environmental Protection Agency)," Craft said. "It burns cleaner, there is less pollution, and it reduces smog. It's an experiment for us."
"It's working well," added Tim Ivory, chief engineer on the fireboat, about the biodiesel. "We haven't had a problem with it at all."
Fireboat operators are still using some diesel fuel on the trip on the Hudson River this year.
Craft said, in a year or so, they could solely use biodiesel for fuel on the fireboat after they make a few adjustments on board for it.
"We could conceivably go straight from the kitchen to the engine room," Craft said. "We could get a lot of the grease from (kitchens in) restaurants, schools, and hospitals."
Town of Rhinebeck Councilman Ken Tompkins was at the Rhinecliff dock to greet fireboat crew members when the arrived.
"It's excellent," Tompkins said. "It's a great way to promote the fireboat and the Rhinecliff landing."
Rhinebeck resident Seth McClenahan toured and rode on the fireboat.
"I thought it was extremely interesting," McClenahan said. "I like the authenticity of the boat and that it's still in working order."
"I thought it was pretty awesome," said Seth's wife. Wendy. "I thought the history of it was pretty neat."
The fireboat
The John J. Harvey was built in 1931 and was used by the New York City Fire Department until 1994. A group of boat and waterfront enthusiasts purchased it in 1999 and restored it. It was the FDNY's longest-serving fireboat.
Fireboats are used to extinguish fires on docks, structures on land adjacent to a given body of water, and on other boats. The boat uses water from any body of water it travels to put out the fire.
The John J. Harvey was pulled out of retirement after terror attacks destroyed the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
The FDNY was part of a large fleet of ships that helped evacuate thousands of people out of lower Manhattan on that dreadful day.
The fireboat was also used to give firefighters at Ground Zero water to put out fires there, which was the only water available to them because the water mains leading to the World Trade Center were eliminated because of the Twin Towers collapse.
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Eric Weisler
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