Sea Stories: True Adventures of Great Lakes Freighter Captain, Richard Metz

I have been a Boatnerd for as long as I can remember. My idea of a perfect vacation is watching boats (Great Lakes ships) lock through the Soo. Captain Metz takes you along on his Great Lakes career, from deckhand to the Captain of various vessels. He gives wonderful insight in to what life was like on these vessels from the 60's through the 90's, and what various ports were like. I just wish this was a series!

Of any book I’ve ever read about Great Lakes shipping, this one stands out as being exceptionally well written and comes from a point of view which is knowledgeable. I also get the feeling that Captain Metz is understanding towards all of the people who worked under his command, which probably stems from the fact that he worked his way up by doing every level of work on the ship.

Since I live in Duluth, this little book appealed to me and I wasn't disappointed. It's a quick read but I ran across numerous interesting tidbits.

I met Dick Metz in 1967 when he was running the tug boat pulling gas barges to Isle Royale National Park. I worked for the park service. We dove together on the SS American which had run aground and sank in North Gap entering Washington Harbor in the 1920s. My first wreck dive, I was subbing for John Abrams the district ranger who was, due to an ear infection, unable to be part of the rescue diver pair available in the event of a marine emergency. I was a seasonal ranger-naturalist. Dick, on the other hand, was a towering 6'6" man who loved sport diving and especially if it involved ship wrecks. Aside from exploring the interior of the America, whose wooden superstructure was completely collapsed into heap in the former deck areas. we explored nearby and found wooden hull remnants of the Cumberland . Dick was an adventuresome individual with an outgoing personality and a healthy demeanor. His knowledge of the Great Lakes obviously was ever-growing with experience and he was a great person to cross paths with. He dove with twin 72 tanks and his muscular build was meant for the weight of his tanks. A good fortune to meet him. I look forward to reading his accounts in this book, which I just ordered today. Phil Robinson, MS, DVM, Higgins Lake, Michigan

Great book

Thoreau said "I require of every writer a simple and sincere account of his own life, and not merely what he has heard of other men's lives; some such account as he would send to his kindred from a distant land; for if he has lived sincerely, it must have been in a distant land to me."This is an account of the author's life from the distant land of Great Lakes freighters in the 1970s and 1980s. It's not a linear tale. It's a series of short stories that jump from place to place and time to time. It's not verbose; it focuses on the meat of the stories and leaves out all the fluff. It doesn't describe every detail. But it is, after all, well written and effective. It gives me the essence of that distant land and leaves me wanting to know more. My only disappointment with the book was that it ended too soon. I'd like to hear more of the author's stories.

Excellent read with insights from those who have been there. You should read this book if you like boats, and like the Great Lakes.

Already numerous errors pg 11 @ the top "I went aboard the anyway" @ the bottom "ship came, ships left" . (no editing or proof-reading) The book does not flow well it can't be read due to grammar and missing incomplete words/sentences. The way this book was written is should be a kids book. Not enjoyable. Sadly the captain may have some stories; But having stories and being able to tell them to captivate a reader are two totally different things. He is even apologetic for telling part of his story and treats the audience like they are two years old. The book is even set up terribly; there is not flow to the chapters every few paragraphs there is a heading. The book is more of random excerpts. It is printed on nice glossy paper, however the pictures are small mostly all being placed in 2 1/4" circular frames. This book is not on the same caliber as a sailors logbook or deckhand not even close.

Well worth the read!