What does the Navy use this tiny tugboat for?

At the Charlestown Navy yard in Massachusetts, one of the Navy’s smallest vessels is critical to the life of its oldest – the U.S.S. Constitution. In this episode, we see how the Boomin’ Beaver – a tiny tugboat half the size of a school bus – gets Old Ironsides on its way and out into the harbor safely.

Want the most important local news of the day delivered right to your inbox?

Help us keep bringing you the local news that matters to YOU, right here on YouTube.

[samuelbhend]

So, , basically a floating ENGINE with a Seat on

[Skipper]

You didn’t talk much about the security barriers this tug was designed to move.

[timbarnett]

My dad worked one of these boats for crown Zellerbach opaper mill moving floating logs on river to make pulp for paper.

[avatarcowboy]

That is actually a log pond boat. Navy used them as stated in the video for moving booms.

[ianscott]

You see them pushing logs in Western Canada rivers.

[robertsaltzman]

Someone should paint it... that's a rusty beaver all right... let's get her ship shape asap someone could do it rather quickly and I'd volunteer just need travel cost

[donjones]

I knew about the little boat and the big boat is vaguely familiar - but I didn't realize one helped out the other. :)

[randymagnum]

Unlimited free labor thanks to the US taxpayers, maybe we could give the old gal a coat of paint?

[jimmyboy]

Yeah I was in the Navy.

Were you on a destroyer, or a carrier?

Um, I was on that little one-seat tug boat over there by the paddle boats...

[SolarHarvestSolutions]

I worked on one at Alameda NAS back in the late 70’s, moved target and work barges

[dennisshank]

You know that there's something wrong when the Navy goes on TV to show off and brag about their beaver.

[realvanman]

But what engine does it have? Let’s hear it. How much does the little boat displace? I’d bet it’s quite a bit for it’s size.

[nirrec]

246 years of commissioned service... HMS Victory... just a shame she's not afloat 😢

[jrtmanmd]

I used to drive one of those in Norfolk. We moved small barges, camels and donuts around the NOB piers.

[DartTyler]

Something that Donald Duck would sail on

[doylepro]

Yeah, in wartime that small guy would probably be equipped with dunkin sonars and torpedoes to hunt subs! 😁

[Trevor_Austin]

The oldest commissioned warship is HMS Victory, completed in 1765. That will be 11 years before independence.

ps. Look after your Beaver. Keep it clean and give it a good wipe down if it gets too wet.

[larryo]

Can’t help but notice all the rust on this tugboat. Seems like the Navy should take better care of it.

[joshuabessire]

My nephew served on one. I think his was named "Little Tykes."

[garfstiglz]

Fascinating to see that the U.S.S Constitution is still floating. Never realised until I saw this video.