Joe Block & Wilfred Sykes

[Guest]

Good day, the first mate & soon to be Captain lives in Las Vegas.

[Denny]

Both of them are now at BayShip at Sturgeon Bay and for Winter Lay Up. The Block just arrived there today then for layup. Without looking at their AIS, I recall in years past their AIS showing and saying “Vegas Baby!” So, I wonder then if the Block has that on their AIS for this year and this Winter? If not, it might read this way, “Sweet Home Alabama or better yet, someplace that is warm!”

[Guest]

I believe she’d got new boilers at that time

[Guest]

Don't know about that, but several years ago, she spent time in Milwaukee with boiler problems i think, there was something posted about the boiler being shot i thought

Maybe this will peak some memories as to what happened at that time

[Guest]

As of this afternoon/ evening, she’s doing laps back and forth west of Beaver Island, almost like a holding pattern you’d see with a plane. Or a SAR pattern.

Anyone know what’s up?

[E J B]

She's aging for sure, but she has been very well taken care of. Boats that are a " problem child" aren't around as long as the Sykes or have careers that are as productive.

[Guest]

She’s a 76 year old steamship. Things happen.

[Guest]

I recall that the Wilfred Sykes had boiler issues a few years back which resulted in an early layup for her at Sturgeon Bay.

The Sykes has been a very dependable workhorse for Inland Steel and now Cliffs. But she is now 75 years old, with her original propulsion equipment, but like anything 75 years old, you can have issues with reliability of that equipment.

[Rob]

Its the Sykes a problem child? I mean specifically her power plant. A few years back I saw her sitting off Claybanks south of Little Point Sable occasionally puffing out a black cloud of smoke. Some very informed person at the time responded to my theory here that she was having engine problems as "no way" or something like that. Well, she headed directly to Sturgeon Bay after that. So she apparently was having power plant problems at the time. Is this an ongoing problem?

[Mr Link]

As of noon (EST) on Tuesday 1/7/25 the Sykes is downbound just above the Soo Locks, with the AIS showing a destination of Sturgeon Bay.

[Mr Link]

Sykes apparently lost power and the Block moved the Sykes to the safety of Batchawana Bay. See the News Page on Boatnerd's main site.

[guest]

Late Sunday evening AIS shows the Block & the Sykes side by side NW of White Fish Point, heading slowly back toward the Soo.
Anyone know what's going on?
Mike