I fished around these remains this fall, and was kinda intrigued with the construction of these large old wooden vessels. This photo shows the one that is north-northeast of Big Break Marina, side by side with an old steel hull. I'm sure these were just abandoned, not wrecked in a storm or anything dramatic like that. Does anyone know where the history of such vessels could be found? From their size, I expect they were commercial vessels.
For the record, be careful if you try fishing around them, they have a variety of tree roots, and old steel hardware around them that catches lures and gelcoat I managed a couple of stripers following lures there, but no hits.
Brian wrote:Hey, that looks like some of Mikes water
..... And how much money did you pay to figure that one out Einstien ....... ??
You know, we always called each other goodfellas. Like, you'd say to somebody: "You're gonna like this guy; he's all right. He's a goodfella. He's one of us." You understand? We were goodfellas, wiseguys.
I heard from an old Big Break Rat was that some of those barges were sunk there to try to plug the breech when the levy broke flooding the island. The attemp failed and they were left there.
My younger sister was born in November of 1937. My father and my uncles had kind of established squatters rights on one of the old barges in Big Break. I remember going there as a family when my mother was prgnant with my sister.
My father and my uncles talked about that same thing about sinking she old barges to block the levy leaks, which of course did not work.
Back in those days they were using the rivers as high ways more than they do now and lots of goods were transported up and down the rivers on barges pulled by tug boats.
I was also told when I was a kid that when the barges started leaking faster that they could be pumped out or if they other wise were not good for hauling goods anymore the tug boat captains would just tow them to some place convenient and abandom them them. I think I can remember 20 or thirty of them with pretty good decks that we could tie our row boat up to and spend the day fishing for catfish.
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Check out the Dutra dredging Museum in Rio Vista. Neat old photos, a wreck history of old dredges etc. Flood fighting pictures, levee breaches, breach closures, channels being cut, rivers being dredged to either improve the channel or strengthing the levee.
You need to call ahead to see if it is open, or make an appointment to get you or your group in.
A ton of history even for guys who think they are river rats.
Its neat to find out how the Delta was built essentially, and how we ended up here at this point.
Also just walking through the towns of Locke, Walnut Grove, Isleton, Hood, Rio Vista, Courtland and others. -- Just spending the day going in and out of the shops, diners, librarys while enjoying the unique shops and local cuisine ....... alot of information !
As a kid - We sailed and stayed every year for a week - 10 days in "The Meadows". Just BEAUTIFUL !! The walk into Locke through all the pear orchards and others to get groceries, and see the town as it was back in the '80's was very cool. Alot of the Asian families that built the delta have moved out to the Mexican immigrants that have taken it over- but the history is still there with some of the culture.
That is one of my goals this spring/summer- to take the family up to see, camp and fish "The Meadows" and Lost Slough. Does anyone know of a place close with launching out of Wimpys -- or else if the diversion is open to pitch a tent and camp ??
Looking for a weekend in May -- Or June if we do not go up Ellery Creek on the McCloud side of Shasta for 7- 10 day in the latter half of June (after the WON Delta. )
You know, we always called each other goodfellas. Like, you'd say to somebody: "You're gonna like this guy; he's all right. He's a goodfella. He's one of us." You understand? We were goodfellas, wiseguys.
We frequently get asked how we arrived at naming our resort and marina "Sugar Barge". As with anything unique, there is quite a story to tell.
Our Restaurant, Bar and Resort are named for a legendary cargo vessel which was moored on this very spot for many years. The "Sugar Barge" was built in 1925 at Stone's Shipyard in Alameda. It was christened "South Shore #1" and made cargo runs between Redwood City and San Francisco hauling general freight.
In 1942, it was purchased by River Lines Co. and continued to carry freight between Vallejo, Oakland and San Francisco. Bay and River Navigation Co. purchased the "South Shore #1" in 1945 and renamed her "M. V. Mokulii". In addition to a San Francisco Pier #1 run, she also delivered sugar to railheads in Richmond and Oakland. It was at this point in time that she became know as a sugar barge.
Needing a green pasture to retire to after many tireless years of plying various waterways, the "M. V. Mokulii" was purchased from C&H Sugar by the Joseph Family. At Bethel Island, she was permanently moored and began a new life as a snack bar. In 1969, she was purchased by Paul Keeney, Lenny Gomes, and Harry Norager. She was given a major facelift and became known as the "Sugar Barge Restaurant and Lounge".
The Sugar Barge had two decks with a bar on the lower level and dining above. Perhaps the most memorable feature was the bilge pump. When the unreliable old pump failed, the vessel would start to take on water. The customers were promptly asked to move upstairs for a few complimentary drinks. Thank goodness she was in relatively shallow water.
The old girl sank twice, putting Lenny and Paul out of business. They were fortunate enough to sell her to Western Waterways who towed her to Holland Tract with the intention of remodeling and reopening her in all her original glory. As is often the case, bureaucratic red tape prevented this dream from becoming reality. With the best of intentions, they kept her afloat for a while, but now, regrettably, she sits at the bottom of the slough ... where at high tide she fills up with water and sea life, not patrons.
For the many years she called this location home, local folks referred to this section of Bethel Island as Sugar Barge. With all the memories and stories to tell from the old days, we just had to keep the name ... minus the bilge pump, of course! This way she will continue to live in memory.
There are probably no less than 50 old wrecks in the western corner of Big Break. Many of them appear now as tulle islands with little hint of it being a wreck, others quite obvious. Many of the wrecks are indeed abandoned wrecks originated from the old marina, that floated through the breaks in time and ended up scattered all around the west/southwest corner.
The boats out front, as well as the two at the east opening at Dutch Sl, where the main breaks originally occured in 1929, weren't really put there to block or damn the break, but were inserted and used as pumps in an attempt to pump the water out, that had came through and flooded the area. This was common practice back in the early 1900's since they didn't have the technology that we have today. These bigger vessels could move a lot of water. Unfortunately, in the case of Big Break, the break was too large and the amount of water too great for this practice to be affective. Strong currents and winter storms, caused bigger problems to where they capsized and now remain today.
I managed a couple of stripers following lures there, but no hits. 
courtesy of Google Earth, 38d01m22.87s, 121d41m41.72s - when I took that picture.
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