Great Lakes
Boat Videos
All show a complete round
trip from bow to stern and pilot house to engine room.
All VHS tapes are approx. 2 hours long.
$25 each postpaid or 2 for $45.
American Republic
“Up a Busy River With the American Republic”
An August 2004 trip from Stoneport, MI to Cleveland, OH. followed by 2
Shuttles to the ISG upper dock five miles up the winding Cuyahoga River
with a return to Calcite, MI. The Republic is the most maneuverable boat
on the Lakes and this video proves it.
Edward L. Ryerson
"The Real Queen of the Lakes"
June 12-17, 1997. It shows a Marquette trip. The tape could have been made
in the '60's. Classic straight decker loading at a classic dock and an
unload being done the old fashioned way; one clamshell at a time.
Digitally re-edited in January, 2004
"This Must Be Escanaba"
Nov. 13-19, 1998. 2 back to back runs to Escanaba. Just as interesting as
the first video but with a little November weather thrown in for effect.
Burns Harbor
"Ruffles Have Ridges and So Does Lake Superior"
April 10-17. 1996. This video was taken following one of the severest
winters in recent memory. Lots and lots of excellent ice breaking footage
of the big Canadian ice breaker Pierre Radisson breaking a path down Lake
Superior to Duluth for the Burns Harbor and the Canadian Leader. There's
also a convoy through the Straights of 3 boats as we zig-zag around huge
plates of ice.
"Night Boat"
Dec. 26, 1996 to Jan. 5, 1997. New Years Eve 1996 was spent breaking ice
up the St. Marys River. There had not been any recent up bound traffic so
the ice had hardened. No USCG assistance was available that night for
track maintenance so the Burns Harbor backed and rammed it's way up the
river. Down bound on Lake Michigan we ran into strong winds and 10-15
waves. Nice footage of spray over the bow and the hull working in the
seas. A good "rock'n & roll'n" video.
"A Great Lakes
Thanksgiving"
Nov. 26-Dec. 3, 1997. If you ever wondered what a Great Lakes Thanksgiving
was like this will show you. Lots of galley footage plus a complete round
trip from Superior, WI to Burns Harbor, IN and back. Thursday menu: pea
soup, roast turkey & ham, mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffing & yams, apple
& pumpkin pie. Friday's menu: beef barley soup, grilled tenderloin,
lobster w/drawn butter, asparagus, onion roasted & Italian roasted
potatoes, peach & pumpkin pie.
"One More trip"
Dec. 26, 1998-Jan. 1, 1999. A end of season round trip. More rock and roll
and a trip down the ice glogged St. Marys River on a brilliant sunny day.
Stewart J. Cort
"A Trip On #1"
July 26-Aug. 1, 1999. Summer sailing at its finest. Daylight in the river
both ways, a full moon and beautiful sunrises and sunsets every day.
Digitally re-edited in January, 2004
Southdown Challenger
"A True Survivor"
A late October 2000 round trip on the Southdown Challenger from Charleviox,
MI to Toledo/Cleveland. The 1906 built Challenger was the oldest boat
sailing in 2000. Lots of day and night scenes in the rivers. Watch as the
Challenger navigates the winding Cuyahoga River without tugs. My first
video in Digital8 edited on an iMac DV SE.
John J. Boland
"40 Years Young"
The Boland's first down bound trip of 1993 as it starts its 40th year of
service with American Steamship. Watch as coal is loaded in Superior, WI
for Marquette, MI. After unloading the Boland takes on a cargo of ore
pellets for Cleveland, OH. Ice is encountered in the St. Marys and St.
Clair rivers. Taken April 14-20, 1993. (The Boland was sold to Lower Lakes
Towing in 1999 and sails today as the 'Saginaw'.) An early effort that has
been enhanced by digitally re-edited using iMovie on an iMac DV SE.
Great Lakes Short Subjects Vol. 1
Watch the S.T. Crapo make its way up the rivers in Milwaukee in May of
1990. Hear the last steam whistle on the Lakes. Observe the 1994 fit out
of the Crapo. Great shots of the triple expansion steam engine running and
the fireman tending the fires on the last coal fired boat on the Lakes.
Ride the Bonnie Selvick as it tows out the E.M. Ford in Oct. 1990. Ride
the Selvick tug Jimmy L as it breaks ice in Sturgeon Bay, WI for the Burns
Harbor & Buffalo. Observe from both the Jimmy L & the Burns Harbor as the
Burns Harbor enters the Bayship graving dock. Ride the J.W. Westcott II as
it delivers mail and crewmen to a variety of boats on the Detroit River.
