Cuban Chugs

The Chugs | "Dying to be Free"
WGA# 1227372

"The Chugs” is a documentary special that chronicles the harrowing voyages made by Cubans in tiny boats and their life and death journey through shark infested waters for a chance at freedom – re-enactments, psychic readings, stories from defectors and the Americans they've encountered. "How desperate are they....to risk everything, including their lives, on a one way chance at freedom?"

Part one titled "Wet Foot" covers the many facets of the Cuban refugee's risky and uncertain voyage across treacherous waters for a chance at a better life in The United States. The viewer is transported back to their daring escape and voyage for freedom through the boats they hand build called "Chugs". The secret fabrication of the tiny boat with little room for provisions is compounded by the tortuous decision of who will go and who must stay. We follow their journey through the sun scorched days adrift to the lonely nights of terror at sea. Sadly, part one leaves them without fuel, food or water, hopelessly at the mercy of the swiftly flowing currents in the Gulf stream.

Part two is titled "Dry Foot". The series picks up at sea with the refugees exhausted and nearly unconscious. On the horizon, the uninhabited Marquesas Keys come into view (located 25 miles past the original destination of Key West). The weary Cubans summon their last ounce of strength and use their hands to paddle feverishly against ripping currents to seek safety and dry foot status on the far off shore .Unbeknownst to them, the deserted island has no food, no fresh water and no shelter but is considered American soil.

The viewer is returned to the Marquesas Keys for an on-site reading by a renowned psychic medium who contemplates the many forgotten "Chugs" that silently lie along the beach. Through her clairvoyance, she reconnects with the dozens of refugees who once relied on these tiny abandoned boats for their safety... their hopes and their dreams, their lives and their losses.

"The Chugs" combines a mixture of documentary/docudrama, interviews and biographies of the survivors, re-enactments and a close examination of the actual "Chug". We meet the Americans that the Cubans encounted as they risked their lives for dry feet and freedom on American soil. We also meet with officials who discuss United States governmental "wet foot-dry foot" policies along with the Cuban-American families of rafters who didn't survive their journey. Interviews with the Florida Keys Medical Examiner who brilliantly tracked back to Cuba DNA samples from four unrecognizable bodies found at sea (out of a group of eight missing rafters), to provide closure for the families.

Uncertain Voyages of Life and Death by Cubans Desperate for Freedom

Production stills from the TV series "The Chugs" a documentary about Cuban Rafters.
Produced by Conch Republic Media Group and Cayo Hueso Pictures.

Please click each picture below to enlarge.

Searching for lost refugees and to salvage "Chugs"
on the many uninhabited islands.

A deserted island, 25 miles from Key West, is only 2.5 miles square and in the middle of nowhere. Abandoned "Chugs" scatter the shores

Rotting hand made vessels lie lost forever in the mangroves.
This"Chug" although crudely made, survived the perilous voyage from Cuba and presumably delivered it's passengers to freedom.

This "Chug" has been selected for salvage. Its' relative good condition suggests that it has recently been abandoned by Cuban rafters who made it safely to shore.

George hauls the heavy tow line to shore in order to secure the "Chug" for towing back to Key West.

The recently beached "Chug" is readied for towing
from the shore into deeper waters and the removal of rainwater.

Captain Ricky Arnold directs the salvage operation prior to towing.

An old Russian Airline life preserver is discovered & inspected.

Intravenous saline bottles are among some of the items found.

The proud "Chug" is brought to Key West in preparation for filming.

The "Chug" undergoing restoration and preparation for the filming of water based recreation scenes in "The Chugs"	Dorothea Delgado provides a Psychic Reading about the "Chug" and it's diverse passengers that include a nine year old girl.
Historian "Dink" Bruce discusses the "Chugs" that he has recovered and placed on display at The Key West Botanical Garden.	Some of the possessions left behind by rescued refugees depict the unbelievable conditions that they endure while making their voyage.
Captain Ricky Arnold describes a propeller that was hand made from an aluminum kitchen pot.and salvaged from an abandoned "Chug"	A Cuban refugee relives his 12 day voyage at sea with only 4 days worth of food and minimal water for survival.
Captain Ricky Arnold retrieves scattered Cuban belongings that include a map plotting their course from Havana to Woman Key, a tiny uninhabited island located 15 miles west of Key West. The island has no food, no fresh water and no shelter. The Cubans were eventually rescued by the United States Coast Guard during a routine patrol.	A Cuban "Chug" fabricated from little more than a poly-tarp, urethane foam and a Fiat car engine is prepared for towing back to Key West. Three young men and one woman successfully made the dangerous 115 mile voyage from Havana to Ballast Key crossing open seas with no lights, no radio and no compass. The gas can was found empty.
The boat interior bottom has been repaired, fiber glassed and the old diesel engine removed in preparation for installation of a simulated engine. The boat will be used during filming of island scenes which will take place west of Key West.	A four cylinder Russian tractor engine was originally used to power the boat. It is direct drive from the exposed flywheel with no transmission. The pullies and belts are all exposed along with the hot exhaust manifold creating numerous safety hazards to the occupants.
The Harrowing voyage from LaBoca, Cuba to Key West, Florida in tiny makeshift boats called “Chugs" is a life and death journey through shark infested waters just for a chance at freedom.	Mariel is located approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) west of the city of Havana. The town is situated on the south-east side of the Mariel bay. La Boca, Henequen, Mojica, Quiebra Hacha, Cabañas are major towns that conform the municipality of Mariel..
Raul's Russian motorcycle on a Havana street.. © photo by Douglas Remington www.ethereallight.com	This Cuban plane at the Key West airport is the backdrop for the Centano-helicopter tarmac scene.
The bus hijacked by Fernando and his brother Nestor, later delivered to Raul's compound for cannibalization .	The Cuban Gunboat used to pursue Hugo and his four friends, directed from the helicopter by Captain Victor Centano.
This Chug came ashore on Smather's beach - twelve Cubans aboard. Due its pristine condition, it will be the boat featured in the production.	The four cylinder diesel engine appears to be nearly brand new and is fresh water cooled. The prop shaft is bolted directly to the fly-wheel.
Craig Grant Hollenback and George Long guide the refugee boat along Smather's Beach in Key West in preparation for transport. The vessel is made from aluminum, white oak and fiberglass. photo by Mike Hentz	Executive Producer, Craig Grant Hollenback, left, helps Arnold’s Towing employee George Long pull a Cuban refugee boat off Smathers Beach as Ricky Arnold, right, prepares the tow hook. photo by Mike Hentz

WGA# 1227372
Writers Guild of America