Today, January 13, 2025, marks the three-month anniversary of the Milwaukee Boat. Three months! Yes, on October 13, 2024, owners of the 33-foot Chris-Craft Roamer ran the thing ashore between Bradford and McKinley beaches. It’s been there ever since, to the delight of the entire city.

October 18

January 13

We’ve assembled a handy FAQ about the Milwaukee Boat HERE. (Yes, they’ve tried to tow it; no, they haven’t been successful.) For this article, however, we’re focusing solely on some of (not all of) the stuff currently spray-painted on, or stuck to, the Milwaukee Boat. The thing has seen plenty of graffiti and sticker action in the past week or so; with the frozen water creating a (slick) bridge to the thing, it’s easier than ever to walk right up to it and let the world know your band and/or bar appreciates the magic of the Milwaukee Boat. Also: DEEZ NUTS.

1. ALIENS / S.S. Minnow / I Closed Wolski’s
The original Milwaukee Boat defacements! “ALIENS” was done by local artists Therd and Emork in mid-December. “S.S. Minnow” is a nod to Gilligan’s Island—a perfect reference for a town that proudly boasts a bronze statue of Fonzie from Happy Days. “I Closed Wolski’s,” meanwhile, is a famous sticker from Milwaukee’s famous tavern. We kind of wish it was still the only sticker on the boat, but oh well.


2. Scam Likely / The Keystones / Cripes
Milwaukee bands love the Milwaukee Boat! And we love all three of these bands! If you’re looking to check them out in person, Scam Likely is playing Cactus Club this Saturday!


3. Designated sticker area / Clementines / Red Maple MKE
There’s a nice little designated sticker zone filled with tributes to everything from 88.9 Radio Milwaukee to 88.9 Radio Madison. Also, we spotted stickers for bars Clementines and Red Maple MKE. The latter bar was the winner of our inaugural Casserole Call in 2023!


4. Spray-painted cock ‘n’ balls complete with I Closed Wolksi’s and Ma Fischer’s stickers
It would be weird if these things weren’t on the Milwaukee Boat by now, right? Well, maybe just the cock ‘n’ balls. Censoring this piece of offensive anatomy with another “I Closed Wolski’s” sticker is pretty great, though.


5. DEEZ NUTS / THE GREATEST / LUV YOU SELF
At the risk of sounding prudish, these tags kind of blow. They’re sloppy, crummy looking, and just junk the whole thing up. But whatever: Stuff like this was bound to show up sooner or later, and it can easily be painted over with something better! Someone get on that! (Note: Milwaukee Record does not condone the defacement of boats, no matter how abandoned and frozen in place they may be.)


6. People’s Flag of Milwaukee
Another “it would be weird if this wasn’t there” thing. Opinions vary on the so-called “People’s Flag” (THIS is still the official Milwaukee city flag, by the way), but the whole “Sunset Over The Lake” theme works perfectly for the Milwaukee Boat. May the flag fly forever over this ridiculous and apparently unsalvageable cultural landmark forever.


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Co-Founder and Editor

Matt Wild weighs between 140 and 145 pounds. He lives on Milwaukee's east side.