The highlight of our trip to the Sleeping Bear Point Life-Saving Station was the boathouse. The boathouse was our first stop on the tour of the station. We walked in through the wide doors to find ourselves in a dimly lit, aged building. The light shining in from the bright day lit up the beautiful boats that were housed inside. As we peered inside the boats we were amazed at how simple they appeared, yet how sophisticated they really were. The first surfboat, as they were called, was a 23 foot BB McClellan. It sat on a wagon or rollers, and though decades old, the exterior looked new: white with "Sleeping Bear Point" emblazoned in black on the side. This was impressive, but the interior was the part that really impressed us. Even when it was in use, it employed such modern features as air tanks to keep the boat afloat and a ballast to allow water in and out depending on how high the boat should ride in the water. The boat held seven surfmen and used seven large oars to move out to the shipwrecked boat. On the way back they could carry eight to ten rescued men, women, or children. If possible, the surfmen would sail to the wreck using the sails and centerboard. For safety they wore cork lifevests and had life rings for the rescues. At the discretion of the Keeper, the surfmen could also use a different boat called a Higgins and Gifford. This boat was lighter but had less features. It would be used when seas were more calm or if speed was imperative. The surfman's most important job was to keep ahold of his oar. When the oar went over, so did the man. Without an oar, the man had no way of keeping control or moving ahead in the often rough seas, so the oars were treated much like extra limbs during rescues. Lives were saved using these boats and techniques. To us, this was the most impressive feature of the station.

CLICK FOR LARGER PHOTO This is the inside of the BB McClellan surfboat. Some features include air tanks to keep the boat afloat and a ballast to allow water in and out depending on how high the boat should ride in the water. Nels and Shannon sit in the surfboat inside the boathouse at Sleeping Bear Point Life-Saving Station.

www.schoolship.org/maritime/