One of the most frequently asked questions is: How can I get a ride on a Great Lakes Freighter?
Great Lakes ships are not certified to carry passengers for hire, so it is impossible to buy a ticket. A cruise aboard a lakes freighter is only available to guests which includes the shipping company's customers and some family members.The only chance for the general public to enjoy a once-in-a-life-time cruise is through non-profit raffles donated to the various groups by the shipping companies.
Below is a list of current trip raffles, click on the image for more information and to print out an order form.
*Requirements for listing a raffle on this page
Current Trip Raffles
Past WinnersWin a Trip on an Interlake Freighter Drawing September 18, 2009
Trip for 4 on Interlake: Mike Priest, St. Louis, MI
Overnight stay at Whitefish Point Shipwreck Museum: Diane Clark, Paradise, MI
Overnight stay at the Ramada-Ojibway in the Sault: Bob Nitz, Hudsonville, MITrip Raffle with 3 Trips aboard Freighters Drawing November 8, 2008 Trip aboard the Paul Tregurtha - David Ford, Moreland Hills OH #051Trip aboard an American Steamship Vessel -John Karliak, Rocky River OH #172Trip aboard Grand River Navigation Boat - Sean O'Conner, Richfield OH #359Trip Auction aboard an Interlake Freighter Bidding in person only, ended November 8, 2008
Winning Bid $2,350A Trip on an Interlake Freighter
Silent Auction September 13
Superior, Wi
No results reportedWin a Trip on the legendary Edward L. Ryerson
The Grand Prize is a trip for four adults
Winner ticket # 742 Gary Withun, Oxford, MiWin a Trip on an Interlake Freighter
Drawing April 27, 2006
Winners: Ann Beedon of Port Huron, MI and Christian Kamm of Rocky River, OH.Win a Trip on a CSL Freighter
Drawing March 5, 20061st place Jack Mallon Ticket # 1221
2nd prize Vivianne McCullough ticket # 1461
3rd prize Audrey Adduono ticket # 1006.Cruise aboard the Charles M. Beeghly
Drawing March 4, 2006
Winner: Stuart Waddell of Brighton, MI with ticket number 1352Win a trip on a CSL or LLT Vessel
Drawing February 18, 2006
Winners: David Ware, Toronto and Bob Watt, Warren, Michigan.
*Tickets purchased through this web siteCruise aboard the Canadian Miner
Drawing February 12, 2006
Winner: Chuck Wagner from Dexter, Michigan with ticket number 0120
*Ticket purchased through this web siteWin a trip on the Edwin H. Gott
Drawing November 12, 2005
Winners: James Wadinski of Wausau, Wisconsin with ticket number 1494
Chuck Armstrong of Casa Grande, Arizona with ticket number 691.Cruise aboard the Saginaw
Drawing: October 13, 2005
Winner: Marilyn Lumley of OntarioTrip for six aboard a Great Lakes Fleet vessel
Drawing: September 2, 2005
Winner: Christian P. Kamm, from Rocky River, OhioCruise for two aboard the Grande Caribe
Drawing: August 7, 2005
Results not reported by Kiwanis Club of Rogers CityTrip Auction aboard the Saginaw
Final Bid $4,500 Auction ended at 11:59 p.m. EDT August 7Trip Auction - Your Choice of Courtney Burton or Armco.
Auction end July 29
Final Bid $7,900Trip Auction - Your Choice Lee A. Tregurtha or the Queen of the Lakes Paul R. Tregurtha. End July 10
Final Bid $10,000A trip auction on for a trip on the St. Marys Challenger
Auction end June 27Two trips aboard ULS or Algoma boats
Drawing: June 23, 2005
Winner: Raymond Haller, Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Winner: Greg Hornyak, Columbus, OhioColor Print Raffle
Drawing: Delayed until June 9, because many stubs were out on freighters.
1st Prize, Print of "Edmund Fitzgerald" - Mr. Herbert G. Carlson, Shoreview, MN. *Ticket purchased through this web site
2nd Prize - Print of tug "Edna G" - Capt. John M. Biolchini, Rogers City, MI
3rd Prize - Print "Tashmoo" - Mr. James J. Zabel, Westchester, IL *Ticket purchased through this web siteTrip aboard the Steam Boat Princess
Drawing: May 30, 2005
Winner : Bob Nicholson of Lakeport, Michigan. *Ticket purchased through this web siteTrip aboard an Interlake Steamer
Drawing: April 7, 2005
Grand Prize - Trip for 4: Floyd Baker, Kalamazoo, MI *Ticket purchased through this web site
2nd Prize - $100: Delano Zimmerman, Neenau, WI *Ticket purchased through this web site
3rd Prize - $50: Albert Smith, Montoursville, PA *Ticket purchased through this web site
4th Prize - $50: Jeanne Klynstra, Hudsonville, MI *Ticket purchased through this web siteTrip aboard the Sykes or Block
Drawing: February 4, 2005
1. Wilfred Sykes trip: Mel Riecher, Detroit, MI
2. Badger trip: Kevin Leous, Kenmore, NY *Ticket purchased through this web site
3. Tallship cruise: Lorne Hamilton, Farmington Hills, MI *Ticket purchased through this web siteTrip aboard the Edwin H. Gott
Drawing: November 6, 2004
1. Tom Snyder of Indian River, Michigan with ticket number 1358
2. George Chapin of Wyoming, Minnesota with ticket number 877.Seven day cruise aboard the Canadian Miner
Trip for 2: Mr. Steve Miller of Mar, Ontario.
Drawing: September 04, 2004
Trip on the Saginaw
Winner: Rick Mohr, Lansing, Mi. *Ticket purchased through this web site
Drawing August 1, 2004Two Trips aboard a Seaway Marine Transport vessel
Drawing: June 24
1. Trip on a freighter - Janet Dirtzer, Inver Groves, MN
2. Trip on a freighter - Edna Simpson, Exeter, OntarioTrip on the Paul R. Tregurtha
*Raffle Results not reported by group.
Trip for four
Drawing June 13
(External Link to Port Huron Museum)Trip Auction on an Interlake Vessel
*Auction Results not reported by group.
Trip for six during the 2005 sailing season
Auction ends April 22Trip on the Charles M. Beeghly
Jonene Eliasson of Ann Arbor, Michigan
Drawing March 6, 2004Two Trips aboard an Oglebay Norton vessel
1st Place, Trip for 4 - Richard Kuehne from Marietta Ga. *Ticket purchased through this web site
2nd Place trip for 2 - Kelly Allison from Grand Rapids, MN
3rd Place, $500. 00 - David Baake from Wonewoc, Wi *Ticket purchased through this web site
4th place, $250.00 - Jim Valasek from Flushing, MI *Ticket purchased through this web site
5th place, $100.00 - Roger Combs from Warren, MI. *Ticket purchased through this web site
Drawing February 6, 2004Trip aboard the Edwin H. Gott
John Swanson of Bayfield, Wisconsin with ticket number 0157
Karen Hanover of Kansas City, Missouri with ticket number 0851
Drawing November 8, 2003
Trip on the Saginaw
Winner: Marcella Pittana - Port Colborne, Ont.
Drawing August 3, 2003Two Trips aboard a Seaway Marine Transport vessel
Winners: R. Paquin Port Elgin, On.
Yvonne Campbell - Bayfield, On.
Drawing: June 24, 2003Walter J. McCarthy, Jr.
Winner: Mr. John Pringle of Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Drawing: March 8, 2003Trip aboard the Edwin H. Gott
Winners: Tom Fournelle of St. Paul, Mn. and John Tregembo of Plymouth, Mi.Drawing: November 8, 2002Trip on an Interlake Steamship Co. Vessel
Winner: Roberta Jones of Little Canada, Minnesota.
Drawing: September 21, 2002Cruise on the C. Columbus
Winner: Doug Steen (ticket # 281) of Wallaceburg, Ontario
Drawing: August 31, 2002Trip on the Saginaw
Winner: Debbie Damude, Port Colborne
Drawing: August 4, 2002Trip on an Interlake Steamship Co. Vessel
Winners:Nancy Brethauer, Saginaw, MIRalph Altwies, Traverse City, MI
Drawing: July 15, 2002Cruise on a Great Lakes Freighter
Winners: Mr. Joseph M. Duffer - Leechburg, PA *Ticket purchased through this web site
Ms. Joyce Easterly - Grayling, MI
Drawing June 17, 2002
Trip aboard the Edwin H. Gott Winners: John Tregembo of Plymouth, Michigan
Thomas Schindler of Duluth.
Drawing: September 4, 2001Trip on the Seaway
Winner: Donna Hamblin of Marcellus, NY *Ticket purchased through this web site.
Drawing: July 3, 2001Two Trips aboard a Seaway Marine Transport vessel
Winners: Al Leggatt of Goderich, Ontario and Zelda Bannerman of Egmondville, Ontario.
Drawing: June 20, 2001Walter J. McCarthy, Jr.
Winner: Mary Taylor of Gibraltar, MI.
Drawing: April 28, 2001Walter J. McCarthy, Jr.
Winner: Becky Hippert of Minnetonka, MN. *Ticket purchased through this web site.
Drawing: March 3, 2001"Queen of the Lakes" Paul R. Tregurtha
Winner: Herbert Carlson of St. Paul, MN.
Drawing: February 14, 2001Herbert C. Jackson
Winner: Dan Dyle of Port Huron, MI.
Drawing: December 1, 2000
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Raffles are included on this page at no cost. To have your raffle listed please send all necessary information to: Moderator@boatnerd.net Must be sent in text format that can be copied (no scans of fliers)
Raffles will only be listed if the Drawing date is within 3 months of the listing request.
Required information includes a valid e-mail address the public can use to contact the group holding the raffle, state raffle ID number and timely reporting of raffle winner to moderator@boatnerd.net within 48 hours of drawing. Due to problems with groups not reporting results and the flood of inquires we have to answer when this happens, groups not reporting results will not be eligible for future listings. Please note if winning tickets were purchased from this site.We also would ask that your group consider a small donation to BoatNerd if our advertising is effective for your group. BoatNerd.Com is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization and remains Online through donations. These donations pay for our heavily used data connections, development work and hardware costs.
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