Great Lakes Boat Blog

Working on the Badger: Keepers of the Legacy – AB Max Hockanson

October 4, 2025

Part 3 By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LAKE MICHIGAN — Max Hockanson, 22, has been working on the S.S. Badger since he was 16-years-old. Now in his eighth year at Lake Michigan Carferry, he is an able bodied seaman working in the deck department. His duties even include steering the ship. His career has also expanded beyond working on the Badger…

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Badger’s Sunday sailing cancelled due to weather

October 4, 2025

LUDINGTON — Lake Michigan Carferry has announced the S.S. Badger will not be sailing on Sunday, Oct. 5 due to forecasting gale force winds with waves from 7 to 13 feet. “LMC understands the disappointment and inconvenience this decision causes and apologizes for the impact it has on travel plans,” a post on the company Facebook page stated. “While we…

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Working on the Badger: Keepers of the Legacy, part 2

October 3, 2025

MCP Great Lakes Boat Blog Story by Mark Varenhorst, MCP Contributing Writer Photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LAKE MICHIGAN — Ludington is a maritime town.  It has been since its early days of lumber.  From the mid-19th century there have been ships that have worked this port village which became a city in 1873.  Those break-bulk ships evolved into the…

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Working on the Badger: Keepers of the Legacy, part 1

October 1, 2025

MCP Great Lakes Boat Blog Photos and story by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LAKE MICHIGAN — On Monday, Sept. 29, MCP contributing writer Mark Varenhorst and myself spent the day on the S.S. Badger. Our purpose for the trip was to feature some of the many people who keep the 72-year-old vessel operating. Our day was spent talking to a variety…

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Muskegon museum ship Coast Guard Cutter McLane to be scrapped

September 28, 2025

Photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief MUSKEGON — Earlier this month, the USS Silversides Submarine Museum announced that its board and staff have made the decision to de-accession the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter McLane, due to the boat’s state of disrepair. Commissioned in 1927, the McLane served with distinction through multiple eras of Coast Guard history. During World War II, the…

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