Cummins Marine Welcomes Cheramie Comeback

Back in 1992, when Manny Cheramie was first diagnosed in bad health, he decided to sell his 13-boat fleet of towboats. Still only in his forties, it was a real blow to Manny to leave the intercostal waters of Louisiana and Texas that had been his life since his dad introduced him to decking on a shrimp boat at five years of age. Now, after six years, Manny is getting a clean bill of health from his doctors. He and his wife Sonia, are preparing for a comeback with the launch of the first new boat of the second half of their lives. Lady Sonia is a 60 x 24-ft. pushboat powered by a pair of Cummins KTA19-M engines rated at 500 hp each turning into a Twin Disc MG 5202 marine gear with a 6:1 reduction swinging a 62 x 57-in. prop. "I have a lifetime contract for the new boat with Hollywood Marine," says Manny, who has been associated with the Houston based firm for 25 years. "When I called to tell Mickie Belle that I was going back into the boat business, he said, 'I'll send you a contract tomorrow.' And I expect to be back at work by the summer of 1999." The new boat will be pushing chemical barges, so it will also carry a pilot and two deckhand/bargemen. Chiassion Welding Services in LaRose, La. have built two boats for Manny in the past and were chosen as the builder of Lady Sonia. The partially finished boat will launch in March. The interior finishing will be done and she will be ready for delivery in May at which time Manny, his family and friends are planning a barbecue and a blessing to welcome the new boat to the bayou.