Viking

[MilwBob]

Hopefully some of the rare carferry artifacts will make there way to the City of Milwaukee museum such as the massive original wooden wheel from the Ann Arbor 7. Incredible to think that she was in the same storm that sank the Milwaukee.

We made request for any items they would care to donate, but as of yet have received no reply. We have the original steam whistle off it that was removed when it was converted in the 60s. It is currently under going restoration & we hope to have it at the whistle blow in St Clair in 2014.

I see the wheel is still intact in the wheelhouse. Sure would love to see that on the CoM!

[amherst1]

The SNOWHOMISH is to the west close to the adjoining property owner's. All her identification has been painted over and as far as her nameboard's, they had also been removed and were laying on the dock.

[Coalburner]

Whoever is taking these Viking pictures, could you also take some pictures of the ex CG boat Snohomish that should be right near by.

[Chief]

As of last Monday the pilot house was on the dock, and the hull was down to the car deck about 1/3 to 1/4 of the way forward. There didn't appear to be to much activity when I was the but it was pretty early in the morning.

[MilwBob]

How far have they gotten?

[Guest]

Thanks for the update. Please send pictures to news@boatnerd.net, they will go into the Boatnerd archives and reach a much larger group of people.

[Guest]

Thank you all for the interest in the Viking conversion to a flat deck barge. We did try many different business ventures over the last 10 years to keep the Viking running but each was met with it's own challenges. The SS Badger wanted to purchase the Viking to run it as a car ferry but, unfortunately, due to regulations that did not pan out either. The good news is: she is not being scrapped. We are converting her to a flat deck barge and she will continue sailing the waters...while just looking a little different. We will post pictures of the conversion as we go. If anyone is in Menominee and interested in taking pictures, please check in at our front office as our property is secured. Thank you all for your interest!

[LCNerd]

It's sad to see the Viking go! She was arguably the best looking carferry on the lakes--in her early 70's basic black and white livery, there was no "cooler" looking boat on the lakes. There are still a number of men around NW Michigan who sailed on her or her Ann Arbor sisters. I never fully understood why someone (admittedly with a huge bank account) wouldn't have rebuilt her-engines, generators, accommodations and facilities-and run her for a bunch more years from Frankfort to Menominee or Keewanee or Escanaba in competition with both the Badger and Lake Express. in light of the recent visitor influx due in part to the naming of the Sleeping Bear Dunes as 'The most beautiful place in America' by Good Morning America, one would think someone with deep pockets might have given it a try.

[Guest]

When I was on her a few years ago, the bilge was almost bone-dry! The 4 EMD's and the 3 Cats looked to be in good shape. Everything below the cardeck looked like it was still in running order.
The bow thruster would be great to have on a barge if it still works!

[CottonwoodStudios]

Sorry it took so long. I was in Marquette this weekend and stopped to take pictures of the progress. I'm hoping to shoot up over the next couple weeks and update on progress.

[old sparky]

Because no body has asked-
Pictures Please?!

A Google search of
" Viking in Port Stanley" will bring up several pictures from this site, second page has pictures from Port Stanley. Also in here are several interior pics including engine. Dating of photos indicate it only stayed here for one year but I thought it was here over a winter and left in fall of 97 but I could be wrong.

[JFB]

I wonder how the tug Dorthy Anne got away with 645's being built in the late 90's.

The Dorothy Ann was built before there was a Tier 2 standard. It was Tier 0 standards at the time. Also it is possible to meet Tier 2 standards with a 645. Just need advanced microprocessor engine controls and a more sophisticated cooling control system.

[middlerouge]

Because no body has asked-
Pictures Please?!

[Guest]

Those engines in question (if my memory is correct) are inline 8 cylinder GM's. I distinctly remember the fuel line to the engines was a steel line that was like 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" diameter. I realized these are likely small lines for a vessel, but they are a lot bigger than the 300hp farm tractor I have's fuel lines, and the engines overall size astounded me. They were taller than my 6' for sure. I would be curious to know how many rpm they would turn and whether they are two stroke or four. All the GM diesels I had seen to that point were two strokes, and Much smaller.

A shame to see her being cut up..

Pretty sure they're GM Electro Motive 16-567's (more than likely C models). Two stroke, 567cid/cylinder. I know the idle on a 16-645 EMD is ~315 RPM's and full load is around 900 RPM's so the 567 probably isn't that different. Hopefully a short line railroad that still runs GP9's (hey CN still has a few) will snatch them up for parts, or a re-builder gets them and they live on. You can use newer 645 power packs in a rebuilt 567 but even those won't meet Tier II. I wonder how the tug Dorthy Anne got away with 645's being built in the late 90's.

[MilwBob]

Hopefully some of the rare carferry artifacts will make there way to the City of Milwaukee museum such as the massive original wooden wheel from the Ann Arbor 7. Incredible to think that she was in the same storm that sank the Milwaukee.

We made request for any items they would care to donate, but as of yet have received no reply. We have the original steam whistle off it that was removed when it was converted in the 60s. It is currently under going restoration & we hope to have it at the whistle blow in St Clair in 2014.

[Guest]

Amos, do you have any photos from when the Viking was in Port Stanley?
Bob Kalal
k.kalal@comcast.net

[Amos]

She was the first large lake vessel I ever set foot on. She was in Port Stanley, Ontario to be used as a ferry to go to Cleveland was the plan at the time. I got a tour of the entire boat for $5. Those engines in question (if my memory is correct) are inline 8 cylinder GM's. I distinctly remember the fuel line to the engines was a steel line that was like 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" diameter. I realized these are likely small lines for a vessel, but they are a lot bigger than the 300hp farm tractor I have's fuel lines, and the engines overall size astounded me. They were taller than my 6' for sure. I would be curious to know how many rpm they would turn and whether they are two stroke or four. All the GM diesels I had seen to that point were two strokes, and Much smaller.

A shame to see her being cut up...

[Guest1]

Hopefully some of the rare carferry artifacts will make there way to the City of Milwaukee museum such as the massive original wooden wheel from the Ann Arbor 7. Incredible to think that she was in the same storm that sank the Milwaukee.

[Guest]

EPA won't let them use any of diesels from the Viking--must be Tier II or better now.

[Chief]

Coalburner--Interesting concept. I see a problem and how big a wheel she could swing and how much pitch. Having sailed a couple of the CG 110's they were great tugs, but have a limited amount of room for the engines. With the engines in the engineroom and a red gear in the present motor room it could work if they can get the CG to let them eliminate or modify the bulkhead between them. I think we are just talking here as I am sure K&K already has a plan for a tug when they started cutting on the Viking. There are a lot of used tugs out there for sale at reasonable prices. I recently saw a couple ex Navy tugs built by Marinette Marine for sale on the internet.