A Movable Bridge & The Motor Vessel 'Puffin'

Greenpoint Avenue Bridge and Puffin

The blog A Movable Bridge was begun in 2008 to document an attempt to pass under each movable bridge operated by the New York City Department of Transportation. As that is an ongoing (and slow-moving) project, the blog was expanded to cover other items of interest to the New York waterfront community and to report on the voyages of the two founders’ boat, the motor vessel Puffin. Posts are generally confined to the immediate geographical area, but the founders will also write when they find something interesting farther afield (for example, a bridge in Waco, Texas, that uses cables manufactured by John A. Roebling, of Brooklyn Bridge fame).

The blog is also used to advocate for the waterfront, specifically to see more opportunities and resources for recreational boaters to use the harbor. Town docks are strongly supported and other places where recreational boaters can tie up and go ashore. To that end, Puffin is taken wherever she can go, and the experiences are then reported. The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance's City of Water Day has been a great way for Puffin to tie up in places where she would not normally be able to do so. Finally, the blog is used to alert the community to upcoming water- and waterfront-based events.

M/V Puffin

Puffin is a 2003 Nimble Nomad, built in Florida. She is 24 feet 7 inches long and draws 18 inches. Propulsion is provided by a 50-horsepower Honda outboard. She’s not fast (cruising speed is 7 knots), but she is efficient, burning about a gallon and a half per hour.

Puffin is a comfortable little cruiser. She has ample room for six adults for a day trip, and two can easily sleep on board (adding two kids makes it a little tight, but manageable). On-board facilities include a sink with an electric water pump, a porta-potty tucked into the hanging locker, a 1-burner butane stove, and a stereo with CD player.