Strangest/Most Interesting Rumors Over the Years

[Guest]

I don’t believe anyone is suggesting the Townsend wasn’t seaworthy, and yes, it did make trips to Superior. However it was mainly a Detroit Cleveland Buffalo boat with occasional trips to Oswego and a couple of Huron cements Lake Michigan ports. I just offered my opinion that she was very tender and would roll badly in light to moderate seas. I spent over 100 days on her all combined, first as deckhand then as AB watchman. Not fun in that high up pilot house on watch or wheeling when seas were up. She also had a squirrely movement when in following seas. All aside, I never felt it was unsafe, just tender. On the other hand the old Crapo was a beast in heavy weather despite her short length.

[Guest]

Here is a link to an image showing the Paul H. Townsend in the dry dock at Fraser Nelson Shipyards in 1962 posted to the Fraser Shipyards website. So obviously it had no problem preventing it from sailing to Lake Superior during that period.

https://www.frasershipyards.com/wp-cont ... tion-1.jpg

[Scott]

11. The continued belief that the Reyerson will someday soon return to service.

[Guest]

The 1992 ABS Record indicates the Townsend was rated +A1 for Great Lakes Service (St. Lawrence is unmentioned) and had completed a hull sight survey and annual survey in drydock, as well as all machinery inspections 1991-1992. Its conversion was surveyed by the ABS, both hull and machinery. Interestingly, it received a hull sight survey in 1962 at Superior, according to the 1964 ABS Record, so obviously it ventured into Lake Superior. Its lengthening and new pilothouse done at Ashtabula in 1957-1958 were also done under ABS survey, so . I have no idea outside of its classification society and its surveyors who could question its stability. If the vessel had stability problems on Lake Superior, it would have them on any other lake, I would assume.

To add to this, I believe there is a picture in a book from the 1960s of an aerial view of the Fraser Nelson Shipyard with the Paul H. Townsend in the dry dock. It may have been in A Pictorial History of the Great Lakes, but I cannot confirm as I have yet to unpack my books after moving.

[Guest]

The 1992 ABS Record indicates the Townsend was rated +A1 for Great Lakes Service (St. Lawrence is unmentioned) and had completed a hull sight survey and annual survey in drydock, as well as all machinery inspections 1991-1992. Its conversion was surveyed by the ABS, both hull and machinery. Interestingly, it received a hull sight survey in 1962 at Superior, according to the 1964 ABS Record, so obviously it ventured into Lake Superior. Its lengthening and new pilothouse done at Ashtabula in 1957-1958 were also done under ABS survey, so . I have no idea outside of its classification society and its surveyors who could question its stability. If the vessel had stability problems on Lake Superior, it would have them on any other lake, I would assume.

I agree, there would have likely been stability problems on any of the lakes. The Townsend passed through the Welland Canal at times and according to the book Great Lakes Shipping Log it did make a trip to Montreal in 1988. It appears, however, that its main operating pattern was mostly on Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Michigan. I know that there was a video clip on this site at one time, probably close to 15-20 years ago, of some storm footage from onboard the Paul H. Townsend while on Lake Erie. I don't know if still exists somewhere either on this site or the internet.

[Jared]

My top 10 rumors I've heard would be:
1. The Fitzgerald movie in the mid 2000's
2. The ST Crapo being brought back out
3. CTC 1 being brought back into service
4. Ryerson self unloader conversion
5. Stewart Cort being bought or leased to Algoma for the grain trade
6. James Norris being bought by LLT
7. Anything about the Sherwin
8. Canadian fleet footers built in China and cut to fit through seaway
9. Lake freighter reality show (history channel)
10. The Bramble being scuttled for a dive site off Port Sanilac

Honorable mention of the Anderson going to scrap a year or 2 ago.

[William Lafferty]

The 1992 ABS Record indicates the Townsend was rated +A1 for Great Lakes Service (St. Lawrence is unmentioned) and had completed a hull sight survey and annual survey in drydock, as well as all machinery inspections 1991-1992. Its conversion was surveyed by the ABS, both hull and machinery. Interestingly, it received a hull sight survey in 1962 at Superior, according to the 1964 ABS Record, so obviously it ventured into Lake Superior. Its lengthening and new pilothouse done at Ashtabula in 1957-1958 were also done under ABS survey, so ... I have no idea outside of its classification society and its surveyors who could question its stability. If the vessel had stability problems on Lake Superior, it would have them on any other lake, I would assume.

[Ray]

Wish I knew where the picture is, but somewhere in my Dad's slides is a shot of myself and siblings as little kids at the Ariel Bridge with the Paul H. Townsend departing behind us. (Name clearly visible.) Picture was summer vacation 1974. So I can vouch that it did make it to Duluth at least once.

[Guest]

The most interesting rumour I've heard was that the Edmund Fitzgerald was planned to be lengthened 96-feet to 826-feet like the Arthur B. Homer. And the rumour further goes that the steel for the conversion was at Fraser Shipyard before she sank. But I think the person or persons somehow were confused by the large steel plate orders at Fraser Shipyard which had the lengthening of the Edward B. Greene and John G. Munson the Winter of 1975-76.

[Guest]

I think I posted once a long time ago about the Townsend. It was a terrible heavy weather boat. It rolled in a duck pond..LOL. The bow shape did a good job of slicing the water aside but it was not a ship for the feint hearted. It did go to Superior at times but not often. Of course so did the venerable JB Ford in summer weather. The Townsend was mostly a Detroit Cleveland Buffalo boat and once in awhile a Lake Michigan run. I was AB on it several times but never went to superior on it.

[Guest]

What are some of the strangest or most interesting rumors you have ever heard over the years concerning Great Lakes Shipping?

One of the strangest I remember is a rumor that made its rounds about 20-30 years ago about the cement carrier Paul H. Townsend being prohibited from operating on Lake Superior due to stability problems. I have seen more than a few pictures of the ship while sailing on the St. Marys River during its career so obviously it likely worked on Lake Superior at times. Granted it probably didn't make many trips to Duluth later in its career but this is more likely due to demand requirements to supply the company's terminal at the Twin Ports than anything to due with Lake Superior. I believe that this rumor is based on the fact that the Townsend appeared to look somewhat top heavy with its triple deck forward cabins, short length, and a hull form reflecting its saltwater origins. Unless someone can prove differently, the ship was apparently classed for unrestricted Great Lakes and Seaway service throughout its carrier after arriving on the lakes.