You, my friend, are exactly what exemplifies a Boat Friend! A good person that is interested in talking about life and ships. This is one of the most wonderful comments I’ve ever received. I found myself visualizing what it was like as your father described the maritime industry and ships to you when you were young. I’m sure you know this, but I have tons of respect and love for those who have chosen a career on the water. It takes guts and there’s also sacrifice involved. Many of these sailors don’t see their families for a long period of time. I know all of the Boat Friends will enjoy reading this comment as well, and it’s an honor to call you a Boat Friend! Thank you so much for sharing part of your life story with all of us. One last thing, the next time that you see me down by the pier, please come up and say hello, so I can shake your hand. 👍⛴️

Wow! Great letter, and what an awesome childhood that those of us in the Boat Friend Nation could only dream about! Please send more messages detailing your adventures as that is so cool!

Hi there. I agree completely with Mike. Your comment was one of the best I've read.....and I've read every comment posted on Mike's channel. Please please stop back. I'd enjoy hearing more stories, and picking up useful information about the ships. Thanks for taking time to compose a wonderful note.

Chuck, we both know that Frank’s comment is exactly the type of comment that on our downtime we are looking for. Fantastic information with a story and it all ties together with ships and family!

Guys Your Very Welcome... I'm Adopted, the Oldest Son. I studied at the Kitchen Table with my Dad, 4 winters in a row.. When the Boat was Layed Up for Winter. 9-12 years old I was. Very Intense Studying.. I'm a Natural Born Artist.. That made a Huge difference... 9 years old, Dad and I Struggled..Super Hard. I was going to give up..and Mom sat down with me.. Trying to Find a Way for Dad and I to get through it.. I was a boy, ready to cry..Mom asked what's wrong with Daddy.... I blurted it out !!! He KNOWS THE ANSWERS. I HAD to do IT this Way.... Multiple Choice. I READ THE CORRECT ANSWER. DAD, like Magic said the Question.!!! He Loves Jeopardy, TV show. My REAL Father was in Vietnam. I was Born in the Soo. 1965. I asked my Dad how come he wasn't in Vietnam. My Dad is Pure Irish. Is answer to me. Jesus Christ Frank. Im a Merchant Marine. We Haul the Ore to make the Steel for Tanks Bombs.. Everything. He then Explained to me How Important Duluth and the Iron Range is to America. Us Sailors Helped Win WWI WWII. etc etc etc. *** I will find you and introduce myself in Duluth at the Bridge. I have a Granddaughter due on Christmas Day.. I'm SURE MY DAD IS SO HAPPY. this will be His 3rd Great-grandchild. *** Here's a Side note I share with people on Facebook Ships of the Great Lakes page and other pages.. If you like to Read. It's an Old Book I read many times before I turned 10. Lore of the Lakes. *** Also I have Designed Coats,Hard Hats etc..for the Boats Dad was on.. Speer Blough Gotta etc.. My GF when we meet people, Boat Watching people.. She tells them who I am. Few of those "people" were X Sailors.. They Know my Dad and Uncles.. Those Guys say... The Haydons are Legends of the Lakes 🌈

Yup, always great information, this comment is going straight to the top! Pinned right now!

My Dad was Chief Engineer on the Blough.. When the Speer was Brand New he was the Chief Engineer. I steered, Piloted the Speer across Lake Superior. I was 15. It's was Dead Quiet on the Bridge.. The Guys were waiting for me to say something.. Finally one of them said Frank, are you Okay??? I said NO. We were taking Waves..nothing Scary.. But Looking Out on the Horizon I Noticed the Hull of the Speer Flexing and Twisting... I had Never seen that before.. It Took a while for the Guys to Convince Me... Frank, She is Engineered to Work with the Waves.. To Flex and Move.. Never Forget that 😔

@frankhaydon608 👍⛴️

What a way for me to see this ship for the first time with these huge waves and crazy weather. What a great live stream it was. I had a lot of fun.🌊🌊🌊⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️

Mike, I hope all is well across the pond, my friend. I heard that it’s warmer for you as well there in England. It’s been a very peculiar weather pattern for all of us I believe. Thanks again for taking a moment in your day to leave a comment and for watching the ship video brother

I’m so happy that you found my channel. It’s all about Duluth and the ships as you can tell. I’ll be out there at some point tomorrow catching the storm. That is hitting Duluth right now. I’m not in Duluth at this time but I will be. I hope you subscribe and come back. I hope you check out this video from yesterday. ⚓️Raging Waves After Dark: Ship "Boland" Fights into Duluth! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a8pin5V716qtaXU.html

@@vibewithmike yep, subscribed. Next best thing to being there!

@jilljo1632 👍⛴️

Hey, thank you for watching. I really appreciate you.

How fun was it to see those big waves coming in from Lake superior in the ship made it right through the canal

Thank you so much, I’m glad that you were able to join the live stream again to watch that ship

Thank you so much for watching the ship and wave video🌊⛴️

I’m so glad that you enjoyed the live stream tonight. It was so fun with that ship and those waves in this crazy weather.

That definitely was like a white pool but this way pool definitely will give you a shock with cold if you step your feet in this water. It was so fun watching the ship go through with these crazy fun conditions.

Those are the straight up all stars of ships

I’m bundled up pretty good as I go out and watch these ships I could get a lot colder I know

It’s so funny seeing the people surfing on Lake superior

Those two-tone colors on the bow really have the ship looking interesting and different for 1000 footer. I absolutely love it.

Luckily, happen to be here at the right time to see that ship come through. It’s so awesome.

Big red Ed definitely is a fan favorite without a doubt

We both know the waves can get even stronger here in Lake superior, but it’s still fun watching some wave action with a ship

John, that captain has a true professional, without a doubt. Think of navigating that huge ship through the canal and having no issues. A total pro’s pro! I’m surprised how well the network connectivity worked during this live stream. Usually bad weather doesn’t help with the live stream. I’ve been waiting a long time for some of these wild waves, and a ship coming through. It was fantastic seeing this great ship.

Hey John. And speaking of tractor tugs, do you think Duluth will be getting one? The three G tugs at the Twin Ports now aren't there yet. They are old school single aft screw and getting up in age. I do know the Great Lakes Towing Company is in the process of modernizing their harbor tugs. Some of their new tugs are using powerful engines with twin kort nozzles.....just like the Great Republic. And extremely ice ready.

​@@chuckg6039Seeing such large ships as Speer and others' Mike has video recorded, one would think the use of some very powerful tractor tugs would be in order, given the sheer weight when having full cargo onboard. This especially knowing of iron ore, coal and other materials these ships transport. The beam of tractor tugs keep them in port mostly, not a best choice to go to sea or trawl the coast to next port. Deep drafted trugs best for use at sea and storm conditions in correlation to length being in most cases, longer than tractor tugs. When will Duluth harbour see some new tractor tugs? From what I see in Mike's videos, isn't like that of ships coming to port, sea ports of the Pacific where nearly all ships are assisted by tugs. Regional maritime laws require tug use under certain provisions in that law as well as maritime insurance companies. The Great Lakes and the ships that surface them are a whole different breed indeed. The bows certainly tells one with knowledge of ships just that! I vote Duluth, MN. get a tractor tug, LOL. Given the narrowness of the channel below the lift bridge, the size some of these ships are, it would be dangerous to have tugs between the ships hull and the break walls! Have a wonderful day in wonderful Duluth. 🧐

Great reply John. Well we know one thing. At some point the older G tugs we love...example Missouri....will be replaced. When exactly we do not know. The Missouri just had substantial work done at the Soo as part of her 5 year inspection. So she is probably good for another few years. I think the new G tugs are pretty cool looking, but man do the older tugs have sweet beautiful lines.

@chuckg6039 👍⛴️

There’s nothing like ocean waves. I love the ocean. Here in Minnesota Lake Duperior is our ocean. Thank you so much for watching the video. I hope to get more videos with the snow and ice with these ships for you.

What’s funny is it sure does feel like autumn! We should be seeing a heck of a lot more of that snow on the ground with ships

Warwick, it is so hard not to get pumped up when I see ships like this. Many people think I might get too excited but that’s OK with me. There’s just something that happens when I see those big ships coming in. Always great hearing from you brother.🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱👍👍👍⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️

Hilarious, how crazy is this weather and thank you for watching the ship! If they’re talking about 50° in Minnesota on Christmas I’ll bet you it’s in the 60s for you

Sam, what’s up brother! 34°! That’s OK. No big blizzards or nothing over by you so it’s all good. I hope you’re doing great. It’s actually fun watching all these big waves with the ship.

Karen, this is the first time that I ever saw this ship in person. It was absolutely stunning, and the conditions were unforgettable with those waves and the wind, I was so awe struck. What a marvelous vessel. I got so carried away watching everything I forgot to take a decibel reading.

@@vibewithmike I completely understand about the decibel reading. She's an amazing ship. Everything was happening all at once and you got caught up in the moment. No problem. The Great Lake Fleet is so great!! The ship design with the forward pilot house is just great. I know they are older ships but if something is working don't fix it.

@karengausman1459 I’ll catch a decibel level next time

@@vibewithmike Yes,sir👍👍. There's always the next time. It was a very exciting arrival.

@karengausman1459 👍⚓️

They’re definitely was a ton of wind coming from the east on Lake superior that made those waves crazy fun to watch with the ship🌊🌊⛴️⛴️⛴️

During the summer that microphone keeps all that wind away, but at this time with a day like today, it really paid off big-time because you would not have heard anything

I know what you’re talking about when you say that random day trip to Duluth. Years ago, I would drive up from the Twin Cities sometimes even for a single day and drive back. That’s how much I love the place.

Tons of wave action in this one brother

@@vibewithmike If it gets much worse they are going to shut the green gates.

@scottburk4083 at some point they will be shutting those gates, but I’m happy it was open today

It was really fun recording this ship

Nothing like seeing those crazy waves coming in with a ship

Dave, thanks for watching and happy holidays to you and your family

@@vibewithmike Thanks brother! The same to you!

@daverukkila9089 👍👍👍👍⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️🎄🎄🎄🌲

No worries friend, I was so happy to catch all of these waves with the ship

It definitely be a little cold for surfing, but the people are out there. Johan, this microphone is really working man. It would really be a complete bummer if this microphone was not working the way it is to reduce the wind. You would not even be able to hear me and I probably would’ve stop doing videos a long time ago because I’m big quality and I can’t stand when I can’t hear people through the microphone

Probably cost a small fortune for such clear sound even in such harsh conditions. It one heck of a mike, Mike. 🤣🎙️🎤 Hope you have a great one bro!

@johanvandersandt8904 👍⛴️

I seriously could barely even hear myself talking. This microphone is so awesome so we can capture these videos with the crazy weather in these ships like today.

The ship almost seemed like it went forever! I hope you’re having a fantastic Thursday night! This is the first real weather/wave event in Duluth that I’ve seen for a while

Hey Mike! This is the first time I saw this ship as well and I can’t believe I got to see it with these huge waves and crazy wind as it went through the canal🌊⛴️

😂😂😂😂😂😂Let’s GO!!!!!!!!!! ⛴️🌊⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️👋👋👋👋👋

This ship is so unbelievable and it was going through those big waves out on the lake🌊🌊🌊🌊⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️

This is such a cool new piece of information that I don’t think anybody is documenting in the Maritime industry. You are the first!!!!! I’m starting to understand the hertz and waves as you mentioned this before. I did a little research because of the interest I started getting after my curiosity got the best of me with one of your last comments. This is so cool and different and unique. I know everybody loves this!

Hey Tony, thanks man! Thanks for stopping during your day to leave this comment. It means a lot and I hope you’re doing great.

I’m so happy about that because you would never be able to hear me if I didn’t have that windscreen

I’m so glad I have this microphone so I can capture this awesome ship and wave action for everybody

Hey, I’m glad you were able to see this ship! Merry Christmas Mike

Merry Christmas to you too mike

@mikerhodes7677 merry Christmas to you, Mike

The ship was so awesome with the waves🌊🌊⛴️⛴️⛴️

It was amazing having that ship go by with those waves behind me

Those waves were starting to get pretty strong as the ship was coming in. It was fun, watching the waves, and the ship.

This ship was sure fantastic coming in with those big waves

How unbelievably cool that is Brent! Just think you watch the PRT being built. What awesome memories. Also, it’s wonderful that your dad would bring you over by the shipyard to get you interested in looking at ships.

Hi Brent. Last time I visited Lorain I remember photographing the Lorain Lighthouse. A very impressive lighthouse!

@chuckg6039 ⛴️👍

I lived in Lorain too, remember riding my bike down to the shipyards when the Rodger Blough caught fire.🥲

Can you believe how stunning and wonderful that lake was. Obviously, it would be scary to be out there, but from an observer on the shore, it was fantastic watching those big waves with a ship.

I’m thrilled that you enjoyed it, and I wish I could have wave action with a ship like this every day

It could be so much colder, so I’m going to take this with the grain of salt. I’m happy that it was wind and waves and not freezing rain.

These ships in person with that weather is always fun. Some of these good weather event videos for winter have been few and far between for us.

Thank you, my friend, really means a lot that you stopped from moment to drop a comment. I hope you have a fantastic Wednesday night.

Sally, it was so fun watching the ship with these big waves

Those waves were crazy cool with the ship

It was awesome seeing those waves blasting off those rocks

Hey, thank you so much for watching the video. I’ll say this, I have the easy job watching that weather with my feet on the ground on land. Think of those sailors, looking out the windows when they have those crazy weather events out there on the lake. I hope you and your family have a merry Christmas as well friend.

It was so fun catching those big waves with that big ship

Chuck, it was awesome watching those waves with the ship today man🌊🌊🌊⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️

The ship was so awesome and those waves were blasting all around⛴️🌊⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️

Hey Dan! I love it down there in Florida! Actually, Minnesota looks more like Florida right now with no snow on the ground during Christmas

@@vibewithmike yes it Does Things can change quickly around Lake Superior.. What a Beautiful Lake

@danielheideman576 did you see this emergency turn one yesterday? ⚓️Ship's Emergency Turn: Algoma Conveyor Aborts in Duluth Fog! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hMBiYNp6tZ6soWQ.html

And a merry Christmas to you and your family

I’m glad you’re able to watch all crazy those waves were with the ship tonight

Can you please email me any type information or a link that I can share with our boat friends? You never know who might be interested in helping out with this horse. Let’s find her a home. Send me any information that I can share via the boat friend community.

It was really fun, capturing all of the waves

Merry Christmas to you as well, Dave! What did you think about all the wind and waves with the ship tonight? December waves!👍👍👍🌊🌊⛴️⛴️

Maybe someday, but I don’t like to get involved in people having a good time. Maybe someday but at this point the only interview I’m going to do is of those ships as they go right through. Do🌊🌊🌊⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️😂😂👍👍👍

He's going to Interview me.. Pretty sure 😉 I will find you someday.. I live in Minneapolis Metro.. When I'm in Duluth, Parents still live there, and my Grandchildren.. If a Boat is coming or going I go Watch EVERY TIME.

I’m staying bundled up for sure watching the ships

Thank you so much for joining the live stream Deb. I was just busy looking around at the waves and everything going on. It was truly crazy and fun.

@@vibewithmike You are so entertaining

@Deb_L ⛴️👍

My goodness, this was such a treat to see all these big waves in the big ship go on a Wednesday

The waves can get so much bigger than that but it’s finally awesome to see some waves as we haven’t had too many weather events to report on lately

I will keep these videos coming for you

It definitely does and it’s very beautiful when it’s doing this type of interesting volatility.

This was so fun recording this ship video. I will be using the video that you sent me from Green Bay on my next live stream.

@@vibewithmike I am glad to help you out anytime

@sisaacs6071 👍⛴️

This ship was so awesome with the waves🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️

The waves are the fun to record with a ship

We finally got one of those big winter wave type of videos with a ship

Rob, I abandoned my normal opening by showing everything on the screen, because I know everybody wanted to see those waves. The waves were hitting pretty good off those rocks. It was awesome to see it with a ship.🌊⛴️

I recorded a video a few days ago of snow and ice on the pier for ship that I’ll be uploading in a few days. However, this is one of the wildest wave days in a long time here in Duluth. It was great to see it with a ship.🌊🌊⛴️⛴️

I definitely will be showing that Green Bay video with the barker. You will love it.

Carl, thanks for watching brother

That ship is a straight up beast

Deb!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are the best! Thank you! You know I appreciate you a lot. You are a true boat friend and your passion is so wonderful for the ships. Thank you so much for your friendship and dedication to this channel. You really are a friend.

Everybody still came out to watch the ship and waves🌊🌊🌊🌊⛴️⛴️

I really enjoyed this ship and it was the first time I got to see it. I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season my friend. A special Christmas Eve and Christmas video will be coming.

My family member was on her too at about the same time

Wow! That’s amazing. What an amazing connection at both families are connected to the USS independence!

Merry Christmas to you as well

I'd love to ride down on that "chair"!

Matt, that is so awesome. Great information and something now for all of us to think about.

Chuck, I hope there’s room for two on that chair! I’m going down with you. 😂⛴️

Elizabeth, I got so caught up with the waves in the big ship that I forgot to take a decibel reading

@@vibewithmikethat’s ok, loved her salute!! So pretty and deep!

@elizabethw4519 it almost sounded like a cruise ship horn

👍⛴️

And a very merry Christmas to you. I cannot believe that we finally got a video with those big waves and a big ship going through. I wish there was snow all but this was awesome.

I am so happy that you found this channel as well. We are going to have so much fun together with all of the ships up until the season ends. This was great to catch a ship with a big waves.

@@vibewithmike Hi Mike A little background about my self without tooting my horn to much ! What inspired me to subscribe to your channel is the genuine enthusiasm you put into your videos ! and make it like us folks in you tube land are right beside you watching the ship go by ! And your followers share the same interest ! I am no stranger to boats My boating career started in1954 when I was 5 I steered the fish tug 3 hours out in lake huron for 10 cents a day while the rest of the crew slept in 1964 I went to Halifax and worked on a ocean trawler Till 1967 and got my mates papers at the time I was the youngest person in canada with a deep sea ticket I came back to lake Erie and pursued dual interests diving and flying I was a commercial diver for 10 years (Still active ) and a commercial ifr pilot I flew planes from 1969 till 1996 from 1987 till 1994 I flew almost every day of the year I flew into Duluth once and remember seeing a landlocked cigar boat from the air My eyes and ears started going so I gave it up before I )killed somebody !) T)here was no GPS or computers then here I am skipping along at 7 mile a minute squinting at the chart and asking air traffic control to repeat them selves . So I went back scubadiving and I build boats with kanter marine I retired just before Christmas 2009 they had the gulf oil spill in 2010 Kanter sold 6 oil skimmers working around the clock he called me up and said he could really use me So I went back to work to help him out for 6 weeks and I am still there It is quite a thrill watching a ship go by never gets old ! ( my oldest boy worked for lower lakes on the Robert S Pierson ) Have a great day !

@carllafrance5510 I really appreciate this comment. It was really something to read. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Honestly, I could care less if tube switches to a format where views don’t even count because I would be out there with the camera recording these ships anyway. I love them. They are fun to watch every time I see a new one. And even when I see the old ones that I’ve seen many times before I have the same excitement as I make my way down to the bridge.

They sure do when they move very odd as well. It made for a cool backdrop for this big ship.

Thanks for watching the ship bud!

Hi there. Man just me thinking of Bismark makes me shiver!

@@chuckg6039 - Hey Chuck, actually this is one of the warmest Decembers on recorded up here, with not a lot of snow on the ground. Lat year we had over 100 inches of snow with 5 major blizzards, and we are in hog heaven with this years weather!! I think last year at Christmas we were looking at at least 30 inches of snow on the ground and had a blizzard on Christmas Eve into Christmas Day which was dangerous with all the traveling…. Hope you and yours will have a merry Christmas. I have one question for you, do the lakers have fairly flat bottoms that allow them to carry the heavy tonnages we see? I know Salties have a more of a V shave hull to handle the rough seas, but if I remember right the ore boats have a flatter bottom…..

​Really is amazing how weather can...and does change year to year. Here in central Ohio, the are calling for 59 degrees on Xmas. Crazy. I just looked over a bunch of ore boats in dry dock. Some do have a taper to the keel, but for the most part their bottoms are more flat than anything else. Need maximum capacity for their bulk loads! ​@@chucke4294

@@chuckg6039 exactly right as they have a lot of weight to displace. I remember fishing in the harbor and an ore boat going by. All of a sudden instead of standing on dry ground, I am u. To my ankles in water. They do displace a lot of water for sure….. Thanks and have a great Holiday!!!

​@@chucke4294Best wishes for a great Christmas.

That’s such a funny observation. You almost need to name it three times so you don’t forget it’s so long. What a ship.