Boatnerd Discussion Forum

[quote="Guest"]Those Croation built salties Algoma bought have lots of horsepower![/quote]

I track Two Harbors traffic and I was watching the Algoma Guardian on AIS this afternoon as she heads toward Two Harbors and she was doing 14.8 knots(17 mph).

[quote="garbear"]Some other boats that have pretty good speed are the Michipicoten and the Algoma Equinox class boats. I followed them on AIS and have seen 14.5-14.7 knots.[/quote]
I recall an instance, 6 or 7 years ago, when I was tracking Lee A. on AIS. Michipicoten had locked through the Mac and had a head start. Both were going to Marquette. Lee A caught up and, rounding Whitefish Point, they were in a dead heat, but slowly Michi pulled away. I was sitting in Ohio following the little ship icons and laughing at the thought of the crews of those two ships, likely watching the event from the decks and cheering their own as the two raced across Lake Superior.

Some other boats that have pretty good speed are the Michipicoten and the Algoma Equinox class boats. I followed them on AIS and have seen 14.5-14.7 knots.

Just tracking the Gott and Blough heading west on Lake Superior on their current trips, the Gott hit speeds of 14.5 knots and the Blough hit 13.3 knots. I have seen the Gott over 15 knots on AIS.

Nowadays I am thinking it is the Stephen B Roman.

Those Croation built salties Algoma bought have lots of horsepower!

Those big new pair of diesel conversions on the old steamers, I have not heard if they propel the boat faster. But I saw the LAT with her new diesels going what appeared to be quite fast. The ELR when she's out could probably hit 19 mph if they would care to run it that fast. I once saw the Barker or Miner doing around 16 mph. I'd bet there was some vibrations on those footers at that speed.

I saw either the Saginaw or Taudossac do 20mph. We were on Lake Huron off Lexington and we had to do 30 to catch up to her and then slowed down to 20 where we kept even.

Back in the 60s and 70s, the fastest lakeboat varied largely between Tom M. Girdler, Charles M. White, Thomas F. Patton and Cliffs Victory. Which lakeboat is the fastest today?