Nordic Tugs Rendezvous at St. Ignace

By Mary Petrides

Among the boaters at the Nordic Tugboat Rendezvous at St. Ignace were Dale and Kathy Albin with their 1936 tug. They spend their summers chugging along from the southern part of Lake Michigan to the North Channel and back, a trip of a few months. Mrs. Albin said she enjoys chatting with other boaters they meet along the way, and sometimes runs into boaters she’s met before. About 15 couples docked their Nordic tugboats at the St. Ignace Public Marina for the annual Nordic Tugboat Rendezvous. The distinctive boats look like classic tugboats. They are more for recreational cruising than for tugging, owners said.

“For a lot of us, this is our last boat,” event organizer David Jones said. When a nearby boat owner laughed, he added that sometimes “last boat” means “last boat number 14” – boaters often buy several consecutive Nordic Tugs, he said. Nordic tugs are often modified by their owners. Some tugs even have a washer and dryer aboard. Mr. Jones said they generally spend a few months on their boat, anchoring four to six days before going into a port to stock up on food and do laundry.

“It’s kind of like camping on the water, but it’s a lot more luxurious than camping,” he said. “It’s like a small RV”.

Dale and Kathy Albin brought their 1936 antique tug to the rendezvous. Now retired, the two spend the summers leisurely making their way from southern Lake Michigan to the North Channel and back.

Many boaters enjoy chatting with other boaters when they dock in various places across the lake. “If we dock anywhere, people love to talk about the boat,” Mr. Jones said.

The Albins occasionally drop anchor in a cove in the North Channel, where they sometimes see eagles, bears, and loons, but often dock at a marina along the way. Mrs. Albin said she enjoys “not so much the facility as the people you meet.” “You’re surrounded by people with your same interest,” she said.

Boating season is a long summer, Mr. Jones said, noting that he’s been in the water this year since April and usually continues till November. “We scraped the frost off the windshield, last year,” he said.

Most Nordic tugs run 26 to 42 feet long, but some are as long as 54 feet, he said. His, a 37-footer, is “the ideal size for two people” he said, noting that it can handle many weather conditions. Thursday afternoon, June 21, the boaters held an open house so they could see the customization work on other boats and exchange ideas. “The handier ones do their own work but others pay to have it done,” he said.

The Albins are from central Illinois, and, landlocked, sought the allure of the water. For several years they owned a sailboat they used on Lake Michigan, but wanted more room and more comfort.

“When you don’t live on the water, you’re attracted to it,” she said.

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