SANDUSKY, Ohio — A beloved boat in downtown Sandusky may not be able to offer Lake Erie cruises this summer due to unforeseen expenses.
What You Need To Know
- The Goodtime I is a Lake Erie cruise ship in Sandusky
- The ship is in need of about $400,000 in repairs
- Community members have already raised $40,000 through a Facebook group
It’s a big blow for the family-owned business, but many community efforts are underway to save the Goodtime I.
Goodtime I should be docked at the Jackson Street Pier in Sandusky, where it has been for decades, but it may not be cruising along Lake Erie this summer due to a hefty repair bill.
Joe Lamb (Photo by Micaela Marshall)
But if community members have it their way, the business will stay afloat.“Love being here,” said Joe Lamb.
This marks the 15th season Lamb has been living his dream of working on the water as the owner of the Goodtime I.
“It’s heartbreaking not to be able to do it,” he said.
The Sandusky native has been a captain for more than 30 years and he loves serving his community, but Lamb said he had no idea just how much the community loved him and his boat back.
“I was blown away,” he said. “Absolutely blown away by it and it’s not just the support that people love the boat. It’s the support that people love my family enough to want to help.”
The Goodtime I has hosted countless cruises and celebrations, both daytime and sunset trips to the Lake Erie islands every May through October.
“Brings back a lot of memories,” he said while scrolling through pictures.
When the news broke that the 51-year-old boat wouldn’t make it back home this summer, a stranger reached out on a limb to Lamb and offered to help.
“Knock yourself out. I said that be awesome,” said Lamb.
In about a week’s time, a Facebook group called “Save the GoodTime I in Sandusky Ohio!” racked up more than 7,000 members and raised more than $40,000 through various fundraisers.
“I look at this every day,” said Lamb while scrolling through the Facebook page.
But the repair bill is around $400,000.
(Courtesy of Goodtime I)
“Never knew in a million years that there was that much deteriorated metal,” Lamb said. “I mean if you look at it, it looked fine.”
The work was done at the Shipyards in Cleveland and that’s where the boat still sits.
“Definitely a tough pill to swallow,” said Lamb.
This all stems from a mandatory dry dock inspection that happens every five years. It revealed the need for quite a few expensive repairs.
“It just kind of opened Pandora’s box,” he said.
Lamb thought the total would be at most $50,000, not eight times that.
“I just need help,” said Lamb.
He left no stone unturned when searching for a grant or loan to pay for it, but ultimately his family realized it just wasn’t in the cards.
(Courtesy of Goodtime I)
“It’s been a nightmare. It’s been a rollercoaster for the last five, six months trying to figure out how we’re going to make this work,” he said.
Last summer, the Goodtime Cafe opened.
“These are like half-pound sandwiches,” he explained.
The plan is to bring the bagel shop back if nothing else.
“Everything Emma,” Lamb said while pointing at the menu. “That’s my little next door neighbor’s name, Emma.”
Even prior to all of this, it’s been a hard couple of years for the boat business. This season was supposed to be a comeback from COVID-19.
“Very stressful, emotional,” he said.
Lamb said the Goodtime I has a lot more life left in her and Lamb’s holding on to hope.
“I have high hopes. Just very cautious about trying to get overly hopeful,” he said. “I don’t know if I can handle another big letdown like this again.”
But no matter what happens, Lamb is grateful to know so many care.
“There’s really no words to describe it other than just being very humbling and overwhelming,” he said.
More information on the efforts to save the Goodtime I may be found on the group’s Facebook page. Lamb said all money will be returned if the boat is not able to come back.
