Fun Facts About Wisconsin’s Boating History (As Told by Grandpa)

When you’re little, every boat ride feels like an adventure. The waves slap against the hull, the fish tug at your line, and the stories… well, those are the best part. Especially when Grandpa’s at the wheel of his trusty MirroCraft, spinning Wisconsin boating history into a mix of facts, memories, and maybe a few whoppers.

🚤 Birchbark Beginnings
“Did you know,” Grandpa leans in, lowering his voice like it’s a secret, “long before we had MirroCrafts, the first boats here were made of birchbark?”

I nod, wide-eyed, picturing paddling a canoe across Lake Winnebago. Grandpa goes on: “The Menominee and Ojibwe built canoes light enough to carry over portages, but strong enough to haul people and supplies across lakes and rivers.

“Wouldn’t your shoes get soaked?” I ask. Grandpa chuckles. “Son, if you tipped, it wasn’t your shoes you worried about—it was your lunch!”

​The lake sparkles and I imagine what it must’ve been like, paddling with nothing but the sound of loons and the splash of your paddle.

🛶 The Submarine Story
Grandpa points north. “See that way? Manitowoc. During World War II, they built submarines right there.”

“Submarines? In Wisconsin?” I ask, laughing like he’s pulling my leg.

But it’s true: the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company built 28 submarines for the U.S. Navy between 1941 and 1945. Every single one sailed down the Manitowoc River, through the Great Lakes, and eventually to the ocean

“They slid them down the river, then out to the Great Lakes, then all the way to the ocean. Wisconsin boats went to war.”

​I’m not sure if I believe him, but he says it with that sparkle in his eye that makes me think—just maybe—it’s not a whopper this time.

🌊 The Freshwater Ocean
We bounce over a wake, and Grandpa spreads his arms wide. “Lake Michigan’s so big, it’s like an ocean. You can’t see across it. Storms roll in and it’ll toss you around like a cork.”

He’s right--Lake Michigan covers more than 22,000 square miles, and its waves can climb over 20 feet during big storms.

​I look out at our little lake and try to imagine waves taller than our MirroCraft. Grandpa grins. “Once, I swear, I caught a wave so big I surfed my fishing boat back to shore.” That one I’m pretty sure is a whopper.

🎣 The Monster Musky
Grandpa hands me a rod and starts telling another tale. “Biggest fish in Wisconsin? A musky—almost seventy pounds. That’s bigger than you.”

He’s not kidding--in 1949, a 69-pound, 11-ounce musky was caught on the Chippewa Flowage, and it still holds the world record.

I picture a fish longer than me, pulling the boat in circles. “Did you catch it, Grandpa?” I ask.

“Of course,” he winks. “But it got away before anyone could weigh it.” Classic Grandpa.

​🏖️ Families on the Water
As we drift, Grandpa gets quiet. “After the war, boating became about more than work. It was fun. Families bought boats—some of the first MirroCrafts were out here in the ’50s.”

He’s right again--Northport Marine (home of MirroCraft today) has been building boats for over 60 years, helping families enjoy everything from fishing trips to tubing adventures.

He pats the side of our aluminum boat. “These boats have carried families, friends, and fish stories for generations. Just like this one’s carrying us.”

And in that moment, with the sun warm on my face and Grandpa’s hand steady on the tiller, I know this is a story I’ll never forget.

​🚢 Lighthouse Legends
We pass a shoreline with a lighthouse in the distance. Grandpa nods at it. “Door County’s got more lighthouses than anywhere else in the country.”

​He’s close: Wisconsin has 55 lighthouses, and Door County is home to 11 of them—the most of any county in the U.S. These lights guided sailors through dangerous waters where rocky shoals sank hundreds of ships over the years.

Then Grandpa lowers his voice, dramatic. “And some say… they’re haunted.”

“By who?” I ask, clutching my life jacket.

​“Old sailors who never made it home.” He pauses, then cracks a grin. “Or maybe it’s just seagulls.”

Why It Matters (Even to Me)
By the time we head back to the dock, I’ve learned that Wisconsin’s boating history is filled with heroes, monsters, and mysteries—and maybe a tall tale or two. But more importantly, I’ve learned that the real history is happening right now: me and Grandpa, side by side in a MirroCraft, making memories I’ll never forget.

Because boating isn’t just about the water. It’s about the stories you carry with you long after the ride is over.

​⚓ MirroCraft Moments Tip: When you’re out fishing, don’t just swap lures—swap stories. You’ll walk away with a mix of history, family lore, and the kind of memories that last longer than the biggest musky ever caught.