News photo by Josh Jambor The Lady Michigan is hoisted in the air with a crane as it’s carefully placed back into the Thunder Bay River on Monday afternoon.

ALPENA – A familiar sight returned to the waters of Thunder Bay River on Monday as a crane lowered the recently renovated glass-bottom boat Lady Michigan back into service.

The launch kicks off another season of popular shipwreck tours in Alpena. Lady Michigan is one of three boats that take passengers out to view shipwrecks and tour the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Jeff Konczak, owner of Alpena Shipwreck Tours, watched the carefully orchestrated launch, which marked the return of the vessel after winter maintenance and upgrades.

“We had a complete refit of the boot, which has never been done before, new fiberglass, new paint, new sound system, the whole works,” Konczak said. “It was very expensive, but this boat never had this level of work done and it absolutely needed it.”

“We want to maintain the highest standards,” Konczak said in a previous News story, emphasizing the importance of local stewardship as it relates to the makeover. “She’s 14 or 15 years old. Rather than do minor fixes, cosmetic things, every year….it was time to bite the bullet.”

Konczak purchased the Lady Michigan in 2023 to ensure that the iconic shipwreck tours remain locally owned and operating, preserving a key piece of Alpena’s maritime heritage for the community and visitors alike.

“When the boat was going to be sold, me and my wife could not let it go, so we stepped up and bought the boat and this will be our fourth year owning the boat,” Konczak said. “The boat is very important for the local economy.”

The 65-foot catamaran-style boat, which can carry up to 80 passengers, features large glass-bottom viewing wells on the lower deck that allow guests to peer directly at well-preserved shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary without getting wet. Tours typically last about two hours and offer views of two to five wrecks, depending on weather and visibility. The lower deck is heated with seating, and the upper deck provides open-air views of Lake Huron’s scenic shoreline.

Excursions depart from the dock behind the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, in partnership with the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

With the Lady Michigan back in the water, Alpena is ready to share its “Shipwreck Alley” with another season of visitors eager to experience the crystal-clear waters and rich history of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

If you are interested in booking a trip, or obtaining more information on the tours, you can go to their website alpenashipwrecktours.com. Individual tickets can also be purchased at the ticket office near the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.