A Question for the Boatnerds

[Guest]

Mac Mackay - like you I grew up along the shores of the St. Clair River...only about 20 years later during the late 1970s and early 1980s. You must have seen a lot of interesting ships during the early to mid-1960s. At the time of my youth I felt somewhat cheated by the vast number of ships that were idled and retired during the early 1980s, but looking back at it now I feel fortunate to have seen many vessels that now only live in memories and photographs.

To all of the posters to these boards I wish to extend my appreciation as it is the best way to keep up with current topics in a timely manner. Not in the too distant past, the only way to keep up with the news was publications like Telescope, Lake Log Chips, the Inland Seas, etc. While such publications remain an invaluable resource in conveying the history of Great Lakes shipping, nothing can replace the up to the minute information and social interaction provided by an internet based service. I hope that the actions of a few posters has not deterred others from posting on these forums as I fear has taken place over the years.

[Denny]

Once again I would like to thank all who have responded to this post and question and again I send along my thanks and gratitude to all the volunteers and contributors of this site as without them and this site in general, I would be lost with no information along with no place to turn in order to post and ask questions and try to find out information on the Great Lakes/Seaway ships and salties and other vessels. We are all boatnerds and each one of us has a different view and perspective of shipping and other ship related items. I think that alone makes this site and our hobby so much fun entertaining and fascinating. Granted we all have our personal feelings and thoughts here at times as long as we can remember to keep this site fun for us and others that read and follow each other and their posts. I started to come to this site in the late 1990s after it was created by Neil. Boatnerd has been very good for me and I cannot thank them enough for allowing me to post here and to contribute whenever I can. The lay-up and fit-out lists, I have helped tremendously over the years and hope that I can do the same this year. For Roger and his comments about common courtesy now seems to be a thing of the past. You are so right as there is just very little respect today for people and their property. The world has certainly changed in a not good way that is for sure!

[Guest]

This has sure been a active post!,I to appreciate all You Great lake experts and sailors who answer Our Questions!,I always try to express ( I am not an expert!,but this is what I have learned in the past!) and boy oh boy!,if I were to make a tiny mistake,it's jumped on,and the original subject is just skipped!,and the mistake I just made is the only thing addressed.
I am not a Sailor!,I have Evan gotten a bit green riding Our Vista Harbor cruse up Here in Duluth on a rough day!,but the thought of working on one,or being the Guy in charge of something so massive is fascinating to Me.
I was a Carpenter for 30 years!,so I will boast I do no about every thing about residential building!,but if there was a web sight,were People write in what they no about Carpentry,and they would say something like( These Est Wing Hammers are the best,That's the only kind to buy!,I would say(no way,there junk and they'll ruin Your elbow!)than another one would add His two cents and say( Oh Ya,Them Hammers are the best!) I would throw My computer on the floor and jump on it till it's little pieces!
So thank You to all the Sailors and People in the NO,who respond to Us Boat lovers! I started on this sight in 2003,and every thing I know I have learned form This sight and everyone who has took the time to tell Me or write to Me about Boats! and I love it!
Thank You mn brett

[BigRiver]

I too enjoy the information, questions and opinions shared here. It's like the rest of the Internet – a few idiots can spoil the enjoyment of everything. I try to not give them that power over me. It's like the comments section on newspaper articles....when someone is able to post anonymously they can say whatever they want – good, bad, rude or just plain wrong – and have no responsibility for it. It's the way of the world now. Please, thank you and common courtesy seem to be things of the past.

[Mac Mackay]

I want to thank all those that post here - whether knowedgeable experts or just enthusiastic boat watchers. All should feel welcome.
I especially enjoy reading individual reports and opinions.
I have lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia for 50 years now, and this is one way I keep in touch with the Lakes. I spent some memorable times during my high school years boatwatching on the shores of the St.Clair River (that would be 1961-1966). For too many years thereafter I tried to keep track by writing letters.
This is a much better way!
AIS is all very wonderful - I use it a lot, but nothing beats a surprise, and nothing beats identifying a ship from a distance and being proven right (or wrong) when it gets close enough to read the name!
Keep up the old time boat watching and share it here.

[Jon Paul]

Don't surrender to the Nay Sayers Albert! Lets take back our site and continue to make it stronger and better. We need to support and back our brothers and sisters who post here. One of the problems is that people tend to post opinions and conjecture and not label them as such. Facts are facts and we should be diligent in defining what is what.

[Albert]

I know how you feel Denny as far as not getting the respect you deserve. Why oh why do people argue with me? I've written books on shipping and conducted hundreds of interviews with everyone from deckhands to the Presidents of several major shipping lines on both "the Great Lakes and the ocean" but never get any respect so I have not posted on these boards "in a year or more!" It is such a shame because I really enjoy these boards too!

[Denny]

Really enjoyed that Historical stuff that you posted here on site last year Jon Paul. Please bring it back for us and continue to post with old and historic photos. Brings back many pleasant memories for me and many others. Had to believe that next year already will be my 25th year that I started up on the St. Clair River going out to that river on a daily basis. Also echoing others' comments here that I to have not gotten out to the water as much as I would like to the last few seasons. Unfortunately my health is not as good as it used to be along with sorry to say the aging process. I also got too involved with the AIS tracking sites this year and spent way too much time on the computer with marinetraffic.com and their website this year. Not to sound negative but, they made changes to their web site this year to now they only hold some information for no less than 24 hours or it's gone period! I think that is a crime and a shame as who has the time with most people working and traveling to look at their stuff. Next year in 2017, I vow to forget the AIS sites and go back to "Old School boatwatching like I used to do and the heck with tracking through AIS." I just want to go back to the St. Clair River and enjoy it like it was meant to be!

[Jon Paul]

After a brief hiatus due the fact that as GM of a Hotel/Convention Ctr in Mackinaw City that takes 14hrs /7 days per week to run from May though October, I am back to posting again.
I too have felt a bit put off at times by the negativity some show on this site but we must keep in mind that its "our" site and they are just a small annoying minority.
One of the best qualities of this site is that we are all spread out over the Great lakes region and can share so many interesting things from our own area.
If there's interest, I will start back up the Historical Perspective thread that I began last fall and we can all start posting some of the old photos that we have to share!

[Guest]

I too would like to thank the posters to this site. I don't get to the water as much as I used too, so this is the best way I can keep up with the latest happenings!

[shiphead]

I would also like to thank all of you that post information.I read these pages almost every day to learn all I can about my favorite hobby/passion.I dont live close enough to the water so your posts make my day.Thank you again for the drama free information.

[Denny]

To Marc and everyone else, thanks for your kind words along with your thoughts as well to me. They really mean a lot to me like what my good friend garbear said as well. I too have cut down on the amount of postings that I used to do as well. Granted I have never sailed the lakes before like many here and never worked for anyone in the Great Lakes either. However, I consider myself to be well known for my knowledge on the Great Lakes shipping scene yet I just wish I could get more respect from some than what I do as I consider myself a worker and darn I work my tail off on some of this boat stuff like some with boatnerd from sun up to sun down and even late night hours as well. I have taken digital photos now since 2006 and have only sent them to boatnerd a handful of times and had them on DSN website many times. You will never find me on social media as I am not that type of person. Point is I try to be just a plain ordinary and simple guy. For Brett in Minnesota, keep up the good work buddy and don't let a few bad apples here try to discourage you from posting here. I know as I felt the same way many times yet others have told me to not give up and keep going!

[Al]

mn brett, I got out of the Navy in 66 and had the job of fueling the construction Equipment at the Empire for a couple of months while they added on to the plant. I just filled the Bechtel machines and that was enough. I never seemed to get that Diesel smell out of my clothes.

[Al]

Marc, Buckeye AZ, if you care to contact me, I am in Phoenix. Mail me at neguper@yahoo.com.

[mn brett]

I will not make it to the Gails this year!,but I sure wish I could have,I am on The Isanti Mn fire department,and We have duty crews schedule's,some how I posted I couldn't be a fireman during engineer days(though I haven't made that yet)but I somehow got scheduled during Gails!,witch I have made it to a few times!,every time I make an event I meet new People,Ray and JohnH made to Our winter get together,Andy and Linda made them both times,I could be there Friday if I took vacation but the Friday didn't look as good as Saturday,My favorite is always Ric Mixter.
My Wife always wants to come up with Me and (SHE) not go to the Gails,but does want to stay at Hotels and eat out,and I am (UNFAIR!) if I come up buy Myself for the day. DANG WOMAN!
So it looks like I won't make it this year!
Have a great time to You that can go. mn brett

[Al]

I am also a former Sailor, both Navy and Merchant who watches the Boatnerd site. I sailed on the Lakes for a number of Fleets, starting with Inland Steel, Bethlehem Steel, ON, to later Central Marine. I loved working on the lakes until the Bean counters got control and nickel and dimed the job to bits. I still am in touch with friends out on the lakes to keep up with any news that happens.

[garbear]

I read a response in that thread about the Blough where a "sailor" stated that boatnerds are hated by sailors. It really made me mad to read that because I have never seen that attitude on any of the 8 boats I sailed on.

I guess its easy to be a jerk when you are anonymous.

I have been a daily visitor to this site for 17 years and used to post a lot, but rarely do anymore. This site, like the shipping industry has slowed down quite a bit, but it is good to see dedicated posters like Denny and Gar who keep this site going. Thank you!

Marc
Buckeye, AZ

Marc. Thanks for the kind words. After I retired I found I had a lot of time on my hands, so I keep an eye on this site. First was a "boatnerd" in the late 50's when my Dad and I would watch the boats go up and down Lake Michigan. Plus, I was only 10 miles from Elberta/Frankfort so you always saw the Ann Arbor carferries coming and going. Then sailed for 9 years in the 70's and after I quit sailing moved to Duluth and have here ever since. Used to beat around the docks and Canal Park a lot, but health isn't that great anymore, so I like to post on this site. Don't get out that much, so thank God for all the web cams around where I still can watch the boats. Never been on Facebook so I don't know what I'm missing when it comes to boatwatching and discussions. Thanks again, Marc, those words mean a lot to me.

[Old Man]

Remind the anonymous individual that there are a lot of former Great Lakes crewmen among the Boatnerds.

[AZ MEL]

I read a response in that thread about the Blough where a "sailor" stated that boatnerds are hated by sailors. It really made me mad to read that because I have never seen that attitude on any of the 8 boats I sailed on.

I guess its easy to be a jerk when you are anonymous.

I have been a daily visitor to this site for 17 years and used to post a lot, but rarely do anymore. This site, like the shipping industry has slowed down quite a bit, but it is good to see dedicated posters like Denny and Gar who keep this site going. Thank you!

Marc
Buckeye, AZ

[wlbblw]

That mine shaft sounds like a safe place to hide out until Wednesday or Thursday & see what happens...