Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Downbound one sunny afternoon Fighting Is. Channel aboard the m/v Columbia Star we were followed closely by the Bob-Lo boat steamer Columbia, wait - we met within a minute or 2 the upbound m/v St Clair and he was trailed by the other Bob-Lo steamer St Claire. One in a million perhaps?

Pls share photos

Last week while out on the St. Clair River I happen to see an incredible 11 ships on the river in one day! While not a record for me as the most I’ve ever seen in one day on the St. Clair River is either 17 or 18. However what made it even more special was seeing “3 Classic Lakers last week while on the St. Clair River!” The 3 classics were the Wilfred Sykes, Saginaw and Alpena. Not often you see 3 of the oldest working vessels on the Great Lakes like that all together. It really made for a very neat and unique scene and experience. The Alpena I saw it once earlier in the Spring, the Sykes it was the first time since 2022 that I saw her. Lastly the Saginaw it was the first time this year I saw her and the first time since 2024 as far as the last time I saw them on the St. Clair River. In spite of their ages, all 3 Classics still looked in great shape at least IMO anyway! Too bad the Lee A. Tregurtha wasn’t on the river last week as that would’ve really made it interesting then to say the least.