Manitowoc gets its own tour boat

MANITOWOC - As home to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc will no longer be a stranger to an on-the-water maritime tour.

Beginning with the second annual Subfest July 8-10, and continuing through the end of the year, the Skyline Princess tour boat will offer cruises of the Manitowoc River and Lake Michigan.

RELATED STORY: Public input sought on marine sanctuary

RELATED STORY: Marine sanctuary designation moves forward

“This is a big deal for locals and visitors,” said Wisconsin Maritime Museum CEO Rolf Johnson. “Having this boat here will be a cool, new, on-the-water experience to accompany the museum.”

The 55-foot Coast Guard-inspected boat can hold up to 50 passengers and features open-bow seating and interior and stern seating. Mercury will provide a crew and Maritime Museum volunteers will serve as commentators during tours.

Johnson and the Maritime Museum Board, Burger Boat Company President Jim Ruffolo and Mercury Skyline Cruiseline partnered to bring the boat to Manitowoc.

“I’m so excited, I believe this will be a huge success,” Johnson said. “I feel people will love seeing this boat go up the river, even if the bridges go up.”

Skyline Princess will arrive in town for Subfest. During the festival, tours will be offered daily, taking people to see where submarines were built in Manitowoc, up around the old shipyards, and all the way up to Burger Boat along the Manitowoc River.

After Subfest, Skyline Princess will stay in town for the rest of the year to test special charters on the river and out to Lake Michigan. Daily tours will be considered for 2017.

Johnson said details about the tours and charters are being developed. He expects to see tours focused on the city’s maritime culture, showcasing the National Marine Sanctuary, Manitowoc’s shipbuilding history and educational programming for students.

If things go well in Manitowoc, the boat may be rechristened with a name more reminiscent of her new duties and home port.

Skyline Princess was built in 1965 and has been owned its whole life by the Bob and Holly Agra family, who owns Mercury Skyline Cruiseline. Skyline Princess was formerly a tour boat in Chicago, but has been in hibernation for the last few years.

“We hope it will be a successful venture,” Bob Agra said. “It will be a great opportunity for people to experience the waters around Manitowoc.”

Agra said to not be deceived by the boat's age, as it has been well maintained. Burger Boat will store the boat when it is not in use.

Burger Boat has a long history with the Agras, as they dock a boat at Burger during the winter and Burger built two new cruise boats for Mercury Skyline Cruiseline for use in Chicago.

Agra said Skyline Princess is getting a paint job in preparation for its journey to Manitowoc.

Alyssa Bloechl: 920-686-2152 or abloechl@htrnews.com; on Twitter@alyssabloechl