Andreas Jordahl Rhude

We called it "The Bay." The cartographers call it "Green Bay." It is an arm of Lake Michigan, and a big one at that, being 18 miles across and 70+ miles long. I grew up just a few moments walk from The Bay outside of the city of Marinette, Wisconsin. Water and water activities were a big part of my formative years. In the summer it was sun, swimming, sand castles; mud fights, water skiing, and sailing. In the winter it was skating, sledding down the hill onto the ice-covered Bay, and even a few jaunts on an ice boat. I'll never forget watching a car fall through the ice-slow motion like. In succession, three more cars followed suit. They saw the first one in distress so they drove over to investigate. They too, fell through the ice; the second, the third, and then the fourth. "Dorks", was the reaction of this 8-year-old kid!

The Rhude Family when there were "Five Sons." Daniel, David, Thygve, THomas, Mother Margaret & Andreas (back to Camera)

Just five miles from home was Peshtigo, headquarters of the famous Thompson Brothers Boat Manufacturing Company. We had a twelve foot Thompson "Take Along," a 1958 model. It was a wooden boat with canvas covering. Believe it or not, the 6 h.p. Mercury actually was able to pull me up on skis. Skis with the name Thompson emblazed upon them!! In the Spring of 1965 my father seized an opportunity to get a larger boat. At that time there were five of us boys, so something bigger than the 12-foot open rowboat would be advantageous. He bought two, unfinished wooden lapstrake boats at the liquidation auction of T & T Boats, Inc. at Wausaukee, about thirty miles north of Peshtigo (T & T was a spin-off company of Thompson Brothers). He used both to make one complete set-up for the Rhude clan and he sold the other hull. So, we now had a 17-foot speedboat to go along with the little rowboat. She was christened "My Five Sons." The arrival of baby John in 1967 had the boat's name changed to "My Six Sons."

Now you know why I have an affection (or is it affliction) for boats built by the Thompsons.

We used the boat, under father Morrie's watchful eye, for skiing and for trips out to Seagull Bar, Green Island, and Chambers Island. Green was about eight miles out in The Bay, Chambers five miles beyond that. For family trips she was trailered to Canada and to Chippewa Flowage. She passed through Death's Door near Washington and Rock Islands on the tip of the Door Peninsula. She was a seaworthy vessel.

Thomas (behind the hatch,) Andreas (in the hatch,) and Trygve

School, friends, a year in Norway, and career took me away from the big waters and boating. Once or twice each summer I managed to spend some time back on Green Bay sailing or cruising. I crewed on a racing scow on Lake Harriet, just down the street from my home, for three summers, keeping my foot in the water - so to speak. It hasn't been until the past five years that the boating bug has reawaken in me.

I am the proud owner of three wooden boats, none of which is sea worthy! Naturally, all three are Thompson boats! The 1959 Sea Lancer, a 17-foot lapstrake beauty, is nearest to being waterbound. I picked her up last Fall and have been working on her (replacing ribs, a plank, and building a new transom from scratch). A little sanding and refinishing the brightwork and she'll be in great shape. I am doing all this work on my own, honing my wood working skills learned over my thirty something years. I'm anticipating her lemonade yellow hull skimming across the water later this summer.

Daniel, Andreas (the little one,) David, Trygve, Margaret, & Thomas

I also have a 1958 Sea Lancer, which is not so pretty. She's sitting in a factory in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, across the street from where she was built, awaiting some tender loving care. My 1940s Thompson TVT (probably the Hydroplane Runabout model) is a 14-foot cedar strip boat. I saved her from being tossed onto a bon fire. She too, needs a bit of work before she will again grace the water. She has great lines and is a type of boat which is not all that common anymore.

I have attended the Bob Speltz Land-O-Lakes Chapter educational seminars and these have truly been helpful for my own restoration. The recent steam bending workshop has given me confidence to do some bending of ribs on my own. Not only are these events great social gatherings, but the information presented is useful and applicable for those of us who work on boats.

Trygve, Andreas, David, & Thomas in 1966

I guess that I'm destined to be involved with boats, ships, and marine activities. I work for Peshtigo based Sentinel Structures, Inc.; a manufacturer of structural glued laminated timber. One of our markets are glued timbers for use in new ship construction such as Navy mine sweepers, and restoration of old ships such as Old Ironsides and the USS Constellation. My Norwegian ancestors roamed the seas in search of treasure and adventure, in boats they built by hand, and I carry on this tradition.

I've become involved in BSLOL over the past year and a half. I am helping out on the restoration project of the Chetek boat once owned by Bob Speltz and someone cornered me and convinced me that being on the Board is a good thing! And, to be perfectly honest, it is!

Andreas, as we know him today!