The Club PUBlication 08/04/2025

BADGER'S SHIP WHEEL

SS BADGER

BADGER'S ANCHOR - OVER 2000 LBS

SS Badger 
Powering across Lake Michigan 

The historic SS Badger, a coal-fired car ferry on Lake Michigan, relies on a combination of traditional and powerful methods to navigate the waters. While the ship's wheel plays a crucial role, the vessel's primary steering mechanism lies in the sophisticated control of its twin propellers, a system that renders the ancient technique of kedging - (using the anchor to position the ship in tight manuvers) unnecessary for this maritime giant.

Steering the Badger: A Dance of Engines
The SS Badger is equipped with two large propellers, each driven by its own powerful Skinner Unaflow steam engine.This independent propulsion system is the key to the ship's maneuverability. The captain, from the bridge, utilizes a telegraph system to relay commands to the engine room. By adjusting the speed and direction (forward or reverse) of each propeller independently, the vessel can be turned, steered, and even moved sideways with remarkable precision for its size. This method is particularly effective for docking and navigating in the sometimes-tight confines of its ports in Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

The iconic ship's wheel is not directly connected to the rudders in the way one might imagine on a smaller vessel. Instead, it is part of the telegraph system that communicates the desired rudder angle to the steering gear in the stern of the ship, which then hydraulically moves the massive rudder.

The Role of the Anchors
The SS Badger is outfitted with two formidable 7,000-pound Stockless anchors. However, these anchors are not used for steering under normal circumstances. Their primary function is to hold the vessel in place in open water, particularly in situations of engine failure or while waiting for a berth to become available. Dropping and weighing these massive anchors is a time-consuming process and would be an impractical and inefficient method for routine maneuvering.

Kedging: A Technique of a Different Era and Scale
Kedging is a traditional maritime technique where a smaller, secondary anchor, known as a "kedge anchor," is carried out from a vessel by a small boat, dropped, and then the vessel is hauled towards the anchor by pulling on the anchor line.This method was historically used by sailing ships to move against the wind or current, or to free themselves after running aground.

For a vessel the size and power of the SS Badger, kedging is not a viable or necessary method of propulsion or steering. The ship's powerful engines and twin-screw propulsion system provide all the necessary control for maneuvering in various conditions. The scale of the SS Badger and the forces involved would make any attempt at kedging with a secondary anchor an immense and impractical undertaking. 

​The historic car ferry relies on the raw power of steam and the skilled coordination of its engine and bridge crews to navigate the waters of Lake Michigan.