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True North Pirates Club
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True North Pirates Club is dedicated to enriching our community’s quality of life by bringing the spirit of the Apostle Islands maritime history to life for our local kids and their families. Through free, hands-on island adventures that educate and inspire exploration of our local waters, we pillage our own charter business’s resources to help the next generation connect with our maritime heritage—our boats, our shorelines, and the stories of past adventures that spark wonder for that elusive horizon.
Our Current Expedition
Our current project is to learn to design, build, and sail/row a Mackinaw boat—the same kind of double-ended vessel that once lined these very shores on the north side of Bayfield and throughout the greater Lake Superior region. For generations, these boats carried families and friends into the Apostle Islands for fishing, exploration, and time together on the water.
The late 1800s were a time before outboard motors, when the hours spent traveling from point A to point B on the water were perhaps an unrecognized valuable thread in the fabric and the community that lived here.
Why It Matters
In the past, communities came together through the act of building boats in the winter and setting sail in the summer. Those shared experiences built connection, creativity, and a deep respect for the lake. The Pirates Club seeks to revive that sense of purpose and community—utilizing our charter business’s resources as an avenue for education in boatbuilding, seamanship, and exploration while rediscovering the wild beauty of the islands we call home.
Join Us
By building boats, learning skills, and exploring the islands, we’re not just preserving history—we’re reviving the best parts of it and pushing our story forward. The shores of Lake Superior have always belonged to the pirates: those with a thirst for adventure, freedom, and a bit of rebellious independence.
Click the skull on the map to apply for the pirate crew.
