We love watching the boats go by DeTour Village. They seem almost close enough to touch.  We have a" Pilot boat ", called the Linda Jean, that takes the specially licensed Pilots out to board the "salties" (ocean going ships) to guide them up the St. Marys river.  We also have two ferry boats that take hundreds of people daily over and back to Drummond Island.  Here are some of our favorite boats and stories. It is a great place for "boatnerds" from all over to come and watch the ships that go through the "DeTour Passage".

The Algolake

Cathy is a "boatnerd" friend with Donna Rasmussen.  Her husband, Anders Rasmussen is the captain of the Algolake.  Every time the Algolake goes past Cathy's house, Captain Anders blows a salute, 1 long and 2 short, to say "hi".  You can learn more about boat watching and become a "boatnerd" yourself by going to the Great Lakes and Seaway shipping website.  www.boatnerd.com.  

 

Winter Icebreaking

 

Cutters working to free a ship stuck fast in the ice.  The St. Marys river is usually closed to winter navigation from January 15th to the 25th March every year but once in a while they have to send a tanker ship up to the Sault St. Marie are with heating oil for the winter and they sometimes encounter some very drastic ice conditions.  Sometimes the ice can be up to 3 feet thick and the boats will need the help of the CG ice cutters to break a path open for them to transit the river.

 

Long Ships Passing (slide show)

 

Freighters passing "upbound" and "downbound " in the St. Mary's River. DeTour has a long history of association with ships. Early ships reloaded firewood and then coal for the long run down the lakes, thereby "fueling" the local economy of the eastern tip of the U.P.  Now the giant super freighters known as "footers" (because they are over 1000 feet long) motor quietly by, carrying ore, stone, coal and grain for delivery all over the lakes and the world.  Boats from many foreign countries pass by almost daily bring goods in from all over Europe and take American products back overseas.

You can also check out lots of other boat info & pics at www.boatnerd.com