Chugs

There is a collection of "chugs" at the Botanical Garden. A chug is a boat for bringing migrants from Cuba to the US. These are usually homemade vessels built as open boats to make the crossing of 90 miles. The Gulf Stream runs through these waters, so conditions can be rough. The modifications to the boats often include adding higher sides to help with the big seas. The chug pictured here has an aspirational US flag on the bow.