Footers the story of the Great Lakes 1,000 foot long ore carriers 

1980 was a great year for many of us.

Perfect way to finish out a Saturday night it’s like an early Christmas present thanks for the videos

I’d be interested in the history of any boat you choose. Your knowledge and story telling ability would make a rowboat interesting.

I love hearing the individual stories of any boat you decide to give us the individual story of and that would very much include any footers you decide to include.

Hearing more about the boats sounds like a good idea

Thanks for the memories, I served aboard the American Integrity! Great to see her again.

Yes, would love to see videos about individual boats (origin, ownership, costs, unique features, etc.)

Each ship is unique so a detailed episode of each would be great and it would be a historical account for future generations to study.

Wes: keeps saying Polock. 0:53 Me: Smiles in Polish.

Thanks again for another great history story.

Yes! Individual stories, please!

Thanks for this, I find it very interesting. Thanks again

The Columbia Star was always my fav. Name her what you want but she will always be the Star to me.

Outstanding video! This past June my wife and I visited the Soo Locks and we’re fortunate enough to see the American Century upbound one day. The next day brought the Edgar Spears downbound. Took the Soo boat tour locking through with a saltie, Federal Barrents. Please do more such videos, Wes!

YES YES please more individual stories about each ship !!!

I never knew about the prediction regarding 1200’ boats all the way back in 1911, really a neat detail. I’m gonna have to write that down for the next time someone tries to beat me at trivia night lol, great video once again!

Stewart J. Cort # 1 is my personal favorite as my husband was employed by Erie Marine when she was being built. I first saw her as "Stubby" after she arrived from Pascagoula, Mississippi. Seeing her still in service brings back many fond memories. Thanks for sharing another great video, Wes. 🧡 😀

Yes, more individual stories please.

This is so interesting and fun to watch ! Thank you !

Yes I would like to hear that.

Yes- yes of course! Let's hear 'em...

Absolutely love to hear the individual stories….I always look forward to your content …..

Hell yeah. I’d like to hear ‘em.

USS Avenger (MCM-1) was the first ship I reported to in the Navy. I remember seeing the Avenger (mentioned in this video) listed on my ship's name plate as earlier ships with the same name in the US Navy are always noted on the nameplate. It was really neat and unexpected to hear you say that name. Great video.

Great info on boats I didn't knew existed. I left St. Clair Shores 1962 when my dad was transferred down to New Orleans with Chrysler Aerospace to build Saturn Boosters. Totally miss the Great Lakes but was there long enough to catch the water bug I have with sailing and diving. I never realized the ore boats made it to 1000 ft. The mic you used on the video with the auto shut off reminds me of talking to the ATC. Love the models too since I'm into ship modeling. Love aviation too. Keep up the great videos Wes and love the humor.

Thanks We, yes.

What a full circle the great lakes vessels came to, from 600 footers to 1000 footers and now back to smaller lakers.

Yes and Yes, More "stories" please. Very good and quite entertaining video Sir!! I sure would love more. New Sub here.

For his time, Captain Tower was right. Ships kept getting longer, but engine tech wasn't keeping pace. Some of the 525-foot and above ships had woeful horsepower from their engines. That was fine in calm weather, but in a storm... as the good captain said, unwieldy. I've always been amused that the company wants you to know that the Tregurtha is 1013' 6" (1013.5') in length. The Duluth Visitors Center even go out of their way to announce that at the Duluth Ship Canal entry when she comes through.

Great, informative video, thanks. I grew up in Erie, PA and in 1972 I was standing on the south pier of the Presque Isle Bay channel and watched the Stewart J. Cort enter Lake Erie for her maiden voyage. One of my uncles, a welder, worked for Litton and helped to build the Cort. I also remember when the barge section of the Presque Isle was built and launched at the Litton Shipyard. I left Erie in 1988 and have only been back to visit since. A few years ago I was back home for a visit and I went to Conneaut, Ohio one rainy afternoon. It was my lucky day. When I drove down to the harbor, I saw a 1,000'er out in the lake. Much to my surprise and pleasure, the massive boat stopped outside of the harbor and then proceeded to back into the relatively small harbor at a pretty good speed, as though there was nothing to it. It was the Speer. When I was a young boy, we would go fishing in the bay in Erie in our little 16' Lyman motor boat and I remember at times there would be several Great Lakes ore carriers moored in the middle of the bay. Back then there were still a few of the distinctive Great Lakes commercial fishing boats as well that were docked in the west slip of Presque Isle bay. The fishing boats were another unique vessel designed for the conditions on the Great Lakes. I also had the unique experience of sailing to and from Europe on an ocean liner in 1963, near the end of the era for that mode of transportation. We left New York City in July and arrived in Naples after a week long journey on the Italian Lines ship the Cristoforo Colombo. In October we sailed from Le Havre France on the 990' long SS United States. It took 4 1/2 days in heavy seas in the North Atlantic to get to New York City. The massive (at the time), beautiful ship was going up and down like an elevator and it was a little unpleasant until we got our sea legs after a day of sailing. Please do an in depth video of each of the 1,000'ers. Especially the Cort and the Presque Isle as I feel a certain kinship with them as were were all born in Erie, PA. Growing up 2 blocks from Lake Erie was a great experience and instilled a lifelong love of all things nautical in me.

Absolutely like to hear more about the “footers”

Yes please ...

Any and all of the ladies of the lakes stories would be amazing. I'd love to see more videos each month from you. But I understand this is a passion not a business for you.

Bring it on! You tell the best stories and describe Great Lakes ships well. Cheers!

Hi Wes. Yes please, you make all these boat stories interesting. Merry Christmas!

I'd like to know about the change in motive power, the switch from steam to diesel. It's kinda funny that the 'American Steamship Company' no longer has any steamships in its fleet as far as I know.

Of course we want to see more. All the best Wes.

Excellent vid Wes! YES- I'd love to see more videos of individual ships. As others have said, I had no idea the concept went that far back into history, yet that's the type of detail in research that makes your videos so appealing. Thanks & Merry Christmas to you & family.

Sure would like to hear more about the footers. Your videos are always very informative never get tired of them

I just got to nerd out by the welland canal, lock 7. There were 2 ships in it at the time. Very cool! As a resident of the lakes, I sparingly see any ships out in the open, so seeing any stuck in proximity to each other is impressive. 4 at anchor in Hamilton Bay, 3 at one pier. I need more time lol

Sure we would be interested! Pretty much every great lake boat video you make is amazing and a great fun to listen to. For other topics, I'd love this sort of overview video about the maritimers.

Would enjoy anything that you can share abound these great shiips serving or havr served here in Michigan. Thanks for your efforts.

Yes, would be very interested to hear the individual stories on these footers.

Very interesting, Wes. I would like to see the detailed stories about these huge machines 🙏😃

I would love to hear the individual stories of any boats you choose. I enjoy your stories and your books.

The Tregurtha just spent winter here in Toledo.

I am amazed at how massive these boats are. This was very interesting and I hope you will do the individual 1000' boats history. Thanks for sharing this.

An honorable mention to the Roger Blough as the "prototype" footer. There was concern that 1000ft vessels could not make one of the turns in the St. Mary's River. So the story goes that the president of US steel cut down the Blough's design by 160ft to check the swing of the stern (I think it was the Rock Cut). By the time the Blough was being built, Pittsburg's rival, Bethlehem Steamship had already approved the design of the Cort to go through. During her final fit out before trials, the Blough suffered a devastating fire in her engine room causing the deaths of several workers. This delayed her launch by over a year and half and forever lost her the title as Queen of The Lakes to the Cort which was still being transported up the Mississippi. There was also talk about a "super footer" in the early 1980s by Pittsburg Steel of 1089' keel and 1100ft overall according to a source on Boatnerd, but I cannot verify independently.

Got my sub

I've broke ice around them all. (Katmai Bay, Near Bay and #1 Mackinaw.)

Tell it Wes. How They way they are named alone is very interesting. Merry Xmas. One of my favorite channels 2022..Did they ever give an official top speed on the side wheelers?

You mention at 11:15 in this video that the Oglebay Norton was named in 1991. I'm pretty sure I toured the Oglebay Norton in Duluth the winter of 1983-1984. They were doing work on the engines.

Absolutely interested in the footer's stories. PS: the Blough was towed out of Sturgeon Bay for layup? in Ohio.

nice video of the modern footers. what about the Jame Davidson goliaths?

Would you be making a video on the Sydney E Smith Jr? He remains are now a dock/jetty i believe

sure

Sure, all the Other Thousand Footers with all Cabins Aft look cool, and at least the Rear tower of the ships don’t directly hug the Very Stern of the ship, but still, Pilot House Forward & Engine Cabins aft is still the premier appearance of the Lake Freighters. Also, if the Welland Canal Locks between Lake Erie & Lake Ontario, as well as the St Lawrence Sea way are Widened, then once the Ore Finally runs out, the Footers can have a New Life being Intermodal Carriers.

I would be interested in the story of any vessel who's story you care to tell.

I have a feeling with the st.clair power plant closing, were going to loose some footers, , or better yet company's

Your latest videos on the C4s brought to the Lakes are set as for kids so comments are disabled. I had a question regarding them.

40 mph sounds a bit fast for the size and hp of the ship.

The 1,000 foot Foo Fighters?

What is the average life span of the Lakers ? How do they compare to the salties

My mom welded on the gott

Great info, well written but I can't stand the pace and noise reduction.

The Stewart J Cort (of 1972) and the Presque Isle (of 1973) are the only Two Footers that are Pre-Edmund Fitzgerald Sinking. Also, I do highly think that the Presque Isle should have been one whole ship instead of a Tug Barge Combination. I honestly Do Not like the Tug Barge Combination.

I know why but it doesn’t seem/sound quite right to call a 1000ft plus freighter a boat when you get “ships” that are only a fraction of that size.🤔🤔🤔

I sometimes watch RU-vid