Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Is the Sykes still due out on or about April 22? In addition to the boiler work this winter, anyone know what other work is being performed on her over this extended layup? Looking forward to seeing her in Grand Haven soon!

Surprised the Kuber didn't get a new name this year

Thanks again Bob+ for all you do! I also enjoyed the video from Door County Gerry.

The Kuber left Bay Ship Wednesday evening. Today. the floating drydock was towed back its summer dock. The remaining boats left are the Sykes, Am. Courage and the PRT. The barge Cleveland Rocks is the graving dock where it continues to be converted into a cement barge.

Just like it used to be at Jones Island (Milwaukee) in the forties and fifties when the Pittsburg boats used to be here. Now the harbor is empty and the boats are no longer in existence. I miss them all.

Wow!! Thank you!

23 minute HD video of the first 5 boats to leave winter layup at Bayship last weekend: https://youtu.be/bb-_CJ2YaoY

Is a new name expected for the James L Kuber before she sails this year?

The Pierson left Bay Ship tonight and cleared the Bay View bridge 2130hrs,and headed out to Lake Michigan.

The Miner, followed by the Bough left Sturgeon Bay this afternoon via the Ship canal into Lake Michigan.

The Block passed through Round Island Passage @ 1210 and is making a steady 11.6kn now as they enter mostly open water headed for Detour Passage.
The apparently worked themselves free as no assistance was seen in the area.

The Cort left Bay Ship and cleared the Bayview Bridge around 0745hrs and made its way to Lake Michigan.

The Block is currently (11:35) having a very rough go of it in heavy ice just east of the Mackinac Bridge headed for Round Island Passage. They appear to be stuck with no assistance in sight.

Regarding the Block's return to Bayship before departing I heard two things: electrical problems, and resetting gyros. Related? Anyway, the Block did depart, but the captain said it was hairy--he had to crab all the way entering and passing through the canal, and even had to increase speed to keep the boat going in the right direction. Reason? 30 knot winds, which he said were right at the limit. I heard all of that in a conversation between Cort and Block. Cort was ready to try it, but when the Miner captain said "you re a braver man than me", a few minutes later the Cort captain decided to wait things out at Bayship with the Miner, which had decided not to try it much earlier. So both are due out at daybreak today. All us balloonists know that's when the winds are usually best, even though they are only forecast to be 10-15 today. There is video of the Block out in the lake after departure, and the waves looked scary out there.

The Blough is still off of Sherwood Pt. The Cort left Bay Ship sailed out to Sherwood Pt, turned around and then arrived back at Bay Ship and nosed into berth 15 out board of the Miner. The Joe Block finally left Bay Ship and made its way to Lake Michigan.

Update- The Joe Block remained in the ice overnite nd returned to Bay Ship at 0900hrs and rafted outboard of the Pierson, unknown why it returned. The Blough remained overnite in the ice off of Sherwood Pt.

Busy day in Sturgeon Bay. The Pierson was removed from the dock and was rafted outboard of the Cort. The Callaway was the first to leave Bay Ship, followed by the Blough then the Joe Block. All three headed out to Sherwood Pt. to turn around. The Callaway and Block headed back toward Lake Michigan. The Callaway cleared the downtown bridges arth4 oun1920hrs. The Block was still off of Hills Pt and Blough was till off of Sherwood Pt. today watching the breakout, Bull Head Pt and the train bridge park was lined up people taking photographs. The Miner and Cort are ballast and the Pierson was finally berthed out on the face dock and the tug Victory was berthed on berth 8.

Thanks. I may have to make a run up from Chicago either tomorrow or Saturday.

The bay is still ice covered, whereas the lake has very little. I heard that Mobile Bay was breaking in the bay at present, but Marine Traffic showed it SOUTH of Sturgeon Bay, though the data was nearly a day old. I'm still betting on the lake for departure.

I take it they will all depart via Green Bay and not the canal?