It is not known if there has ever been a submarine in the Grand Marais harbor. But thanks to the Fisherman’s Picnic boat parade, there has now! This little orange (not yellow) submarine made an appearance at the Fisherman’s Picnic boat parade on Saturday, August 7.
The 2010 Fisherman’s Picnic boat parade, which took place at the height of the weekend— high noon on Saturday, August 7— brought an enthusiastic crowd a little sample of boating history. Floating past Bear Tree Park was a variety of watercraft ranging from the schooner Hjordis
– “queen of the harbor” according to parade master Todd Miller— to a little orange submarine.
As boats were lining up, Miller, wearing a rather silly vestige of a captain’s uniform, threw out some interesting boating facts related to the Grand Marais harbor, quizzing spectators and handing out Old Spice products to the first people to answer correctly.
What is believed to be the first building in Grand Marais? TheCoast Guard boathouse, which was originally used to de-ice boats that went out even in frigid conditions to stop bootleggers from crossing the border.
As the orange Coast Guard boat floated by at the front of the procession, Miller told the crowd that the vessel is “technically unsinkable.” The tubes on the sides are filled not with air, but with Styrofoam, such that if they are punctured, the boat remains afloat. The first Coast Guard boats in the Grand Marais harbor looked like submarines, Miller said.
Top: “Admiral” Todd Miller entertained the boat watchers with jokes and bits of trivia. Above: Boats of all sorts floated past the Harbor Park beach, including several beautiful boats that were also seen at the Wooden Boat celebration.
The Coast Guard now has a seasonal presence in Grand Marais, with new captains getting rotated in every year. “We really do value the Coast Guard,” Miller said. “It’s nice to have them somewhere near to take care of us.”
Miller informed the crowd that when sea planes land on the water, they must obey the rules of boats, which follow certain protocols when meeting in the water. The boats with the most “rights” (the ones that others must make way for), Miller explained, are the ones with the least maneuverability. While a boat in distress always meets this criterion, disputes arise between boats not in distress regarding which are less maneuverable and thus have more rights.
Miller pointed out that Lake Superior is an international body of water. “From here you can go anywhere,” Miller said. At one point, the port of Duluth shipped more goods than the port of New York, he said.
Several boats in the parade were handmade, including the steel-hulled Hjordis.
“Most steel boats in the U.S. are handmade in someone’s back yard,” Miller said.
Miller is a boat enthusiast who strives to build community among local boaters of all kinds and attract boaters from other ports to come and support the local economy.
What is a pirate’s favorite letter of the alphabet? Miller asked the crowd. Some guessed “I” (as in “Aye, aye, Cap’n!”). Some guessed “R” (as in, Arrrrrrgh!”). Nope. A pirate’s favorite is always the “C”!
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