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MAR x APR, 1986 Page 31 THE AMAZEMENT BOAT by PETER RISTEVICH The G.A. Boeckling (US 206423) was con- structed at Great Lakes Engineering Works in Ecorse, Michigan in 1909. She inherited her engines from the steamer Shrewsbury, later named the New York of 1887. In 1909, these engines were rebuilt for the new boat. From 1909 to 1951, she was the Cedar Point ferry, making the 2% mile run to the famous park. Her namesake, Mr. George A. Boeckling, the great genius behind our "amazement park". Her name was chosen in a contest. Thirty-three years ago, the boat left San- dusky to begin a new interim career as a floating warehouse for Peterson Builders at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. After thirty years of this duty, she came home again on June 11, 1982 for restoration. My visit to the Boeckling began on July 14, 1985, when I went aboard her at Jackson Street Dock in Sandusky. There I met Mr. Paul McIntyre who would act as my guide. There are some things missing, such as the engines, boiler and the afterend oakwood staircase. Only the forward staircase remains. On this visit, I was taken on a tour of the en- tire boat. The restoration effort is being conducted in a first class fashion, and it's quite apparent that she was very well cared for by Peterson's. Going up the main staircase, one finds the wood in very good condition. The same can be said for the bulk of the passenger deck and dome, much of which is original. In the center of the vessel is the new stack which was given to the Friends of the Boeck- ling by a Sandusky factory that converted SSL aS Hull of the G.A. BOECKLING at Great Lakes Engineering Works. McDonald Coll/Dossin Museum