Mackinaw City - Michigan

Just on the other side of our marina at Mackinaw City was the Mighty Mac! Decommissioned in 2006, she was the most powerful icebreaker in the United States Coast Guard inventory from when she was built in 1944 until she was retired. Having six engines, she could plow through four feet of solid ice and was responsible for keeping the shipping lanes open on the Great Lakes during the winter months. Since being retired, the Mackinaw serves as a floating maritime museum.

Sitting on the Sundeck one afternoon, we witnessed the Coast Guard assisting this boat back into the marina and up to the maintenance dock. The USCG boat was tied to the side of the boat as it guided it to the dock. Many people were running around like a Chinese fire drill, pumps were placed on the inside and MUCH water was pumped overboard. When it was finally lifted out of the water, many more gallons of water continued to drain from the boat.

Once the boat was completely out of the water and on the hard, it became very clear what had happened. Both pod drives, containing the drive shafts and propellers had been ripped from the bottom of the boat when it ran in water that was too shallow. Luckily, the coast guard was able to arrive before the boat sank.