Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Looking at the photo of the vessel (and other older tankers), was there a design purpose behind the very low freeboards? I assume the liquid fuel holds were the higher center section with the outer being ballast tanks and tunnels.

An interesting news story hit this morning of a new Mesabi Metallics mill opening in Iowa. It is noted "It's location near the Mississippi River would allow Mesabi to ship iron ore from its Minnesota Mine to the Iowa facility." Assuming that would be by rail or is there profit in running shuttle ...

Guest wrote: August 27, 2026, 1:28 pm To get a license you need Sea Time. 180 days if you go to a Maritime Academy. 720 days if you come up the Hawsepipe.

Plus Marine Engineers have to have repair knowledge of way more things than just running a boiler.

Do the companies have apprenticeship programs outside of the academies?

Another thing is it is getting tough as Hell to find steam engineers! The higher licenses like Chief and 1st Assistant Engineer are hard to fill. Take the Sykes. You get a lot of retired engineers in to fill in for guys going on vacation or for open vacancies. If you know anyone looking to work as ...

It was a bit startling to see the photo restrictions within the St. Mary's Rapids Canal. I can't even imagine how many photos and videos already exist from tourists on the Locks Tour boats and pleasure crafts. I have documented every transit of the locks (Canadian and American) aboard our pleasure ...

What is the NQFC Carver ?

This dates back a few decades to the origins of the board, and part of the reason for the creation of the Regional Board. Many of us wanted to bring a more personal touch to the communication boards while still relaying information. (This probably drove the original ...

Guest wrote: May 2, 2026, 8:29 pm The NQFC Carver will still be leaving the dock just as much as before!

Well.... maybe....
She is full with several hundred gallons of fuel at last years prices. The pain will be felt when it is time to top it off.
But the spirit remains!

Ohio Bob
Captain - NQFC Carver

With the advances in vinyl wraps, who needs paint? Just need a design, printer, some soapy water, a squeegy. and a very calm, windless day.

As a young Boatnerd in 1976, I remember the great pride much of the American fleet displayed with colors, logos and flags on their vessels celebrating the bicentennial. Kind of sad not to see the same this year for the much harder to pronounce Semisesquicentennial. 250 years of Independence is worth ...

I was hoping someone from the Sykes was going to put up for sale a bucket of steam. With the rebuild on the turbines it should be of high quality.

this may start a firestorm, which certainly is not my intent. To what extent should icebreaking operations (both USCG and CCG) be based on conditions rather than a date on the calendar? Some winters the late January runs are problematic in certain areas, and free and open in others. Same is true for ...

BRAVO to all involved with the new website.
I'm sure it will take some time for us old farts to find our way around but the new look and features are fantastic.

Thank you for all you do!

I've been around this site since nearly it's beginning. The original crew had aa lot of fun together while learning and sharing. All along, the volunteers that kept the site going did so without fuss and with incredible dedication. Thank you to all of the Boatnerd volunteers from Neil S and on ...

Obviously this isn't a fair comparison in scope and size, but laying up even a pleasure boat takes some time and a thorough checklist to make certain you do not forget anything. Sea strainers, check valves, water systems, waste systems, batteries, engines, generators, etc. With watch crews and ...

Guest wrote: December 6, 2025, 2:07 pm Happy Holidays from Marc & Jill Vander Meulen

Looking fantastic Marc and Jill!

I'm certainly not an expert but I believe the filling and emptying ports are scattered along the length of the lock chamber, and not necessarily at one end to help pull or push. I have heard the lock operators can flush ice out (down) of the lock by leaving the water level a little higher than level ...

What have been the rule of the day with the three salties that were upbound and passed the Anderson heading out into the storm? The Captain is always the Master of the Ship but would the pilots of that time also considered this storm as more normal conditions? Being shorter salties, would they ...

"Still Searching" by Pat Norton. I have a print of this in my house. It is a second version after her original painting was stolen - I believe from the Ojibway Hotel in the Soo.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 1818842510

Lake Erie experienced a seiche with the high winds on Wednesday with the water levels dropping 3' or more. Water levels were still bouncing around quite a bit Thursday and the water level has been 10-12" below the typical for this time of year.

Yo Michigan Bob, It's Ohio Bob. (No, not the Other Ohio Bob, the original!)
Yep, still around and missing our trips to Packo's, the M.O.A.D. Challenge and all the other trips as well.
The traffic on the Regional Board has slowed to a trickle but still some good people around here from back in our ...