What They're Saying

- Great Lakes Cruiser magazine

'Know Your Ships' is a wonderful reference piece, now in its 37th edition. If your traveling time takes you anywhere near the shipping channels this summer, take along a copy of this book for hours of informative entertainment for kids of all ages. On my youngest son's first crossing of Lake Erie, he was consumed with the process of identifying passing freighters and being the first to know their length, their beam and how much cargo they could carry.

"This book is really a 'shipwatcher's guide' allowing you to quickly find all the facts and figures about most any vessel that travels the Great Lakes. You can start with minimal information, such as a ship's name or a fleet operator, or even just a smokestack emblem. But while this is the book's primary use, there's a lot more inside than just that!

"There are historic and full-color photographs of the most famous ships to travel the Great Lakes. There is a listing and brief description of marine museums across the region, including their addresses, phone numbers and admission rates. They've even included a listing of museum ships, that is, actual ships that have been converted to marine museums and are open to the public. This is a great aid for the Cruiser because it is so easy to miss the best part of a new port, simply because you didn't know it was there. "If this isn't enough for you, the book is literally jammed with a host of other useful information about the Great Lakes, including explanations of navigational lights and commercial traffic markings, an international flag listing (to help identify foreign ships) and an overview of the St. Lawrence Seaway system including the Soo Locks and Welland Canal.

"Watching a big boat make its way through the locks or pass you on the open lake is a fascinating experience. Knowing more about that ship makes it all the more exciting."

- Daniel C. Krummes, winter 1996 edition of "Steamboat Bill," Journal of the Steamship   Historical Society of America

"The true test of a guide like 'Know Your Ships' lies in its vessel identification capabilities. This past summer I spent several weeks on the southernmost shore of Lake Huron, watching the daily parade of lakers and salties that all begged for identification. 'Know Your Ships' was rarely out of hand, and easily helped us identify and locate pertinent facts on all of the Great Lakes vessels that passed our way. One nice feature is that former names are included in each boat's entry. This proved quite helpful when later attempting to track down histories and/or photos of the boats...

"Filled with just enough information to satisfy the immediate 'Who is that?' it also whets one's appetite for more serious nautical reading once night has fallen."

- Jack Storey, Sault Ste. Marie Evening News, May 4, 1997

"This year's edition of 'Know Your Ships,' the Great Lakes vessel directory assembled by Marine Publishing Inc., is on the streets. A publication that has improved steadily since Roger LeLievre took it over as an annual project, the 38th edition is no exception.

"In the newest number is information listings for shipwatchers, commonly-used VHF channels for scanners, a port mileage chart, marine museums and yes, Internet addresses for your favorite shipping obsession."

"No directory in print has everything anyone wants to know about Great Lakes shipping, but this one is coming along nicely. Spring for one or you'll miss something you want to know - guaranteed."

- Mary Hunt, Hunt's Highlights of Michigan (Third Edition)

"The Great Lakes Boatwatcher's Bible ... is the handy, super-informative 'Know Your Ships.' Not only does it have vessel listings for every ship on the lakes and the smokestack markings to help identify them, but it's packed with tidbits like meanings of boat whistles, the locks system, maritime museums and an annual update of changes in ships and shipping. New color photos each year."