A Sailor's Logbook: A Season Aboard Great Lakes Freighters

by Mark L. Thompson

Book Overview

In this firsthand account of life aboard the ships of the Great Lakes, Mark Thompson weaves together the threads of a story that relives a centuries-old tradition. Thompson began his logbook after he reported for duty aboard the Calcite II at Fraser Shipyard in Superior, Wisconsin, for the 1996 shipping season. A Sailor's Logbook is the first such book to chronicle a sailor's life at the end of the twentieth century. Not just a detailing of weather,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 081432844X
• ISBN13: 9780814328446
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: Wayne State University Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

I almost felt I was there!

I truly enjoyed this book. It was such a pleasure to read about the great care the author put into his daily work aboard the boat. He put great forethought into what his food offerings would be for the crew members - would there be enough fresh vegetables, enough variety, etc. I could almost FEEL how hard he was working when I read this book. I hope to read more books by this person! I love the Great Lakes and her history, and have read as many books as I could find on the subject. This book came to me unexpectedly and it was a great read. Highly recommend.

Excellent, I'm waiting for the next season!!!

Living in Michigan, I recently started to get curious about great lakes lighthouses and shipwrecks. I've always been facinate about seeing freighters on Lake St. Clair. This book was an excellent true story. It had factual information like why only one ship is allowed under the Port Huron bridge. And details on how ship crews operate and what happens at the end of a season. It is by no means a get all the boring facts into it, I want to put the book down story. On the contrary, it is well written, the facts just seemed to be woven into the story and I didn't want to put it down. And I was suprised by most of the facts. Also included were great ancedotes, pranks, etc. I also liked the personal information. I felt like I was part of the crew. The only disappointing thing about the book was when the author was telling you of something that was going to go on like the pranking (Jimmy and the fake fax message), but then the reader never heard what the end result was. It's like the author forgot all about finishing those parts but, they didn't get by me; I wanted to know what happened! This occured 2-4 times throughout the book, but this is by no means a deterrent to reading the book, just a notation. This book is definitely worth the read; it was very enjoyable. I am curious as to how the off season job, teaching cooking at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy went. Maybe in the next book I'll find out!

Didn't want this book to end!

Mark Thompson shares an enjoyable and interesting picture of life aboard today's Great Lakes freighters. You get to know the crew members as you become a part of their work day routine. As the reader, you become anxious to see what each new day has in store. I'm anxious for the sequel.

A Season on a Great Lakes Ore Boat

This is one of the best books that I have ever read! I could not put it down! If you have any interest in Great Lakes Shipping or life on a Great Lakes Ore Boat read this book! Mark L Thompson does not "Sugar Coat" what life is like on an Ore Boat. He is very open and honest about life in the Great Lakes Shipping Industry. Read this book you won't be sorry!

A true accounting of life on the lakes

My father was a Chief Engineer aboard the s/s John G. Munson when he died this past August. His cousin is the author of this book and had mentioned my family in this book. It is a wonderful accounting of life on the lakes. If you enjoy the sailing life or know someone who is a sailor, this is the book for you. Thank you Mark for writing this wonderful book. I only wish dad would have seen it.