Fish Tugs of the Greatest Lake

THE KAHLENBERG OIL ENGINE

Seventy-horsepower Kahlenberg engine, built 1938:
on display at the Lake Superior Marine Museum, Duluth, Minn.

A dry base, two-cycle semi-diesel popular as a choice for fish tug power following the steam era and prior to the introduction of highspeed full diesels.

As of 2014, two working boats are known to continue use of their original Kahlenberg engines on the Great Lakes: the WILLIAM G., still used for fishing by by Eric Nelson, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and the ELSIE J. used as a charter and cruise boat at South Haven, Michigan, by Bob and Kathy Jensen.

Update, Dec. 30, 2014: Thanks to a message from reader Ron Brazell, we know also know of the OSCAR, a 1910 steam tug which received a 120 hp Kahlenberg in 1948. Built in Ferrysburg, Mich., the boat is currently located in Vallejo, Cal., in good running order.

Listed here are many of the fish boats that were powered with these engines from 1915 to 1999:

A. JEFFREY - 46 x 13 Two cylinder 50-60 HP 1934 Albert Jeffrey, Manitowoc, Wisconsin

AL SHELLSWICK - 46 x 13 Four cylinder 60-70 HP 1935 A.C. Shellswick, Waukegan, Illinois

ALBERT C. KALMBACH - 45 x 12 Two cylinder 50-60 HP 1919 A.C. Kalmbach, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

ALBERT J. 50 x 14 1/2 Three cyl. 75-90 HP 1937 Ludlow White, Alpena, Michigan

ALICE 50 x 12 Three cyl. 75-90 HP 1934 John Lenz, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

ALLIE BROTHERS - 40 x 11 Two cyl. 30-36 HP 1934 Walter & Elmer Allie, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

ALOHA 45 x 12 1/2 Two cyl. 50-60 HP 1938 Lawrence Voight, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin

AMITY - 55 x 13 1/2 Three cylinder 75-90 HP 1926 Rawley Fish Co., Two Rivers, Wisconsin

ANABEL II - 62 x 15 Four cylinder 100-120 HP 1928 Coffey Fish Co., Manistique, Michigan

ANGLER - 34 x 9 1/2 Two cylinder 20-24 HP 1923 William Sellman, Manistique, Michigan

ANN B. 40 x 11 Two cyl. 30-36 HP 1936 George W. Bohman, Algoma, Wisconsin

APOSTLE ISLANDS 58 x 15 Three cyl. 75-90 HP 1937 Booth Fisheries, Bayfield, Wisconsin

B. & L. 55 x 14 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Lewis Gotham, Saugatuck, Michigan

BADGER 55 x 13 Three cyl. 75-90 HP 1929 Arthur Luebke, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

BARK POINT 37 x 9 Two cyl. 30-36 HP circa 1930 Uno Okkonen, Cornucopia, Wisconsin

BETTY 42 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP 1945 Anker Greenfeldt, Washington Island, Wisconsin 1945

BOB S. 50 x 13 1/2 Three cyl. 75-90 HP 1935 William Sellman, Manistique, Michigan

BOBBY BILL 64 x 13 Four cy. 60-70 HP 1936 Sendenberg Bros., Manistique, Michigan

BON JOUR 50 x 13 Three cyl. 75-90 HP 1926 Everett LaFond, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

BONNIE S. 52 x 14 1/2 Three cyl. 75-90 HP 1945 Geo. J. Sewers, Sr., Saugatuck, Michigan 1946

BOSSLER BROS. 50 x 14 1/2 Three cyl. 75-90 HP 1937 John Bossler, Port Washington, Wisconsin 1940

BUB 40 x 11 Two cyl. 39-36 HP 1925 Leslie Cornell, Washington Island, Wisconsin 1925

BUCCANEER 40 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Norbert Frasch, Two Rivers, Wisconsin 1944

BUDDY O. 40 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP 1935 Ole Olson, Frankfort, Michigan

BUICK 54 x 13 1/2 Three cyl. 75-90 HP 1922 Torger Engleson & Sons, Kenosha, Wisconsin

BUTCH LAFOND 42 x 12 Two cyl. 50-60 HP 1935 Lafond Kreisa Fish Co., Two Rivers, Wisconsin

C.S. ADDISON SR. 38 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP George J. Sewers, Sr., Saugatuck, Michigan

C.W. LIND 42 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Clarence Lind, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin

C.W. TURNER 54 x 13 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Booth Fisheries, Bayfield, Wisconsin

CAROLINE 40 x 11 1/2 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Arthur Dettman, Algoma, Wisconsin

CAROLYN 45 x 11 1/2 Four cyl. 45-54 HP 1934 Gus Mollhagen, St.Joseph, Michigan 1934

CHAMBERS BROS. 52 x 14 1/2 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Clifford Chambers, Kenosha, Wisconsin

CHARLES FRANK 54 x 13 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Charles Hendrickson, Charlevoix, Michigan

CHEERIO 40 x 11 Two cy. 30-36 HP Richard Jacobson, Kenosha, Wisconsin

CHIEF 52 x 12 1/2 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Louis Bethway & James McDonald, Grand Marais, Michigan

CLARA 40 x 11 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Edward Ozga, Port Huron, Michigan

CLARA C. 39 x 10 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Oliver Bjarnarson, Washington, Wisconsin

CLARA S. 48 x 11 Two cyl. 50-60 HP 1940 Thomas Peterson, Fayette, Michigan

CLAUDE L. 40 x 11 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Warren Bailey, Menominee, Michigan

CORNUCOPIA 48 x 12 Two cyl. 50-60 HP 1935 Andrew Hansen, Cornucopia, Wisconsin

DAWN 44 x 11 1/2 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Leslie H. Cornell, Washington Island, Wisconsin

DELOS H. SMITH 62 x 14 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Smith Bros. Fisheries, Port Washington, Wisconsin

DOLORES 40 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Adolph Ruzek, Manitowoc, Wisconsin

DOUGHBOY 48 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP John Allie, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

EDDIE ANN 40 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Martin & Edward Mathson, Manistique, Michigan

EDITH J. 52 x 14 1/2 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Martin Jones, Ontonagon, Michigan

EDWARD L. 56 x 14 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Edward Lutz, Michigan City, Indiana

ELEANOR 50 x 13 Three cyl. 75-90 HP William Sellman, Manistique, Michigan

ELLEN P. 45 x 11 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Benjamin Perkins, Naubinway, Michigan

ELSIE J. 48 x 13 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Chris Jensen, South Haven, Michigan

ENERGY 48 x 13 1/2 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Steve Ceskowski, Waukegan, Illinois

ESTHER C. 40 x 11 Two cyl. 30-36 HP George Kolbeck, Algoma, Wisconsin

EVELYN C. SMITH 48 x 13 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Smith Bros., Port Washington, Wisconsin

EWIG 50 x 13 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Herbert Ewig, Port Washington, Wisconsin

EWIG II 50 x 14 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Elmer Ewig, Port Washington, Wisconsin

F. DEVET & SONS 45 x 13 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Frank DeVet, Fayette, Michigan

F.G. WILKE 42 x 12 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Fred Wilke, Kewaunee, Wisconsin

FAITH 38 x 11 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Lawrence E. Voight, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin

FAITH II 44 x 13 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Lloyd Mollhagen, St.Joseph, Michigan

FAITHFUL 64 x 15 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Henry LaFond, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

FAWN 48 x 12 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Knipfer Bros., Sawyer, Wisconsin

FAYTH H. 36 x 9 Two cyl. 20-24 HP Percy Heward, Rogers City, Michigan

FRANK BRAEGER 50 x 14 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Frank Braeger, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

FRED 47 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP McDonald Bros., Washington Island, Wisconsin

FRED WEIMER 48 x 12 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Fred Weimer, Chicago, Illinois

FREDERICK H. STEIMLE 64 x 15 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Frank Meyer, Harbor Beach, Michigan

G.H. HELLER 57 x 14 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Hugo Heller, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

G.L. DORNBOS 50 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Willis Cross, Charlevoix, Michigan

GARY 40 x 11 Three cyl. 45-54 HP William Yauger, Jr., Two Rivers, Wisconsin

GLOBE 50 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Platz-Wenzel Fish Co., Rogers City, Michigan

GLORIA 42 x 13 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Walter Meyer, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

GLORIA 44 x 11 1/2 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Hanson Bros. Fishery, Washington Island, Wisconsin

GLORIANA 62 x 14 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Ludlow White, Alpena, Michigan

GOTHAM 64 x 14 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Lewis Gotham & Sons, Saugatuck, Michigan

GRACE 55 x 13 1/2 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Ole Olson, Frankfort, Michigan

GRACE H. 57 x 14 Three cyl. 75-90 HP John M. Hanrath, Frankfort, Michigan

GROVER BROS. 44 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Grover Bros., Montague, Michigan

GROVER BROS. II 55 x 14 1/2 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Hallard J. Grover, Montague, Michigan

H.W. HOCKS 50 x 13 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Harry Hocks, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

HARRY H. 42 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP W. & E. Fish Co., South Haven, Michigan

HELEN GENE 55 x 14 1/2 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Henry Smith, Waukegan, Illinois

HENRIETTA MARGARET 42 x 13 Four cyl. 60-70 HP George Van Hall, Grand Haven, Michigan

HERRMANN 52 x 15 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Herrmann Bros. Fishery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

HOPE 45 x 12 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Johnson & Voight, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin

HOWARD L. 36 x 9 Two cyl. 20-24 HP Arthur Pulda, Racine, Wisconsin

HUSTLER 42 x 13 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Joseph Jacobi, Chicago, Illinois

IDA S. 55 x 14 1/2 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Frank Seger, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

INDIAN 44 x 13 Two cyl. 50-60 HP James Madsen, South Haven, Michigan

IONE 42 x 9 1/2 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Ole Frostman, Bayfield, Wisconsin

IRENE 50 x 12 1/2 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Victor Halberg & Sons, St.Ignace, Michigan

ISLANDER 48 x 13 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Marvin Weborg, Gills Rock, Wisconsin

IVA MAY 52 x 14 1/2 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Arthur L. Tucker, Benton Harbor, Michigan

J.B. NELSON 40 x 11 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Leonard Nelson, Sawyer, Wisconsin

J.J. CARROLL II 64 x 20 Four cyl. 100-120 HP United Fisheries, Sandusky, Ohio (Trapnet Boat)

J.R. CHAMBERS 52 x 14 1/2 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Murray Chambers, Holland, Michigan

J.W. CORNELL 49 x 12 Four cyl. 60-70 HP John Cornell & Sons, Washington Island, Wisconsin

JANE 40 x 11 1/2 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Nels Sorensen, Kewaunee, Wisconsin

JANICE A. 40 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Charles & Haakon Anderson, Frankfort, Michigan

JEAN R. 55 x 14 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Ludwig & Otto Rodal, Frankfort, Michigan

JOEL 40 x 11 Two cy. 50-60 HP Herman J. Freitag, Kenosha, Wisconsin

JOHN B. CLOUTIER 52 x 14 Four cyl. 100-120 HP John Cloutier, Ludington, Michigan

JOHN V. ALLIE 42 x 12 Two cyl. 50-60 HP John Allie & Sons, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

JOLENE 55 x 14 1/2 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Joseph Felbinger, Chicago, Illinois

KARLSRUHE 44 x 12 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Arthur Luebke, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

KATHERINE V. 58 x 13 1/2 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Charles Vogelheim, Rogers City, Michigan

KING 36 x 9 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Ed McOlash, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin

L.P. HILL 60 x 15 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Eugene L. Hill, Grand Haven, Michigan

LADY MARIE 38 x 11 Two cyl. 20-24 HP Louis Johnson, Sawyer, Wisconsin

LAFOND 42 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP George LaFond, Algoma, Wisconsin

LARK 34 x 9 Two cyl. 20-24 HP John Schilbauer, Kewaunee, Wisconsin

LECLAIR BROS. 42 x 13 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Edward LeClair, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

LEILA C. 40 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Leslie H. Cornell, Washington Island, Wisconsin

LESTER K. 56 x 14 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Kishman Fish Co., Vermilion, Ohio

LILLIE B. 55 x 14 Four cyl. 100-120 HP George & Thomas Johnson, Waukegan, Illinois

LINDY 39 x 10 1/2 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Alick Johnson & Sons, Gills Rock, Wisconsin

LOIS MARIE 40 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Frans & Norbotten Fishery, Manistique, Michigan

LONE EAGLE 42 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Harvey Olson, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin

LORRAINE 44 x 11 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Anderson Bros. Fishery, Manistee, Michigan

MAGGIE LYNN 44 x 13 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Floyd Grover, Montague, Michigan

MALLARD 48 x 12 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Frank Lonzo & Sons Fishery, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

MANVILLE L. 45 x 13 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Manville LaFond & Sons, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

MARGARET 45 x 12 1/2 Three cyl. Iverson & Anderson Fishery, Frankfort, Michigan

MARGARET MATTHEWS 48 x 13 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Edward Matthews, Oscoda, Michigan

MARIE 36 x 9 Two cyl. 20-24 HP Ever W. Bodin, Bayfield, Wisconsin

MCDONALD BROS. 48 x 13 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Dennis McDonald, Washington Island, Wisconsin

MERCURY 42 x 13 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Everett LaFond, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

MERLEEN 40 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Felix Pearson, Naubinway, Michigan

MEYER BROTHERS 50 x 14 1/2 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Charles Meyer, Harbor Beach, Michigan

MISS AMRICA 42 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Charles Pearson, Naubinway, Michigan

MISTER 40 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Ray DeYoung, Pentwater, Michigan

MISTRESS 42 x 11 Two cyl. 30-36 HP John R. DeYoung, Pentwater, Michigan

MONITOR 45 x 12 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Manville LaFond, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

MY SWEETHEART 50 x 12 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Richard Smith & Sons, Waukegan, Illinois

NAOMIKONG 42 x 12 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Wallace Hill, Grand Haven, Michigan

NELLIE H. 42 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP John M. Hanrath, frankfort, Michigan

NEPTUNE 42 x 12 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Emil Nelson, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin

NEPTUNE II 40 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Wallace Green, Waukegan, Illinois

OLD GLORY 43 x 11 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Wilfred Boutin, Bayfield, Wisconsin

OSCAR 45 x 13 Tug built in Ferrysburg, Mich., 1910, original steam engine replaced in 1948 with 120 hp Kahlenberg. Currently located Vallejo, Cal., in good running order.

PALMER 47 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Alfred P. Shellswick, Waukegan, Illinois

PAUL JENSEN 42 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Paul Jensen, Muskegon, Michigan

PENGUIN 53 x 14 1/2 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Otto L. Kuehn Co., Bayfield, Wisconsin

PETER 50 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Frank Seidl, Marinette, Wisconsin

PETER A. 55 x 14 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Peter Anderson Fisheries, Marquette, Michigan

R.E. HELEN 40 x 10 1/2 Two cyl. Goodmander & Johnson, Washington Island, Wiconsin

RAMBLER II 50 x 12 1/2 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Fred Schmekel, Rogers City, Michigan

RAMONA 45 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Martin Bros. Fishery, Washington Island, Wisconsin

RANGER 40 x 12 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Adolph Ruzek & William Westphal, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

RELIANCE 35 x 9 1/2 Two cyl. 20-24 HP Vincent Vanderberg, Muskegon, Michigan

RICHARD W. 48 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Wilson Bros., Northport, Michigan

RITTER BROS. 47 x 13 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Ritter Fisheries, Michigan City, Indiana

ROAMER 42 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Norman & Harris Johnson, Port Wing, Wisconsin

SEARCH 70 x 16 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Chambers Bros. Fishery, Kenosha, Wisconsin

SENORA 42 x 11 Three cyl. 45-54 HP August Johnson, St. Ignace, Michigan

SERVICE 45 x 12 1/2 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Hansen Fishing Co. Port Washington, Wisconsin

SILVER SPRAY 43 x 11 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Earl Killoran, Fayette, Michigan

SKIPPER 42 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Howard & Emery Weborg, Gills Rock, Wisconsin

SMITH BROS. 52 x 14 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Smith Bros. Fishery, Port Washington, Wisconsin

SPARTA 42 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Gus Koulentis, Waukegan, Illinois

THEO. J. BLONG 38 x 11 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Port Fish Co., Port Washington, Wisconsin

THERESA 40 x 12 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Nelson J. LeClair, Two Rivers, Wisconsin

THOMAS C. MULLEN 48 x 13 Four cyl. 60-70 HP Robert Ludwig, Michigan City, Indiana

TRAMP 62 x 16 Four cyl. 100-120 HP Jack Doyle, Alpena, Michigan

VELOX 44 x 11 1/2 Two cyl. 50-60 HP Leon Cornell, Washington Island, Wisconsin

VICTOR H. 42 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Victor Halberg & Sons, St. Ignace, Michigan

VICTORIA T. 37 x 11 Two cyl. 30-36 HP John Tuisl, Manitowoc, Wisconsin

VIKING 43 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Leslie & Earl Wickman, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin

W.H. PUGH 56 x 14 Three cyl. 75-90 HP Adelsen & Olsen, Kenosha, Wisconsin

W.R. BUSCH 40 x 11 Two cyl. 30-36 HP Walter Busch, Algoma, Wisconsin

WE-WILL 43 x 13 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Earl Kaeding, Michigan City, Indiana

WILLIAM G. 42 x 12 Three cyl. 45-54 HP Ever W. Bodin & Son, Bayfield, Wisconsin

WILLIAM JR. 50 x 13 1/2 Three cyl. 75-90 HP William Sellman, Manistique, Michigan

The William G., last boat of the Great Lakes fishing fleet powered by a Kahlenberg engine.