Yacht Operations Unlimited LLC

09/04/2026

Here’s a look back at the old De La Vergne engine running in 1995.

Built in 1929, this inline 8-cylinder De La Vergne spent its working life powering a dredge on the New York State Canal System.

When this video was taken, the engine was already more than 65 years old — and still doing the job it was built to do. The dredge continued operating until 2017.

Keeping an engine like this running took a lot more than routine maintenance. Over the years, we spent plenty of time tearing it down, rebuilding components, making repairs, and putting it back to work.

I’ve been digging through my old photos and videos, and I’ll be sharing more of the De La Vergne, some of the rebuilds we did, and the people who helped keep this piece of working history alive.

More to come.

— Yacht Operations Unlimited

08/28/2026

A Piece of New York Canal History Preserved

For many years, this D. Laverne diesel engine was more than a museum piece—it was a working engine. I had the opportunity to operate, maintain engine during my years with the New York State Canal system.

Today, instead of disappearing into history, the engine has found a new home at the New York Steam Engine Association, where future generations will be able to see a piece of the machinery that helped keep New York's canal system operating.

At this year's Pageant of Steam, I spent four days alongside the engine answering questions, explaining how its systems worked and showing visitors old photographs and videos of it operating. The amount of interest was remarkable.

There is a lot more to this engine's story, and I'll be sharing some of that history, along with photographs and videos from its working days, in future posts.

08/19/2026

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Tug "Rome" is now part of the New York State Canal Corporation fleet, serving the Utica–Rome stretch of the Erie Canal as the second of four new tugboats supporting operations. 🛥️⚓🛟 Named for where the first shovels broke ground to build the Erie Canal more than 200 years ago, the vessel...

06/20/2026

I worked on this engine and maintained it for twenty five years.She is now being put into a museum.What an awesome legacy to leave.
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05/21/2026

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03/01/2026

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02/28/2026

Check out this fish out!! https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14SXFK69HzN/

02/17/2026

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