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allow her to remain competitive. She received a bowthruster and was converted to a self-unloader over the winter of 1979-'80, the latter investment almost certainly prolonging her career given the state of the industry in the next few years. But even having a self-unloading boom doesn't guarantee that a boat would remain active in tough times. Over the years, the Hoyt seemed to be Interlake’s favorite to send to the wall when business dropped. She remained in lay-up during parts of the early 1980s. In 1985, she fit out in the spring yet was sent into lay-up from May 14-Aug. 11.While the vessel saw more regular service as the 1980s closed, she entered long-term lay- up again after the 1990 season, not sailing again until 1994. The thriving economy during the rest of the 1990s ensured the ship would keep busy, although carrying a wider variety of cargoes than before. For her last few seasons with Interlake, the Hoyt was certified to carry grain and made the run between Superior and Buffalo on several occasions. Coal and limestone were also common cargoes for the boat in this period, and the ship was still used to carry iron ore, often from Marquette to the Rouge Steel plant in Dearborn, Mich. As business slowed again, the Hoyt laid up in Superior on Jan.9,2001.When she occupied a berth rafted next to her long-idle fleetmate John Sherwin, many speculated that she could be in for a similarly long hibernation - 23 years so far. One of her Bethlehem Steel sisters, the Johnstown, had long been lost to the scrappers, having the unpleasant distinction of being the first post-World War II laker to be sold for scrap back in 1985. The other, Sparrows Point, sailed a dozen busy years in the iron ore trade for new owners, Oglebay Norton, as the Buckeye, but did not run in 2003 and faces an uncertain future. on May 24, christening day, at Sarnia, Ont. (Neil Schultheiss)