Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes

In Short

Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes is an early twentieth-century juvenile adventure novel following a club of spirited teenage boys as they cruise their small powerboats through Lake Huron, the St. Mary's River, and Lake Superior. Balancing outdoor survival with lighthearted camaraderie, the narrative charts their journey past Mackinac Island to the Canadian wilderness. Along the way, they weather ferocious storms, assist a heartbroken father, and rescue a former rival. The story remains a breezy, nostalgic artifact of early motorboating culture and classic American youth fiction.

The Story

The adventure opens on land with a comical misadventure involving a farm bull, establishing the lighthearted dynamic of the boyish crew. Soon, the group sets out on a multi-boat voyage heading north through the Great Lakes region. Led by the sensible Jack, the fleet consists of Jack’s boat Tramp, George’s speed boat Wireless, and the comfortable, heavy cruiser Comfort, piloted by Herb and Josh, with Jimmie and the stout, food-loving "Buster" Nick rounding out the crew.

As they cruise along the southern shores of Ontario and Lake Erie toward Mackinac Island and Sault Ste. Marie, the boys face the constant threat of unpredictable Great Lakes weather. A sudden, violent mid-summer storm forces George’s cranky speed boat to race for shelter behind a jutting point of land, while Jack and the others maneuver carefully to ensure the entire fleet reaches safety. Along their journey, they cross paths with a grieving farmer, Mr. Fosdick, who asks them to keep an eye out for his runaway son, Andy. They also spot their arrogant rival, Clarence Macklin, piloting his fast boat Flash, who seems determined to race George and stir up trouble.

Upon reaching Mackinac Island, the boys enjoy sightseeing, though they find themselves adopting a mischievous monkey named Jocko, who was left aboard the Comfort. Continuing up the winding St. Mary's River, the boys hire Indian guides to shoot the dangerous Soo Rapids in a canoe—an excursion that turns tense when Jack notices their frail head guide, Old John Boucher, struggling for breath near the treacherous whirlpool.

Entering the cold, vast waters of Lake Superior, the boys set up camp along the Canadian shore. Nick’s bumbling curiosity repeatedly gets the best of him; after inadvertently trapping a skunk and enduring relentless teasing, he later redeems himself by shooting an attacking Canadian lynx with a pump-gun, saving Jimmie and earning the nickname "Nimrod." While camping, the boys discover Andy Fosdick working at a fish camp and convince him to return home to his elderly father.

After a friendly high-speed race on Lake Superior where Clarence and George put their craft to the test, a sudden storm strikes, separating the group. Clarence and his companion Joe find themselves targeted by local scoundrels who hold Clarence captive. Joe escapes and stumbles into the boys' camp, exhausted and bruised. Setting aside their past conflicts, Jack, George, and the crew board the sturdy Comfort with their shotguns, launching a daring night rescue to save their former enemy and ensure everyone returns home safely.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Before setting sail, Nick and Josh encounter a furious bull in a Michigan pasture, prompting a chaotic retreat that ends with Nick scrambling over a rail fence. Reunited with the rest of the fleet, the boys prepare their three motorboats to head north toward Mackinac Island.

Surviving the gale A sudden mid-summer storm whip up dangerous, heavy billows on the lake, forcing George to unleash the full power of his speed boat to round a sheltering point of land while Jack guides the heavier craft to safe harbor.

A father's plea During a shore stop, the boys meet Mr. Fosdick, an aging farmer who contritely begs them to carry word to his estranged runaway son, Andy, if they happen to spot him in the northern fish camps.

Navigating the rapids At Sault Ste. Marie, the boys embark on a thrilling canoe trip down the turbulent Soo Rapids, where Jack watches nervously as their veteran Indian guide struggles against physical exhaustion near a lethal whirlpool.

Wilderness triumphs and blunders While exploring the Canadian shore of Lake Superior, Nick mistakes a skunk for an exotic cat and gets himself temporarily banished from camp, but he later wins full redemption by shooting a wild lynx that leaps at Jimmie.

A rival in distress After a thrilling motorboat race across Lake Superior, Clarence Macklin is captured by shoreline rascals; when his companion Joe escapes and reaches the camp for help, Jack leads the crew on a rescue mission.

The People

• Jack: The level-headed "commodore" and leader of the expedition. He studies his nautical charts diligently, prioritizes the fleet's safety over speed, and insists on doing the right thing, whether delivering a message to a runaway son or rescuing an enemy.
• George: The competitive driver of the sleek speed boat Wireless. He craves a fair race against Clarence's boat, yet he remains a dependable friend who steps up without hesitation when danger strikes.
• Nick ("Buster"): The heavy-set, food-obsessed member of the crew whose clumsy curiosity constantly leads him into trouble. Despite his comical mishaps with bulls, skunks, and lake water, he shows genuine courage when he shoots a lynx to save a friend.
• Josh Purdue: The tall, long-legged camp cook who prepares baked potatoes in the ashes, trades for fresh whitefish, and endlessly teases Nick about his appetite and mishaps.
• Clarence Macklin: A boastful rival boater piloting the Flash. Though arrogant and eager to prove his boat is superior, his capture by lakeside scoundrels forces him to rely on the generosity of Jack and his crew.
• Jimmie: A feisty, dark-haired boy with a thick Irish brogue who brings humor, excitement, and energy to the group's adventures.

In Its Own Voice

"The little motor boats began to actually wallow, unless headed directly into the washing seas."

When a summer storm breaks over the open water, the boys must keep their wits about them to prevent their light craft from capsizing.

"I give you my word I really thought it was a Canada species of cat."

After getting sprayed by a skunk, a thoroughly humiliated Nick tries to explain his mistake to his amused campmates.

"Ye done it, Buster, sure ye knocked the silly gossoon clane over!"

Jimmie erupts into a victory dance after Nick fires his pump-gun and takes down the lunging lynx.

What It's Really About

Beneath its episodic wilderness adventure, Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes explores the transition from boyhood brashness to adult responsibility. The core narrative contrasts the disciplined teamwork of Jack’s crew with the reckless, isolated antagonism of Clarence Macklin. Through navigating treacherous currents, unexpected weather, and outdoor hazards, the boys learn that self-reliance must be balanced with mutual loyalty. The subplots—reconciling a estranged son with his father and setting aside rivalries to save a foe—emphasize forgiveness, sportsmanship, and the moral duty to help others in need, framing outdoor recreation as a testing ground for practical manhood and character buildling.

Why Read It Today

This book offers a charming, nostalgic window into early twentieth-century popular youth fiction and the dawn of recreational motorboating. Readers who enjoy classic outdoor survival tales, historic regional geography, or vintage series books like The Hardy Boys will appreciate its straightforward storytelling and historic maritime setting. The prose moves at a brisk pace, conveying a genuine appreciation for the Great Lakes wilderness, from the historic bluff of Mackinac to the icy expanse of Lake Superior.

Modern readers should be prepared for period attitudes and literary conventions typical of 1912 series fiction. The text features heavy phonetic dialect—particularly Jimmie's exaggerated Irish brogue—and stereotypical depictions of Native American guides. Furthermore, the plot relies on classic melodrama and convenient coincidences, such as bumping into precisely the right runaway son in the vast northern woods. Yet for those interested in vintage American adventure tales, the book remains an easy, lighthearted read that captures the spirit of summer exploration and youthful camaraderie.