The Icebreaker Mackinaw

Photo courtesy of Sharon Emery

Two Ann Arbor students have been recognized for their work in helping to renovate an historic Great Lakes ship.

Max Benson, 17, and Will Arts, 18, were among those recognized during a ceremony last month to celebrate the naming of the Icebreaker Mackinaw as a floating museum.

The Icebreaker Mackinaw, which served as a working Coast Guard ship, recently received the title of historic ship from the state of Michigan. After its renovation, it was transferred to be on display at the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum in Mackinaw City.

“The hard work and hard-earned money of countless people were required to ensure that this grand ship got her just reward for decades of service to this country,” museum board President Bill Shepler said.

The renovation of the icebreaker was a five-year long process, and Benson and Arts contributed to it as a part of their Eagle Scouts project. The two started to help with the renovation in March in Mackinaw City.

“I chose to work on the icebreaker because it represents a symbol of Michigan history,” Benson said. “In particular, I wanted to help the IMMM … (and) working on a ship seemed interesting to me.”

Benson and Arts each had specific projects for renovating different parts of the icebreaker. Benson was assigned by Richard Moehl, the adult leader of Benson and Arts’s troop, to restore the mast horn on the icebreaker. Benson repaired the horn so that it would blow for four seconds every day at noon.

Benson said Kahlenberg Industries, the manufacturer of ship parts for the icebreaker, provided him with a list of parts to construct. He then worked on creating the parts and system to blow the horn, with the help of mechanics from Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry.

Benson said he enjoyed working on the project overall. “My favorite part was learning about how each part was necessary to the construction of my project. But the hardest part was carrying the air compressor tank, because it weighed 400 pounds aboard the ship,” he said.

On the other hand, Arts worked on preparing the sick bay as a display. “My Eagle Scout project was to reorganize and clean up the sick bay…so it could be included on the ship’s tour,” he said.

Arts explained that in completion of the project, he created a barrier for the doorway to block museum-goers from going into the ship. He also put up two display mannequins, one as a patient, another as a doctor, and edited the video that describes the parts of the bay. Arts was guided through his project by Dave Ferguson, a local architect, who helped with the design and installations.

Arts also said while the design and construction of the viewing barrier was difficult, he enjoyed seeing the bay displayed to the public.

Benson and Arts were able to work on the icebreaker with the help of members of the museum; they showed a lot of support to the idea of Eagles Scouts working with them.

The two Eagles Scouts said they were proud to be members of their troop and said they will continue being a part of it. Benson plans to attend the Air Force Academy in the fall, and Arts wishes to attend college to get a degree in environmental science and become a National Park ranger.

Christine Chun is an intern for AnnArbor.com. Reach her by email at chunchr@umich.edu