The Bob-Lo Boats

The Bob-Lo Boats were always a thrill to see on the Detroit River.
The first steamer to carry passengers to the island was the ferry Promise. Frank E. Kirby designed the next two steamers: the Columbia, built in 1902, and the Ste. Claire, built in 1910. The Columbia’s first trip was July 8, 1902; the Ste. Claire’s launching was May 7, 1910 and her first trip was later that year. The Ste. Claire was named after Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River, which in turn reflect the fact that the explorer Robert de La Salle paddled through the two waterways during the feast of Ste. Claire. The Columbia, named after Christopher Columbus, is celebrating her 100th birthday this year. She is the oldest steamer in the USA, with the exception of vessels classed as ferries.Both steamers are propeller driven, as were all North American steamers. The Ste. Claire is 197 feet long, 65 feet wide and 14 feet deep. Her tonnage is 870 grt and 507 nrt. The engine is a triple expansion steam with 1083 horsepower. She can carry 2500 people.The Columbia and the Ste. Clair, which served 81 years on a single run – a record unequalled in U.S. Maritime history – are the last of the classic excursion steamers in the U.S.