As a boy in the 1970s, Michael Plant spent his weekends and summer days in Highlands, New Jersey, especially around the Highlands Marina where his uncle was the manager. Central to the marina was its bar, “The Bitter End,” and while Michael and his cousins were only old enough to play in the bar before it opened to the public, the rooms nautical collectibles - especially the big framed print of the SS United States - were enthralling for Michael.
SS United States Spurs Lifelong Passion for Boats
Memories of SS United States Conquering 135-Foot Waves in the North Atlantic
Voyage 359 - in January 1968 - would include his most memorable crossing. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship encountered a strong storm and heavy waves that McGuire estimates were as much as 135-feet high. In fact, the waves were so high that at one point, McGuire recalled, water from a rogue wave splashed through the top of the forward funnel and down inside the engine room.