The Official Boblo Boat Restoration

The above photo shows how the Ste. Claire looked before the fire. Notice the hull and main deck. They were repaired, cleared of rust, primed, and repainted.We had removed a significant portion of the third and fourth decks posterior to the smoke stack. The foyer areas in front of the smoke stack were the real loss. We were fortunate that a significant portion of the steel superstructure remained intact.  Once we remove the steel damaged by the fire, new steel will be placed and the decking will start.  We are 100% committed to restoring her. Thank you, Ron Kattoo 

On July 6th, 2018, we were standing on the shore of the Detroit River and watched our dreams go up in flames. Like many other Detroiters, we grew up on the Boblo boat. Like so many of you, when we close our eyes, we can vividly remember running around the boat, going to the
arcade, dancing on the dance floor, visiting the souvenir shop, and hearing about Captain Boblo.

These memories are firmly etched into the back of our minds. With the restoration of the Boblo boat, it was our dream to offer the same memories to our children and to the people of Detroit.  After Friday’s devastating fire, for a moment, it felt as if that dream died. Since then, so many people have reached out to us, telling us about their memories and begging us to continue the restoration.

This outpouring of support is exactly what we needed in this time of desperation. We want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the support you have already given us.

Before the fire struck, we had plans to open for tours next spring and a haunted attraction in the fall. Our ultimate goal is to restore her fully and use her as a floating steam engine museum and event hall. The fire is a huge setback, but it has not deterred us from the dream.

We have lost everything and are reaching out to you for help. We need to start from scratch with everything from tools, lumber, paint, steel, and funds. Anything you can donate brings the dream one step closer to reality. This ship holds sweat, blood, and tears, but most of all, love and memories. SS Ste. Claire is a Detroiter and will fight like a Detroiter.