Shepler's Ferry

In the winter of 1950, he built his own Bay Craft kit boat in Cheboygan, a 30-foot (9.1 m) cabin cruiser with twin gas engines with a capacity of 24 passengers.

During the winter of 1953, Shepler built a second kit boat, a high-speed cruiser, the Billy Dick, named after the captain's son, William Richard.

At that time there were two competitors: Star Line (now Mackinac Island Ferry Company) and Arnold Transit Co.; the latter ceased operations in late 2016.

[7] In 2015, the company added a new 85-foot long vessel with a triple engine and 281-person capacity; the new Miss Margy was built in Onaway in Northern Michigan.

[10] In addition to the ferry service in 2019, the company was offering Lighthouse Cruises through the Straits of Mackinac and on Lake Michigan as well as other sightseeing options.

[11][12] An announcement in June 2019 stated that Shepler's had ordered a $4 million, 210-passenger ferry with four jet drives; this vessel was expected to begin operation the following summer.