SANDUSKY, Ohio — A Sandusky staple has been saved just in time for the holiday weekend.

After months of fundraising and community-wide efforts, the Goodtime I boat cruise is back home downtown and it’s a sight many locals are happy to see.

It’s been a long and grueling couple of months for the owners of the family-owned business who thought an unexpected and large repair bill would put them under.

But the beloved boat is back where she belongs thanks to the community and city coming together. 

Hundreds of people gathered at the Jackson Street Pier to welcome back the boat at a July 4th celebration.

And now it’s time for the owner, Joe Lamb, to get back to work.

He said a lot of clean-up and repairs are needed before Lake Erie cruises to the islands can start back up again.

Lamb said he is overwhelmed and humbled by all of the love and support his family has received over the last few months.

Two strangers spearheaded the Facebook fundraising effort that helped save the Goodtime I and donations from across the country poured in. 

The city of Sandusky gave the business a $100,000 grant, Lamb took out an $80,000 loan and several donors helped raise enough to cover the costs of the repair bill.

“Thank you is not a big enough word. I mean there was so many people out there that through this campaign donated and helped and I can’t tell you what that means to me and Amy, my family and not just my family, but the Goodtime family here that’s been with us for 15 years and I can’t thank you guys enough," said Lamb.

Lamb said he wants to give back to those who donated with a free trip and the goal is to have everything in tip-top shape by Saturday, July 17 so passenger rides can resume this summer.

The hope is that the season is smooth sailing from here so many more memories can be made on the Goodtime I for years to come.