Star Line
Ferry started in 1978 when Thomas Pfeiffelmann, Sam
McIntire, and others bought J.K. Barnhill's Argosy
Boatline of Saint Ignace Michigan. Five original
stockholders corresponded with the five points of a
star, thus the name Star Line was created. The ferries
at that time were: TREASURE ISLANDER, LA SALLE (1), and
NICOLET (1). Treasure Islander got her name from the
store the dock was behind. La Salle was formerly known
as Flamingo, a tour boat. Nicolet was featured in
Somewhere in Time. In 1979, GulfCraft of Paterson
Louisiana constructed the first modern Star Line boat,
MARQUETTE. Over time the old ferries (Treasure Islander,
La Salle (1), and Nicolet (1) were sold off, and
replaced with LA SALLE (2) in 1983, NICOLET (2) in 1985,
RADISSON in 1988, CADILLAC in 1990, and JOLIET in 1993.
RADISSON was the first boat to be built new as a
hydro-jet. The Marquette, La Salle, and Nicolet were
converted later. La Salle was the first to be converted.
At this point vents were added to their sides. The
hydros originally did not raise above the surface. They
were then raised to create a tail, and provide no power
to the boat. Joliet ran much of her career from the
Railroad Dock in St. Ignace. Shehas been inactive all of
2005. In 2004, the MARQUETTE was sold to Davis Park
Marine of Long Island, NY. She ferries passengers to
Fire Island. Romour is that her new name is FIRE
ISLANDER. GulfCraft built the MARQUETTE II to replace
MARQUETTE. She is most similar to the 85 foot RADISSON.
RADISSON has two hydro-jets. RADISSON and MARQUETTE II
seat 350
