sternwheel towboats News - The Waterways Journal

The Duncan Bruce – Again

Old Boat Column

The Duncan Bruce – Again

October 9, 2026

In a recent column we detailed the innovative tunnel hull, screw wheel steam towboat James Rumsey, built by Charles Ward Engineering Works, Charleston, W.Va., in 1903. Against all odds,… Read More

A River Towboat With An Ocean Name The Sailor new at the Marietta Manufacturing Company in 1924. (Photo courtesy of the Capt. Bill Judd collection)

A River Towboat With An Ocean Name

July 10, 2026

The Jones and Laughlin Steel Company, better known as simply J&L, had roots in the Pittsburgh area going back to 1852. The firm was founded by Benjamin Franklin Jones… Read More

J.N. Pharr Irvin S. Cobb new at Paducah in 1940.

J.N. Pharr

June 24, 2022

Capt. Joseph Chotin owned and operated two steam, sternwheel towboats named J.N. Pharr. The first was a wood hull vessel, 115 by 24 feet, that had been built in 1910… Read More