Lake Boats: The Enduring Vessels of the Great Lakes

By Greg McDonnell

Book Overview

The romance of the great inland sea in 32 additional pages and 30 new photographs.

Praise for the first edition:

"Lavishly photographed and romance-packed ... a visually stunning collection of photos, facts and lore about the captains, crews and thousand-foot ships that plough the Great Lakes... It's a great book for anyone who appreciates the machinery that pulls the Rust Belt together." -- Cleveland Free Times

"Lake Boats belongs on the bookshelves of anyone who admires the strength and purpose of these magnificent ships." -- The Great Lakes Mariner

This large-format, full-color pictorial pays tribute to the many historic ships still at work on the Great Lakes, from ancient cement boats such as the 100-year-old St Marys Challenger to venerable "straight-deckers", self-unloaders and 1,000-footers sailing under the familiar flags of prominent Great Lakes fleets: Algoma Central, Upper Lakes, Lower Lakes, American Steamship, Canada Steamship Lines and others.

This expanded and revised edition updates the original text and includes 32 additional new pages and 30 new photographs, for a total of 193 extraordinary full-color images by the author and other fine transportation photographers. The extraordinary range of images -- from close-up and interior views of engine rooms and pilothouses to panoramic scenes of these noble workhorse vessels sailing North America's inland seas -- makes Lake Boats a remarkable celebration.

A thorough, updated appendix cites exact identification, specifications and the history of each vessel included in the book.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1770854894
• ISBN13: 9781770854895
• Release Date: September 2014
• Publisher: Boston Mills Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 10.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Not picturesque, but functional

Industry, rather than atmosphere, is key to understanding this colorful volume by famed railroad photographer Greg McDonnell. Whether these big boats are carrying taconite (iron ore) pellets, grain, aggregates or other necessities, they are and will continue to be on the job for years to come. The text is not terribly informative, but just witnessing these behemoths at work is worth the price of admission.