DescriptionThis volume of the Saugatuck Maritime Series covers boats built on the Kalamazoo River in southern Michigan from prehistoric Indian canoes to today's championship racing boats. The riverbank has been the birthplace for plank river rafts, white oak schooners, tug boats, steam freight and passenger craft that were built before 1920, modern steel stern paddlewheel excursion boats, flat hulled river-going houseboats, sleek aluminum luxury yachts, fiberglass racing hulls, and exotic post-cold War landing craft. More than 1000 vessels have been constructed at Saugatuck and Douglas, twin towns near the mouth of the river, and work continues there today, but there also has been boat excursions at Allegan, New Richmond, Kalamazoo, Marshall and Albion. 288 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.