1. How long and wide is the S.S. Badger? Length 410'6 Beam 59'6

2. How long and wide is Lake Michigan? 307 miles long; at its widest point 118 miles wide

3. How tall is the Badger? 106'9"from top of the spar to the bottom of keel.

4. How big is Lake Michigan? Lake Michigan covers an area of 22,178 sq. miles

5. How deep is the lake where the Badger crosses? Between 400 and 600 ft. deep

6. Where is the deepest part of Lake Michigan? The lake's deepest part is 924' deep or 154 fathoms (1 fathom=6 feet). This area is located off Point Betsie near Frank fort, Michigan.

7. How many miles is it from Ludington to Manitowoc? Approx. 60 miles

8. Is the S.S. Badger a ship or a boat? The Badger is a ship. A maritime rule of thumb is - a boat can be placed on a ship.

9. What is the cruising speed of the Badger? On water a ship's speed is measured in knots. At a speed of one knot, a ship would be traveling one nautical mile per hour. A nautical mile is equal to 1.15 statute miles. The Badger's cruising speed of 17 miles per hour is equal to 14 and 8/10 knots.

The S. S. Badger offers the only cross-lake passenger-oriented service operating on the Great Lakes. A four-hour 60-mile cruise will take passengers and their vehicles or bicycles across Lake Michigan between Ludington, Michigan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

* The ship accommodates 620 passengers, 180 automobiles, tour buses recreational vehicles, and semi-trucks.

* The S. S Badger was built, in 1952, by the Christy Corporafion of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Cost to build was $5 million.

* The ship was first launched on September 6, 1952, and began daily service on March21, 1953. Car ferry service between Michigan and Wisconsin has been in existence for over 100 years.

* After being idle for a year-and-a-half, the Badger resumed cross-lake service between Ludington and Manitowoc on May 18, 1992, under the new ownership of the Lake Michigan Carferry Service, Inc.

* Dimensions: (The Badger is approximately one-and-one-half times the size of a football field.) Weight: 4,244 gross tons, Length: 410 feet 6 inches,Width: 59 feet, 6 inches, Height: 4 stories * Number of crew members on each trip: 60

* 42 newly-renovated staterooms, 84 berths

* Average sea speed: 18 luiles per hour. Top speed: 24 miles per hour.

* Engine: Type: Two Skinner Unaflow four-cylinder Make: Skinner Engine Company RPM: 100 RPM Horsepower: 3,500 SHP ea. at 100 rpm Total Horsepower: 7,000 * Boilers: Four Foster-Wheeler type D marine

* Propellers: Two solid 4-blade cast steel - weight: 15,400 lbs.

* Anchors: Two Stockless - weight: 7,000 lbs. each

* Amenities:

- Indoor lounges and buffet-style restaurant on top deck - Family-style deli buffet on passenger deck - Newly enclosed, weather protected deck - 42 updated staterooms - Gift shop - Maritime museum - Arcade - Movie viewing room - Wheelchair lift - Live entertainment - Cellular telephone - Lockers

* Famous people who have been passengers aboard the S. S. Badger:

Entertainers - Jack Benny and Mary Livingston - Cary Grant - Tyrone Power - Agnes Moorehead - Artie Shaw, band leader - Tammy Wynette - The Ink Spots - Little Jimmy Dickens - The Who Weird Al Yankovich

Sports legends - Angolan Olympic Basketball Team Gorgeous George, world champion wrestler George Kell, baseball - Harry Heilmanri, baseball Larry M~hail, baseball - Eddie Matthews, baseball - Pancho Gonzales, tennis - Vic Sexias, tennis

Since 06/05/97

Badger trivia & Fact Sheet courtesy of Lake Michigan Carferry.