Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry is one of two ferry companies serving Mackinac Island, Michigan. The company has docks in Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. Shepler's provides ferry and freight service to Mackinac Island.[1]
Historyedit
Entrance to the new ferry dock at Mackinaw City (June 2019)
In 1945, Captain William H. Shepler, a native of Mackinac Island, returned to Michigan after service in World War II. He already had a full captain's license and began to command the large, 600-person capacity Algoma between Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island.[2] He also operated a small snack bar for passengers waiting for the ferry. Capt. Shepler decided to offer a more distinctive service with smaller craft to and from Mackinac Island. In the winter of 1950, he built his own Bay Craft kit boat in Cheboygan, a 30-foot (9.1 m) cabin cruiser with twin gas engines with a capacity of 24 passengers. The vessel was christened the Miss Margy after Shepler's wife, Margaret.[3]
The Mackinac Bridge was completed in November 1957. During its construction, crowds came to watch the progress, increasing the need for tour boats. During the winter of 1953, Shepler built a second kit boat, a high-speed cruiser, the Billy Dick, named after the captain's son, William Richard. The fleet expanded over the years.[4][5]
Following the decline in ferry traffic across the straits, Shepler purchased beach frontage on Mackinac Island and constructed a dock to provide service between the island and the mainland.[4]
In May 1988, Capt. William H. Shepler died, and his wife Margaret passed away in October 2004. His son, William R., took over the operation with the help of his three children. At that time there were two competitors: Star Line (now Mackinac Island Ferry Company) and Arnold Transit Co.; the latter ceased operations in late 2016.[6] As of 2019, "Bill" remained the CEO of Shepler's, and Chris Shepler was president of the company.[7]
In 2015, the company added a new 85-foot long vessel with a triple engine and 281-person capacity; the new Miss Margy was built in Onaway in Northern Michigan. The vessel has a top speed of about 40 mph. A news report at the time stated that "Sheplers employs 210 with 50 full time and transports 350,000 visitors to Mackinac Island each year".[8] By 2015, the company was running two ferries from St. Ignace, and two from Mackinaw City and had a total of six boats.[9] The newly expanded dock at Mackinaw City was unveiled in April 2019 at the start of the season.[10]
In addition to the ferry service in 2019, the company was offering Lighthouse Cruises through the Straits of Mackinac and on Lake Michigan as well as other sightseeing options.[11][12] An announcement in June 2019 stated that Shepler's had ordered a $4 million, 210-passenger ferry with four jet drives; this vessel was expected to begin operation the following summer.[13]
Fleetedit
Ferry Wyandot Docked in St. Ignace
The Shepler's fleet consists of seven ships:
The Welcome, 60 feet (18 m), built in 1969, 120-person, twin-engine
Felicity, 65 feet (20 m), built in 1972, 150-person, twin-engine
The Hope, 83 feet (25 m), built in 1975, 150-person, twin-engine
Wyandot, 83 feet (25 m), built in 1979, 265 person, twin-engine
Capt. Shepler, 84 feet (26 m), built in 1986, 265-person, twin-engine
The Senator, 95 feet (29 m), built in 1940s (originally the Botany Bay, Put-in-Bay, and Sacre Blue), 25 -person cabin, 300-person deck, twin engine, steel-hulled boat purchased in 1996, updated in the winter of 2013 freight, passenger and ice breaking capabilities. 33-foot (10 m) beam, 99-ton displacement[14]
Miss Margy, 85 feet (26 m), built in 2015, 281-person, triple-engine[4]
The vessels currently in use by Shepler's, with the exception of the Capt. Shepler, The Senator, and Miss Margy, were named after vessels that sailed the Straits area in the late 17th century.
Referencesedit
^"Mackinac Island Ferries". Official Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau.
^Charles, Amy. "5 Minutes With ... Bill Shepler". Groups Today.
^Beach, Jean R. & Steele, Don (2014). Undefeated: The True Story of How the Family-Owned Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry Service Survived and Advanced Through Three Generations. Bloomington, Indiana: Authorhouse. p. 26. ISBN9781496947321.
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Shepler s Mackinac Island Ferry is one of two ferry companies serving Mackinac Island Michigan The company has docks in Mackinaw City and St Ignace Shepler s provides ferry and freight service to Mackinac Island 1 History edit nbsp Entrance to the new ferry dock at Mackinaw City June 2019 In 1945 Captain William H Shepler a native of Mackinac Island returned to Michigan after service in World War II He already had a full captain s license and began to command the large 600 person capacity Algoma between Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island 2 He also operated a small snack bar for passengers waiting for the ferry Capt Shepler decided to offer a more distinctive service with smaller craft to and from Mackinac Island In the winter of 1950 he built his own Bay Craft kit boat in Cheboygan a 30 foot 9 1 m cabin cruiser with twin gas engines with a capacity of 24 passengers The vessel was christened the Miss Margy after Shepler s wife Margaret 3 The Mackinac Bridge was completed in November 1957 During its construction crowds came to watch the progress increasing the need for tour boats During the winter of 1953 Shepler built a second kit boat a high speed cruiser the Billy Dick named after the captain s son William Richard The fleet expanded over the years 4 5 Following the decline in ferry traffic across the straits Shepler purchased beach frontage on Mackinac Island and constructed a dock to provide service between the island and the mainland 4 In May 1988 Capt William H Shepler died and his wife Margaret passed away in October 2004 His son William R took over the operation with the help of his three children At that time there were two competitors Star Line now Mackinac Island Ferry Company and Arnold Transit Co the latter ceased operations in late 2016 6 As of 2019 Bill remained the CEO of Shepler s and Chris Shepler was president of the company 7 In 2015 the company added a new 85 foot long vessel with a triple engine and 281 person capacity the new Miss Margy was built in Onaway in Northern Michigan The vessel has a top speed of about 40 mph A news report at the time stated that Sheplers employs 210 with 50 full time and transports 350 000 visitors to Mackinac Island each year 8 By 2015 the company was running two ferries from St Ignace and two from Mackinaw City and had a total of six boats 9 The newly expanded dock at Mackinaw City was unveiled in April 2019 at the start of the season 10 In addition to the ferry service in 2019 the company was offering Lighthouse Cruises through the Straits of Mackinac and on Lake Michigan as well as other sightseeing options 11 12 An announcement in June 2019 stated that Shepler s had ordered a 4 million 210 passenger ferry with four jet drives this vessel was expected to begin operation the following summer 13 Fleet edit nbsp Ferry Wyandot Docked in St IgnaceThe Shepler s fleet consists of seven ships The Welcome 60 feet 18 m built in 1969 120 person twin engine Felicity 65 feet 20 m built in 1972 150 person twin engine The Hope 83 feet 25 m built in 1975 150 person twin engine Wyandot 83 feet 25 m built in 1979 265 person twin engine Capt Shepler 84 feet 26 m built in 1986 265 person twin engine The Senator 95 feet 29 m built in 1940s originally the Botany Bay Put in Bay and Sacre Blue 25 person cabin 300 person deck twin engine steel hulled boat purchased in 1996 updated in the winter of 2013 freight passenger and ice breaking capabilities 33 foot 10 m beam 99 ton displacement 14 Miss Margy 85 feet 26 m built in 2015 281 person triple engine 4 The vessels currently in use by Shepler s with the exception of the Capt Shepler The Senator and Miss Margy were named after vessels that sailed the Straits area in the late 17th century References edit Mackinac Island Ferries Official Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau Charles Amy 5 Minutes With Bill Shepler Groups Today Beach Jean R amp Steele Don 2014 Undefeated The True Story of How the Family Owned Shepler s Mackinac Island Ferry Service Survived and Advanced Through Three Generations Bloomington Indiana Authorhouse p 26 ISBN 9781496947321 a b c About Shepler s Ferry Beach amp Steele 2014 p 31 Reindl JC November 3 2016 Mackinac Island s Longest Running Ferry Arnold Transit to Stop Service Detroit Free Press Shepler s Mackinac Island Ferry Better Business Bureau Lamb Richard July 15 2015 Built in Onaway Miss Margy Christened for Sheplers Presque Isle County Advance Russell John July 10 2015 Mackinac Fleet Adds a New Margy The Detroit News Shepler s Ferry Beginning Service to Mackinac Island on Easter New Dock Expansion MyNorth com April 10 2019 Shepler s Lighthouse Cruises Pure Michigan Michigan Economic Development Council Cruises Shepler s Ferry Blenkey Nick June 10 2019 Video Moran to Build HamiltonJet Powered Ferry for Mackinac Island Marine Log Freight Shepler s Ferry Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shepler 27s Ferry amp oldid 1161902087, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
