" Sea Stories" Big Bert

[Ben]

I love your sea stories Capt Metz-please keep'm coming!

[Q]

Captain Metz, From the previous post you probably can guess my Nephew went onto Boatnerd this morning and read your reply.
Thank you for taking the time to respond and his name is Tom. Most of the time we call him Tommy.
Once again..........Thank you.

[captrmetz]

Hi Jerry -

I enjoyed sailing on the Thomas Wilson I spent two seasons on her. Every talked about the Lyman C. Smith and how they all would like to work on her. I started out on the Thomas Wilson on May 27, 1964 he captain was Capt.Pete Petersen, then Capt Quick and Capt. Portineer, the mates were James Luty, Don Keef, Oscar Maki, Doc. Winkle. We had a nice crew

[captrmetz]

To ( Q)
Thank you for the kind words and also for your story about your 12 year old Nephew. If I may ask what is the name of your Nephew ? I would like to Personalize my next story to your Nephew if that would be alright.
Capt Metz

[Lakercapt]

I thought that I might add a little about an incident I had when my wife's parents were visiting from Scotland.
They were interested in what I did for a living and one place where a brief view of our world is down at the Welland Canal.
It was one a couple of hours from where we lived so on a sunny summer day we drove down and then to the visitor's centre at the viewing area at Lock #3.
It was not crowded and we were lucky there was a laker I had sailed on downbound and approaching the lock I was explaining what was happening and giving a sort of running commentary to my in-laws. This included how the captain would be sliding the wall and lining up to enter the lock and adjusting the engine speed etc.
I was telling how the lockmaster would spot the boat in the lock.
There was a gentleman who was listening to them and he turned around and in a sort of sarcastic tone said "how come you think you know so much about it"
My son who was about 10 years old at the time looked right up at him and said " well he is a captain on boats like that and if he didn't know anything about it he would not last long.
Silence from the fellow !

[Q]

Captain Metz, I want to thank you for sharing your stories and memories throughout an amazing career.
Please let me share a quick story for you………………
My Nephew is 12 years old and has a learning disability that limits his comprehension when it comes to reading. Every morning he makes sure he is awaken 15 minutes earlier than his brothers and sister only to allow time to page through the Boatnerd website. When you write a story he has his mom print it so he can take the time after school to read (and reread) and understand your experiences.
Your stories are helping him to learn and comprehend words he doesn’t typically see in a normal school day.
So if you believe your wasting time by writing I want to tell you you’re not. Not only are the loyal Boatnerd readers appreciative but a 12 year old boy with a learning disability looks forward to every story you put to print. He struggles everyday so to see such excitement in a young boys face is a true gift.
Thank you and please continue to share your life with us !!!

[Jerry at Duluth]

Captain Metz, your stories bring back some fond memories for me. I started with Wilson in the same year that you did. I was on the old limber LYMAN C. SMITH. The captain wan Capt. Humphries, who died in northern lake Huron. We left his body of at Alpena and the first mate, Frank Henrietta, took the boat to Cleveland. There, Charley Valentine came aboard for his first full time duty as Captain. The second mate Mutt and the third mate's name escapes me. I later came ashore in 1966 and joined Guthrie Hubner as a vessel agent but I would always go down and meet the Smith to see old friends. My point is, Captain, that your stories bring back many fond memories for many of us who sailed and it my greatest hope that you will continue them.
Jerry

[Alex]

Capt. Metz, please keep sharing your experiences and stories. It is NOT a waste of time and many of us read and enjoy them in respectful silence. You and LakerCapt offer a written portal to the past that is intriguing to read and also elements of historical nature.

Thank you Capt. Metz and LakerCapt,

Alex

[Darryl]

Yes. I appreciate the stories very much. I too like probably others, have put some of my Great Lakes sailing experiences down on paper (well, the computer). I have not created a body of work like you two captains, but I keep at it. I know it can be a labor of love and that makes it enjoyable. We are very lucky to read these well written accounts of real world experiences of Great Lakes sailors.

[mopar tim]

Yes!! please keep them coming. I enjoy them a lot even if I've read them more than once.

[Lakercapt]

Captmetz writing about the wheelsman Big Bert reminds me of some of the great men and women I had as "wheelsmen".


They were my saviours at times as the good captain will attest. Being at the front window for too many long hours was a recipe for mistakes. They knew the Seaway system better than I, having been up and down for years and the courses were all known. A quick reminder "Capt its about time to change course" would bring you out of the daze.
I think the well-seasoned ones were wonderful and we would on occasion have long chats. They could listen to my tales about foreign shores and I hear about characters they had sailed with!!

[The Schipper]

I enjoyed meeting and listening to you at The Fawn Island Gathering some years ago. One thing I remember is how you had some difficulty identifying some points on the river during the cruise as you were used to viewing them from a freighters pilot house in stead of down at water level.

[RCRVRP]

GUEST "
Thank you for your request, some times I think I am wasting my time writing to Boat Nerd
Thanks again,
Capt Metz

I read every one and always look forward to the next. Please continue.

[Rob]

Cant. Metz,
You are most certainly NOT wasting your time writing about your time on the lakes. I enjoy your stories and your tone. Please keep them coming for as long as you feel you want to write them. They are not a waste of time. They are the best things about this discussion board...and then some.

[Guest]

I read every single one of them.

Me too.

[BigRiver]

I read every single one of them.

[captrmetz]

GUEST "
Thank you for your request, some times I think I am wasting my time writing to Boat Nerd but I love writing about my time on the lakes and it brings back so many memories to me . My last stories will be in March because I leave Florida and head back to my cabin on Lake Superior. The ships will be fitting out. Also I like to answer question about my stories but my memory is starting to fade a bit and I strive to tell it the way it happen. In writing my Sea Stories Books I always kept a log from the first day I sailed in 1964 till 1999 and in the log I wrote every day what I did, location of the ship, what ports we went to, weather, and dates. I always want to be very accurate in my writings.
Thanks again,
Capt Metz

[Guest]

More Sea Stories please Capt. Metz keep them coming many thanks.

[Newfie]

Bet they were 2 Newfies or 2 Cape Bretoners.....lol

[A J]

Looks like an early Inland boat across the slip from the Donner, but that wide pilothouse is throwing me off a bit. Great story!

The Inland boat is the L.E. Block.