Lake Effect: A Deckhand's Journey on the Great Lakes Freighters

by Richard Noel Hill

A deckhand's coming-of-age story of sailing the Great Lakes steamboats during the social and political turbulence of the early 1970, "Lake Effect" is a vivid and memorable account, told in an entertaining narrative style, of life aboard the giant ore boats.

In the early 1970s, Rich Hill sailed on four different US Steel freighters as a deckhand and deckwatch. Ten years later, he enrolled in the Great Lakes Maritime Academy as a deck cadet and sailed on the 1000-foot "Columbia Star." This humorous yet poignant memoir follows his voyage of self-discovery.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2008

About the author

Born on Christmas Day in 1952, Rich Hill grew up in Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula. He lives along the southeastern shores of Lake Superior with his wife and a cocker spaniel named Maxwell. In his free time, he works on his log house, jams with fellow musicians (drums), reads, shovels snow, and plays tennis. Over the years, Rich has worked at a variety of unusual jobs from apple picker, balloon salesman, house painter, and custom furniture finisher to deckhand on various Great Lakes freighters. Along with his wife, he has owned and managed various retail stores from a gift shop to an art gallery and ready-to-finish furniture store. He loves nothing better than telling a good story. Which is where his love for writing began.

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hill's memoir of his years on an ore boat (freighter) on the Great Lakes, starting in 1971, puts into words and perspective my own virtually identical memories from that same year, something that I have never heard in the voice of another. Although I had just finished college and he had just started, the life of a deckhand on a 600 foot ship sailing up Lake Superior to load taconite ore and then deliver it down to Chicago, or Erie, or Buffalo (repeat, repeat, repeat), was a life-altering experience for me, as it was for Hill. And like Hill, I was hardly a close fit with my career shipmates in political, social or life views - but the 32 of us had to work as a team together 24/7, and I learned a great deal from them in every respect, including particularly how to work and live in harmony with people who don't view the world through the same lens.

Not everyone will love this book (though it is well written), but I sure will share it with my close family and friends who might want to better understand that long ago experience of mine!

Thanks for the recommend, Steve Bush!

[Debra Jarus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look into life on a Great Lakes Freighter.

I completely enjoyed this book. I have read similar books, but told from the perspective of a Captain or a Mate. Mr. Hill takes us behind the scenes to life as a deckhand...the guys who do the "dirty work" on board. Hill also shares with his readers the various ships on which he was employed, as well as their differences based upon when they were launched. All in all, a great read for a boat nerd like me.

[Erik Spohr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author shares his experiences aboard various vessels.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at the life of a deckhand on the Great Lakes. Hard life.....

[Linn · Rating 4 out of 5]

One man's experiences working on the great lake boats..I appreciated the window into the world!

[Brent Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at life on the Great Lakes freighters. Easy to read and at times funny. Very enjoyable book.

[Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable story , not written as a journal, even puts the story in context of the life and times of our country during the seventies. Also my coming of age time so I related to the story teller at a level I normally don't get to enjoy.

[don holleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I really related to his descriptions of life on vessels .I recommend this book to anyone interested in going to sea.

[Robert Tompsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Great read enjoyed it amensly ,. Richard was a school classmate one year behind me. Go Sault High Blue devils..