Mohawk River pudding

This photo was taken at Erie Canal Lock 7.  OK, so technically, it's the New York State Barge Canal.  It'll always be the Erie Canal for me...

This is the bow of Buoy Boat 109; alas I could not see a name on her!  She's a working boat on the canal, used these days to carry workers to and fro and to pull debris like tree limbs from the canal.  Fancy that - after Irene, the canal is still in clean up mode.  In fact, the canal is closed on the eastern end while damage assessment is completed.

The term 'pudding' for 'bow fender' comes to English via the French boudin or bowel.  First cited in 1625, it referred to what we might call chafing gear today; at the ends of the yard arms to save the robins from wearing on the yard arms.  There are several styles of bow fenders; Tugster shows off a collection in New York harbour from time to time.  Here's one from February 2011.


Making these was always part of the sailor's art.  There's a tutorial you can view to see how it's done.  Here's a different style of fender; still rope-work though, and definitely art!

F Number	6.3
Lens ID	-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/200
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire