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Retired Icebreaker Mackinaw sitting at the aging
Chief Wawatam railroad ferry dock in Mackinaw City, MI |
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In the high-res version of the image you can see the 160-40 Meter Dipole swung
from the end of the Starboard end of the lower horizontal arm. Also visible at
each of the spot-lights on the upper deck are the antenna couplers and vertical
antennas linked to the two Sunair RT-9000 transceivers. Additional antennas planned
for this year are VHF and UHF repeater antennas at the top of the mast and a
KC8TU customized wire antenna for the Port side.
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| High Res |
| Members of the CCECPSCO and affiliated organizations at the Icebreaker Mackinaw |
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From left to right: John Wilcox KC8OAZ, Bill Dunstan KD8CNS, Chuck Brew N8NXP,
Rick Jersey KC8TU, Bob Still KD8CYQ, Chuck Scott N8DNX, Tom Swiger WA8AA,
Ralph Mueller WB8TBL, Mike Cleary W8VPC.
Note the ship's designation WAGB-83. Suprisingly, the call letters W8AGB became available a bit ago and we were
able to secure that as a vanity call for use on the ship. If you hear W8AGB on the air, it will be from the Icebreaker
Mackinaw, so give us a call!
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| High Res |
| Gathering in the Mackinaw's Wardroom prior to the April CCECPSCO Meeting |
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From left to right: Chuck Brew N8NXP, Bill Dunstan KD8CNS, Ralph Mueller WB8TBL,
Tom Swiger WA8AA, Mike Cleary W8VPC, John Wilcox KC8OAZ, Dale Noble KG8GGX,
Bob Still KD8CYQ, Ron Peterka WA8OOH, Marv DeWitt KC8MLD
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| High Res |
| "Captain" Bob |
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Bob Still KD8CYQ took this moment to reflect on W8AGB operations from the captains
chair in the Wheelhouse. (Kind of that Captain Ahab look!)
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| High Res |
| Restoring power to systems in the Chart Room |
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Bill Dunstan KD8CNS looks on as Rick Jersey KC8TU works on restoring power
distribution to the various equipment above the chart table in the Chart Room.
The Chart Room is located just aft of the Wheelhouse. The next room aft of the
Chart Room is the Crypto and Radio Room which is where the RT-9000's, the
W8AGB VHF and UHF repeaters, DC supplies and power distribution for much of the
ships communications and navigation equipment, and other equipment are being
installed and restored.
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| High Res |
| KD8CNS testing one of the ship's Sunair RT-9000 HF radios |
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Bill Dunstan KD8CNS, sitting at what will become the W8AGB main
operating position, is shown testing one of the two Sunair RT-9000
HF radios that belong to the ship. One of these very robust 125 Watt
HF radios was connected to the ship's crypto equipment and the other
was for voice communications. The CCECPSCO is looking for at least
one of the RCU-9310 remote control panels and a pair of Sunair F-9800
Pre/Post Selectors to permit full use of these radios. Both radios
were originally connected to 125 Watt antenna couplers and vertical
antennas. The CCECPSCO has restored operation of one coupler
and antenna and is hoping to complete the second this summer.
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| KC8TU and N8NXP take a break in the Chart Room |
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Equipment for the radar Chuck is leaning on has been removed from the ship. Other smaller
radar and much of the ships communications and navigation equipment is still on-board. CCECPSCO
members are assisting the museum with restoration and operation of the those systems. The
CCECPSCO is also researching communications equipment that had been used on the ship in years past
and will be working to acquire and restore examples of that equipment.
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| High Res |
| KD8CNS barks orders to an empty engine room |
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| High Res |
| Members of the CCECPSCO take a break in the Wheelhouse |
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From left to right: Ralph Mueller WB8TBL, John Wilcox KC8OAZ, Chuck Brew N8NXP,
Bill Dunstan KD8CNS, Bob Still KD8CYQ, Tom Swiger WA8AA, Chuck Scott N8DNX,
Mike Cleary W8VPC, Rick Jersey KC8TU
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W8AGB 2008 Operations
- Station is staffed every other weekend throughout the season.
- CCECPSCO members may be present at other times
- Visiting Hams are asked to pay the museum admission
- Visiting Hams with a copy of their license may operate the station when a CCECPSCO member is present
- Visiting Hams may contact the CCECPSCO by E-Mail or call on the 146.740 103.5 PL, 146.680 110.9 PL, 442.375 107.2 PL or
the ship's repeaters on 145.110 103.5 PL (pending coordination) or 444.375 107.2 PL
Ship Statistics
| Launch Date | March 4, 1944 |
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| Length | 290 feet |
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| Beam | 74 feet 4 inches |
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| Power | Six Fairbanks Morse 10-cylinder diesel engines with generators |
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| Propulsion | Two 14-foot stern propellers with electric drive
One 12-foot front propeller with electric drive |
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| Total shaft horsepower | 10,000 |
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| Maximum speed | 19 Knots (22 miles/hr) |
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| Gross Displacement | 5,252.4 Tons |
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| Side to Side heeling system | 112,000 gallons of ballast in 90 seconds |
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| Decommissioned | June 10, 2006 |
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| Current Location | Chief Wawatam ferry dock, Mackinaw City, MI |
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Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum Official Web Site
Icebreaker Mackinaw Wikipedia Page
Additional Raw Photos
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