The Harbor Steamer, a fixture on Spring Lake, the Grand River and Lake Michigan for the past 22 years, will soon be plying the salty waters of the Caribbean Sea.

The 65-foot, double-deck paddle-wheel based in Grand Haven sold Tuesday on eBay for $145,000 to Sean Mackay, 35, of Scotland, who said he intends to operate the vessel off an undisclosed Caribbean island as an excursion boat.

“It will be used primarily as an excursion boat, with day and possibly sunset cruises,” Mackay said through an e-mail interview. “We will also make it available for charter, for groups and weddings.”

Because of competition from other excursion boats, Mackay is not disclosing at this time where the Harbor Steamer will be based.

Mackay and his wife own Guardlok UK, a manufacturer of safety equipment. He said this is his first venture into the excursion boat market.

“We have not owned a boat like this before and neither of us have ever even been on a paddlewheel boat,” he said.

The purchase came after the Harbor Steamer was placed on eBay for 10 days ending last Saturday with no sale. But over the weekend, Mackay and representatives of the owners negotiated a final sale price and arranged to have the Harbor Steamer placed back on eBay Tuesday with a “Buy it now” option. Mackay was notified when the boat was placed on eBay and immediately bought it.

Posted: 06|1|06 at 6:06 pm. Filed under: US News.