Murdock’s love of the water started with ice cream

Steve Murdock

Port Captain, Algonac (D-18), and Harsens Island (D-22)

Growing up in Flint, Mich., my parents weren’t boaters, and we had limited access to the lakes where we lived. We did spend most summers at my great-grandparents’ home in Harrisville, Mich., where part of our daily routine was to get an ice cream cone after dinner and drive to the harbor to admire the boats.  

When I was 12, my father took a temporary work assignment in Traverse City, Mich., and rented a cottage on Grand Traverse Bay for the summer.  

The owner of the cottage took us out for the day on his 26-foot Chris-Craft Sea Skiff, and that experience really put the hook in me. Years later, after my time at sea in the Pacific with the U.S. Navy, I bought my first boat and have been passionate about boating ever since.

Over the years, I have cruised lakes Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Superior on five different boats. In 2025, I plan to add Lake Ontario to the list as I bring our new boat, Patriot, back home from Annapolis, Maryland.  

During my 30-plus years in the Navy, I traveled all over the world. While I’ve visited many beautiful places (and some not so nice), none appeal to me as much as the Great Lakes.

My current homeport is in St. Clair Shores, Mich. Most years, my wife Barb and I cruise north into lakes Huron and Michigan. We love sharing our experiences with family and friends. and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow boaters.

I have attended many GLCC webinars through the GLCCSchool and make a point of reviewing GLCC Harbor Reports when cruising the Great Lakes. I hold a USCG 50-ton Masters License. I am a member of the America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association, and the Birmingham Power Squadron. I also currently serve as Rear Commodore at the Great Lakes Yacht Club in St. Clair Shores, Mich.