David Lyle spent his career on the water that included work on freighters, a Customs inspector, and president of Walstrom Marine. On marine vessels, he sailed on the Gulf of Mexico, the North Atlantic, and the Great Lakes. Join us as David recounts his work on Great Lakes Freighters. 

In cooperation with the St. Ignace Public Library and generous funding from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, this is a free in-person presentation. Registration is recommended but not required. Click here to register.

David Lyle has over 40 years on marine experience. He was with the U.S. Merchant Marine for four years, followed by four years working as an inspector for U.S. Customs in Detroit, Michigan and Dutch Harbor, Alaska. After leaving U.S. Customs, David spent 35 years with Walstrom Marine in Harbor Springs, Michigan, and retired as its president in 2016. His nautical experience included completing the Great Loop in one year on a 28' Pearson Triton sloop. He worked as a deckhand on U.S. ore freighters, and a ordinary seaman aboard a U.S. container ship in the North Atlantic route. After crossing the Atlantic twice, David worked on a tug boat out of Boston Harbor. He later worked as First Mate on a 100' Gulf of Mexico offshore supply boat for the oil rigs. Returning to Michigan, David was a ferry boat captain in Copper Harbor, Michigan. During his time with Walstrom Marine, he delivered numerous yachts in the Great Lakes.