Some photos of the actual tugboat I owned and lived aboard for 6 years. Her original name was Pacific Chief, but it was changed to the Adak when she was owned by Canadians and hauled logs across the gulf of Alaska. Adak, the dog is in the last photo and was the inspiration for Attu, the dog in my story.

The tug is 90 in length, all wood, built in the Stockton Shipyards during the war. The engine, a Fairbanks Morse direct-reverse was dropped in right after the war ended. She was a wonderful floating home and we took many adventurous trips around Southeast Alaska aboard her. Some of the "adventurous" part came from operating an old boat with an old engine which had to be shut down on approaching docks so she could go into reverse to land. This always confused on-lookers, but my husband, the captain was expert at putting her right alongside. On-board fires, breakdowns at sea, and a cranky anchor windlass all added to the adventure.

The Adak is currently owned by another writer who is taking good care of her.