Great Lakes Boat Blog

Working on the Badger: Keepers of the Legacy, Chief Engineer Diedrich

October 6, 2025

Part 5 Story and photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LAKE MICHIGAN — When Kevin Diedrich was growing up in Manitowoc, Wis. his grandparents lived near the lakeshore. Kevin and his sister had the chore of mowing their grandparents’ lawn. When they were done they would go down by the shore and watch the carferries come and go. “My sister used…

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Working on the Badger: Keepers of the Legacy, Andy, Chase, and V

October 5, 2025

Part 4 Story by Mark Varenhorst, Contributing Writer Photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LAKE MICHIGAN — On Tuesday, Sept. 29 2025, I boarded the S.S. Badger with my editor and friend Rob Alway. We were both covering that trip from different views and also from different crew members we spoke to along the way. In my earlier article I mentioned…

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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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