Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Rest in Peace Pat,

Pat was a friend and a good man from my hometown of Marine City. I remember spending our 5 year wedding anniversary aboard the Lee. A. Tregurtha in Marquette with Pat in 1993. We took him down the "street" for a drink and some shopping and then went aboard for a great evening with dinner included on the ship. He sailed with my grandfather on the Ford boats for many years. My grandfather was a Chief engineer and Pat would be the first mate or Capt. Lots of good memories. Whenever I would see his ship loading in Marquette I would stop and say hi and I was always invited aboard.

I believe Capt. Owens was featured prominently in a Channel 4 (Detroit) special documentary aired during the late 1980s, when he was captain of the Benson Ford (3), now Kaye E. Barker. I believe it was called "Risky Business" but I'm not sure. If memory serves me correctly it detailed a voyage of the Benson Ford on one of its trips up the lakes.

Very sad to hear the news of Captain Pat Owens passing away. Through my more than twenty years of boatwatching up along the St. Clair River, whenever an Interlake vessel passed his house in Marysville he would receive a salute from them. His home still sits along the river just up north of Marysville and south of Port Huron as you drive toward Port Huron. I always used to think about him every time I would drive by his home. Never got to meet him in person though as I am sure he had plenty of stories to share and to tell us. 3 Long and 2 Short Captain Owens and smooth sailing and calm winds and seas to you.