Lighthouse Repair: All in a Day's Work

Responding to reports of a problem at North Manitou Shoal Lighthouse, Coast Guard Petty Officers Ben L'Allier (right) and Carl Lampman from Station St. Ignace flew from Mackinac County Airport Thursday, January 11. The men were transported to the Lake Michigan beacon by the Traverse City-based Coast Guard helicopter. The trip was in response to reports that the lighthouse's radar transponder, called racon, was not emitting its Morse code signal. The signal specifically identifies that lighthouse and serves as a navigational aid to ships, allowing captains to pinpoint their locations in bad weather. Returning from the mission, Petty Officer L'Allier said they had discovered the racon was faulty and needed to be replaced. They are expected to return to the lighthouse within two weeks to install a new unit. Located approximately midway between the southern end of North Manitou Island and the Lake Michigan shoreline, the lighthouse sits on a concrete base and was built in 1935. Aids to navigation work is a year around responsibility for the crew at the St. Ignace station.