The romance of the great inland sea.

This large-format, full-color pictorial pays tribute to the historic ships still at work on the Great Lakes, from ancient cement boats such as the 100-year-old St Marys Challenger to venerable "straight-deckers," self-unloaders and 1,000-footers sailing under the familiar flags of prominent Great Lakes fleets: Algoma Central, Upper Lakes, Lower Lakes, American Steamship, Canada Steamship Lines and others.

With more than 170 photographs by the author and other fine transportation photographers, Lake Boats celebrates these mariners and working ships of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes. A thorough appendix cites exact identification, specifications and the history of each vessel included in the book.

An extraordinary range of images -- from close-up and interior views of engine rooms and pilothouses to panoramic scenes of these noble workhorse vessels sailing North America's inland seas -- makes Lake Boats a remarkable celebration.