Boatnerd Discussion Forum

I was at the Algonac State Park and watched and photographed
the Penobscot Bay in January 2010 "break out the convoy" and
later in mid-March saw the Bristol Bay up in Port Huron as well.
Both good places to watch ice-breakers but, Algonac is especially
good when the ice jams up around the Harsens Island Ferry area.

Well last winter the St clair river had that really big ice jam. That would be a really nice spot to see them working with the freighters.

I've seen a good amount of ice breaking in January on the St. Mary's at the foot of the Neebish Island ferry dock. It is a very narrow channel on the downbound side of the island and it often get clogged up with ice.

The best time and place would be the week before the locks open, in the area above the locks and Whitefish Bay.

late january and early feburary the USCG does some ice breaking around mackinac island and in the detroit river\st. clair area. best short is to get up too the soo for the coast guards annual break out of the st marys river and whitefish bay. depends on the ice but there is also alot of activity down by port huron too. depends on the ice really so just pay attention to the ice reports and then you know where the best chance to see some ice breaking action

My brother has a 5yr old daughter interested in watching an ice breaker actually break ice. She said youtube video's don't do enough. I told him that it's probably a tough thing to watch or plan for unless you paid for a plane ride. I was thinking maybe around the Soo Locks in middle of March right before the locks open? He's willing to pay for a plane ride to see from overhead. Please advise if there's a good place, time of year, etc to see about watching a cutter in action.

Thank's in advance!
Andy