Manitowoc South Pier Light washed into Lake Michigan

Paddlers' Place
#1

The power of water.

https://www.mlive.com/expo/news/g66l-2019/01/99ca0c4fdf5160/incredible-photos-show-final-m.html

https://www.mlive.com/news/2019/01/massive-waves-wash-historic-lighthouse-into-lake-michigan.html

#2

Seems to me it should have been engineered to survive those conditions. They’re on the higher end, but not like it’s off the charts.

#3

@Sparky961 said:
Seems to me it should have been engineered to survive those conditions. They’re on the higher end, but not like it’s off the charts.

It was fiberglass. Maybe not the best material for lighthouse construction. Good for your backyard pond, but Lake Michigan and 15-foot (or more) waves?

#4

Built right, fiberglass is pretty amazing stuff. Just consider many of our boats!

Of course, it was probably something like chopped strand mat over cardboard to save money… :wink:

Is it likely to be replaced? On this side of the future USA-Canada wall (sorry, couldn’t resist) marine infrastructure doesn’t tend to get rebuilt anymore when it falls down. Instead I think we’re just supposed to rely on the newer systems like GPS and … well, GPS.

#5

<<On this side of the future USA-Canada wall (sorry, couldn’t resist) >> Wall??? I thought that was a privacy hedge.

https://outabouter.com/2018/12/21/canadian-gofundme-raises-6b-in-two-hours-to-pay-for-privacy-hedge-along-entire-us-border-2/

#6

@Rookie said:

@Sparky961 said:
Seems to me it should have been engineered to survive those conditions. They’re on the higher end, but not like it’s off the charts.

It was fiberglass. Maybe not the best material for lighthouse construction. Good for your backyard pond, but Lake Michigan and 15-foot (or more) waves?

Yup. If I were a lighthouse keeper, I would prefer granite and reinforced concrete. Here is Minot Light (which can be seen in the distance in some of my recent photos) in the Blizzard of 2013:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=J6-P2W-o87E

BTW, the original Minot light (at the same site) was structurally of steel. It went down in a big storm and the two caretakers with it.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/haunted-lighthouse-ma/

sing

#7

@Sparky961 said:
Seems to me it should have been engineered to survive those conditions. They’re on the higher end, but not like it’s off the charts.
Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and spring for the Expedition Kevlar lay-up.

#8

@Sparky961 said:

Is it likely to be replaced?

USCG plans to look for the beacon once the lake settles down. I wonder if there’s anything left of it. Has to be replaced as it’s a navigational light at the entrance to Manitowoc Harbor.

#9

Cool. Slap on a bandaid or two and carry on!