Comments on: Aquarama scrapping in hi-res

By: Doug McLeod

Doug McLeod — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:43:03 +0000

I graduated from Piketon High School in 1956 and was invited by Capt. and Sue Sirath to work that summer on the beautiful SS Aquarama. They said I could even bring a friend. I tried to work it out but just could not get it together. That was the last year I saw the Siraths. Capt. Sirath was married to Sue who was a McKee. As a small child I was with the Siraths alot as we were neighbors. I visited the McKee Lake house in Port Austin with them. They were wonderful people, from a wonderful family.

I will always regret not working that summer on the Aquarama. It was a chance of a lifetime. I lost touch with the Siraths when I moved to Florida. If anyone as any information about them please share

By: Jim M

Jim M — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:18:47 +0000

This ship sat in Windsor for almost a decade. It was in the docks just south of the Ambassador bridge, right next to windmill park. As a kid I was on the boat. A friend of my father owned a scrap company that was given the contract to begin scrapping it.
When I saw it the outside was still in the same shape as in the pictures (maybe a little better) But they pulled all the copper, brass, aluminium and large sections of the floor and steel support beams were cut out for scrap value in Windsor. They also removed all the engines and several large Cast iron brackets? I still have the green metal deck benches from this ship in my garage. They were wire mesh tops and steel tubing. They were about 14ft long. I know the hull was then sold in the early 90s. I remember watching the boat get towed out of Windsor. I was told at the time it was sold overseas for scrap. My understanding at the time was that the whole lower decks were coated in asbestos, and there was other problems. The scrapper in Windsor could not use his torches below a certain deck and there where several inspections made and lots of paperwork. I also know that there was some court filings/ legal disputes about who actually owned the ship at that time. It’s sad to see her gone. It was such a large and magestic ship. It made such a wonderous impression on me. I was about 12 years old at the time, but the history the ship has seen definately left an impression on me. I wish they would have gone with some of the other ideas at the time of what to do with her. She would have made an awsome floating museum, or a hotel.

By: Mike Canfield

Mike Canfield — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 23:35:29 +0000

My father, Mike Canfield, was a bartender on the Aquarama for the summer of 1959. We are sitting around this evening, listening to stories. Although he was a bartender, he says he was coaxed into singing with one of the barmaids -Jeanie(?).

By: Evan Quick

Evan Quick — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:02:54 +0000

Always in our hearts Aquarama !

By: james kurant

james kurant — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:03:51 +0000

I grew up in Muskegon, Michigan, the History of that Beautiful Ship is so sad. She was towed up the Chicago waterway after having her entire upper works removed in Mississippi, to Muskegon, where Industrialist Max McKee and his brother invested over $8 million dollars. Her original duty was to replace the Aging SS Milwaukee Clipper in the run across Lake Michigan from Musk. to Milwaukee, but talks broke down and this was cancelled when Milwaukee refused to pay $500,000 to dredge thier channel to handle her very deep draft. The Cleveland to Detroit route was chosen. Long story short, I used to sit for hours looking up at her wishing she could sail again. When she finally did, it was being towed out the Muskegon channel and into a hot August sunset, but not before I had the Great opportunity of touring her Grandiure. I Loved that ship, and she is only a Nice Memory to share with my Grandchildren. Bon-Voyage Lovely Lady!

By: snap-happy1

snap-happy1 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:19:58 +0000

It is truly sad to look at those photos – even in her dilapidated condition, she was graceful and elegant. She was docked at Sarnia, ON for quite a while and I remember going down to the docks to see her. For those interested, I have scanned the entire Aquarama Inaugural Cruise booklet, along with some photos, to my Flickr.com site – look them up!

By: Derek

Derek — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:54:31 +0000

Yes, it was towed to Turkey.

By: Ted R

Ted R — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:51:01 +0000

I guess I am missing something.
How would this boat get to Turkey to be salvaged in as bad of shape as it was.
Was it towed? I was aboard this boat in Detroit when it was called the Aquarama.
The day I was on it it had difficulty turning around and struck the wall of the river in Windsor.
I would see the Aquarama frequently going up and down the Detroit River as a kid.

By: Jonathon

Jonathon — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 04:59:16 +0000

I can hardly take watching this. I know its just a hunk of metal, but it represents such an attachment of emotions it is difficult to take. It is hard to see soemthing like this die:(

Thank you Derek for keeping up with this. IT is truly a service.

By: Mike Manbeck

Mike Manbeck — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:52:07 +0000

It is sad to see her being scraped.As a young boy I had two day trips her to Detroit and back to Cleveland…in the 50′s Goodbye to an old friend…..Mike…..

By: Mike Ralph

Mike Ralph — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:26:17 +0000

How sad… Sailed on her in 1956 out of Detroit. Many happy memories. Unfortunately – that’s all that remains of her!
Mike SunViking2

By: Derek

Derek — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:22:21 +0000

It was scrapped in Aliaga.

By: Lon Morgan

Lon Morgan — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:08:36 +0000

I was aboard the Aquarama when she was docked in Sarnia Canada years ago. I take pics of lake freighters and am updating my database. Sad to see this beautiful vessel being scrapped. Could someone tell me where she is being scrapped. I see reference to Turkey. Is this in Aliaga by chance. Thanks in advance.

By: C. Byrd

C. Byrd — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:36:40 +0000

Very cool…small world nowadays…