Fish Tugs of the Greatest Lake

LEON J.

LEON J. 249615 Built by Marinette Marine Corp. in 1946, for Charles Coates, Gladstone, MI. In 1949 Melvin Jacobson, Wells, MI acquired the boat, and had ownership until 1954. From 1954 to 1956 Roy Jensen, Escanaba, MI was the owner. The 35 ft, all steel vessel was equipped with a 115 hp. Chrysler Crown gas engine. Alfred Nordstrand, Alpena, MI acquired the boat in 1956 and had her lengthened to 43 ft., and equipped with a 4 cylinder Cummins diesel. In 1971 Emerald LeBlance, Gouli River, Ont., had the boat at Mamainse Harbor, on Lake Superior, and had re-powered with a Perkins diesel.

The boat was reported sold to a Panamanian citizen in 1973 and taken out of documentation. In 1979 the boat came back to the U.S. and was owned by Norman Casey, Fairport, MI., and was again re-powered, with a Cummins 555 cu. in. displacement (triple nickel) diesel. The stern pilot house was removed, and a new one built over the engine space. Still later she was at Kewaunee, Wis.

Photo courtesy Steve Ceskowski.