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Written by Dotti Caldwell, "the Mom"
What is a “Boatnerd” you ask?!!! Good Question! About three shorts years ago I had no idea what that was either. Well, a
boatnerd is someone who is very “into”Great Lakes Shipping - Great Lakes boats, fleets , captains, weather condtions from
Duluth, MN to the far reaches of the St. Lawrence Seaway. This boatnerd loves learning more and more about the boats that
haul tons of our daily commodities such as coal, stone, wheat, salt, iron ore and more.
I started watching boats online from different webcams . The Duluth Canal webcam, the Soo Locks and Belle Isle web cam
located in the Detroit River. Slowly I began to recognize particular ships. I researched other sites that had reference pictures -
such as the Duluth Shipping News and Boatnerd.com. Boatnerd???!! I was enjoying myself trying to identify the ships - Ah!!
there goes the Roger Blough! Oh! Is that the Beegley or the Kaye Barker? With time I learned subtle differences, the
companies that owned them , stack markings to the ports, the loads, the destinations located around our Great Lakes. It was
only after that that I discovered the blogs on the Boatnerd site did I realize that there are lots of folks out there with the same
fascination for the beautiful lake ships. And they all proudly call themselves “Boatnerds!” The main difference however from
most of them to me is that most of those folks grew up, or are living on the lakes. Ships were as natural to them as breathing
air. I had never even seen a ship in the flesh before. But the fascination grew.
As a new hobbyist - I became a member of The Detroit Historical Society, started subscribing to Great Laker/Seaway
Magazine, Lake Superior Magazine, - joined the Welland Canal Society. Whew! This little fascination has grown to include
love of the northland - its people, the environment, the whole ball of wax. I have learned that a lot in this community just enjoy
seeing the ships and talking about their favorites to those who can give you all the details about anything ship related that you
might want to discuss!
In the fall of 2007 I got to see my first ship live!! Woohoo! I was so excited. It was so awesome to see these silent beasts of
steel glide mere feet in front of me. This was at the Boatnerd Gathering at the Welland Canal. I took the pictures below during
my stay there.
For never having a hobby before... this one is the best for me. I love it and has made me very happy! I have learned a lot
and have already become a part of the Boatnerd Community. Come be a boatnerd!
What is a “Boatnerd” you ask?!!! Good Question! About three shorts years ago I had no idea what that was either. Well, a
boatnerd is someone who is very “into”Great Lakes Shipping - Great Lakes boats, fleets , captains, weather condtions from
Duluth, MN to the far reaches of the St. Lawrence Seaway. This boatnerd loves learning more and more about the boats that
haul tons of our daily commodities such as coal, stone, wheat, salt, iron ore and more.
I started watching boats online from different webcams . The Duluth Canal webcam, the Soo Locks and Belle Isle web cam
located in the Detroit River. Slowly I began to recognize particular ships. I researched other sites that had reference pictures -
such as the Duluth Shipping News and Boatnerd.com. Boatnerd???!! I was enjoying myself trying to identify the ships - Ah!!
there goes the Roger Blough! Oh! Is that the Beegley or the Kaye Barker? With time I learned subtle differences, the
companies that owned them , stack markings to the ports, the loads, the destinations located around our Great Lakes. It was
only after that that I discovered the blogs on the Boatnerd site did I realize that there are lots of folks out there with the same
fascination for the beautiful lake ships. And they all proudly call themselves “Boatnerds!” The main difference however from
most of them to me is that most of those folks grew up, or are living on the lakes. Ships were as natural to them as breathing
air. I had never even seen a ship in the flesh before. But the fascination grew.
As a new hobbyist - I became a member of The Detroit Historical Society, started subscribing to Great Laker/Seaway
Magazine, Lake Superior Magazine, - joined the Welland Canal Society. Whew! This little fascination has grown to include
love of the northland - its people, the environment, the whole ball of wax. I have learned that a lot in this community just enjoy
seeing the ships and talking about their favorites to those who can give you all the details about anything ship related that you
might want to discuss!
In the fall of 2007 I got to see my first ship live!! Woohoo! I was so excited. It was so awesome to see these silent beasts of
steel glide mere feet in front of me. This was at the Boatnerd Gathering at the Welland Canal. I took the pictures below during
my stay there.
For never having a hobby before... this one is the best for me. I love it and has made me very happy! I have learned a lot
and have already become a part of the Boatnerd Community. Come be a boatnerd!
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English River Lock 7 English River - Another View Gordon C. Leitch below
Lock 3 using bow thrusters
Lock 3 using bow thrusters
Pictures taken by Dotti Caldwell.
Location: Welland Canal.
(Click pictures for larger versions)
Location: Welland Canal.
(Click pictures for larger versions)
Gordon C Leitch - Entering Lock 7 Quebecois down bound Lock 7 The Halifax
Halifax and Quebecois - Maritime Trader, Lock 7 Maritime Trader, "Wide Load"
view from above Lock 3
view from above Lock 3
Algoeast USCGC Hollyhock - Lock 7 Maritime Trader - Port Colborne,
Early Evening
Early Evening
Worker emerging from Block having L. E. Block - Sorry Sight at IMS Edward L. Ryerson in Lock 7,
just finished some torch work. around 4 a.m., from Inn at Lock 7
just finished some torch work. around 4 a.m., from Inn at Lock 7
