E-Letter Dec 2012

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Dec 14, 2012 ... will accept online reservations for the Ships and the Heritage Centre and online .... A 1956 Johnson Seahorse 10 hp was purchased to make ...
Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society

Members e-Letter Volume 2, Issue 12, December 2012

Society News

On the Horizon December 14-15, 2012: PreChristmas Sale at Steamship Bay Gift Shoppe. December 14, 2012: Volunteer Christmas Wine & Cheese Party from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the





Over the fall, dredging was undertaken of the area around the Seg-

Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre.

wun dock. Approximately 1 metre of lake bottom was removed. This

January 12 –13, 2013: Mus-

will eliminate the docking issues experienced during periods of low

koka Wedding Show at Muskoka

water levels.

Boat & Heritage Centre.

Work is currently underway to redesign our website (www.realmuskoka.com). The plan is to have a new website which

for more information about the above

will accept online reservations for the Ships and the Heritage Centre

Heritage Centre events please call us

and online Membership sign-up and renewal, as well as a Members’

at 705-687-2115 or for more infor-

Only Area and Archives Department components.



mation on the Ships and cruises please call 705-687-6667

The Management Team are exploring new technology opportunities to enhance our visitors’ experiences aboard the Ships and at the Heritage Centre.



A new ‘information post’ has been ordered and programmed and will be installed outside the front doors of the Heritage Centre. . The

Holiday Hours

‘post’ is a solar powered eco-friendly interpretive device. The Eco-

The Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre will be open the following days over will give people a glimpse of what we offer inside when they arrive the Christmas holidays: after hours. The Ships will have a similar post advertising both Ships December 23 CLOSED programming and Heritage Centre information. December 24 CLOSED December 25 CLOSED On Saturday June 1st, the Society will be holding the “Age of EleDecember 26 CLOSED gance Heritage Fundraising Gala” at the Muskoka Boat & Heritage December 27 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Centre. The event will run from 6:00 pm to Midnight and will include December 28 9:00 am to 4:00 pm 9:00 am to 4:00 pm entertainment, dinner and dancing. Guest of Honour will be Gabrielle December 29 December 30 CLOSED Wills, author of the acclaimed Muskoka Novels Series. The cost is December 31 CLOSED $125.00 per person which includes a $50.00 tax receipt. The proJanuary 1 CLOSED ceeds of the event will be used to support new interactive exhibits January 2 Regular Winter for the Heritage Centre. Tickets are now available at the Heritage Hours Post features four solar panels which power audio messages which



Centre.

Winter Hours

Remember that both Muskoka Steamships as well as Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society have Facebook pages! Check them out for interesting posts, pictures, videos and more! And don’t forget to let us know that you ‘Like: us!

The Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre will be open the following days over the winter: Tuesday to Saturday : 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday and Monday Closed

Join us on Friday December 14th and Saturday December 15th for our Annual Christmas Sale at the Steamship Bay Gift Shoppe at the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre! and Spin for Discounts Enjoy Christmas Goodies and Refreshments Christmas Movies

Looking for great idea for a Christmas gift for your friends and family? Consider these:

• Cruise Gift Certificates. A cruise on RMS Segwun or Wenonah II might be the perfect gift! We offer gift certificates for a monetary amount OR buy a certificate for a cruise in 2013 at 2012 prices

Contact the

Ships office (705-687-6667) for further details.

• Muskoka Steamships and Steamship Bay Gift Shoppe Gift Certificates We offer gift certificates in the dollar amount of your choice.

• Society Membership . Introduce your friends and family to the many rewards of being a member of the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society. Contact us at [email protected] for further details.

• Junior Membership. A great gift at any time of the year, a Junior Membership in the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society is a fantastic and fun way of introducing children and young people to the wonders of their Muskoka Heritage and will help to foster a life long appreciation of this area which is so special to all of us. Only $10.00 per child! Contact us at [email protected] for further details.

Questions or comments? [email protected] or call 705-687-2115

2013 Winter Feature Boat Wacouta The feature boat on display at the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre for the 2013 winter is a 26 foot, 1927 Minett-Shields Launch named Wacouta. This boat was the prototype hull design of MinettShields serving as an example for the later construction in 1928 of Fleetwood II and in 1931 of Llanlady. The hull design of Wacouta has a concave forefoot, which delivers marvellous high speed planning characteristics yet is a smooth ride in rough water. The original 6-cylinder engine was removed in 1956 and sent to a sawmill as a parts engine. The current engine, a Buchanan 283, 185 hp, is the replacement. Wacouta was originally owned by W. J. Craig of Lake Joseph, Muskoka and still resides on that lake. The name Wacouta means “fast running water”. To learn more about this month’s artifact as well as many more from our collection, stop by the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre .Please remember that the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre is open all year, and as a member of the Society, you are entitled to free admission.

Questions or comments? [email protected] or call 705-687-2115

2013 Winter Boathouse Line-Up The following boats are now on display in the Grace & Speed Boathouse:

Clairie II (32’ Hutchinson, 1920 Raceboat) This is fine example of a Hutchinson boat built in Alexandria Bay, New York. This company built few but excellent quality boats which makes them more valuable today. Notice that there is no metal stem at the bow of the boat, a characteristic of most American built boats.

Pugsley (18’ Minett, 1910 Punt) This boat was built by Bert Minett at Cleveland’s House and used by the owner of Ouno Island, Lake Rosseau to ferry passengers and goods from the steamships to their island. It is powered by a Buchanan Bulldog 25 hp motor.

Mitig (18’ Duke Playmate, 1938 Runabout ) This Playmate model was typical of many boats produced by Dukes of Port Carling.

Avalon (36' Ditchburn, 1924 Launch) This wooden boat is an excellent example of the motor launches, which were manufactured by Herb Ditchburn. Avalon was originally commissioned in 1923 or 1924 by Mr. Miller Lash of Toronto and he and his family enjoyed the boat for many years. It now resides on Lake Muskoka. Bumps (13’ Muskoka Canoe Company, 1956 Runabout) This boat was acquired when the present owners purchased a cottage on Gull Lake and it was strapped to the inside of the boathouse for 17 years. Then it was restored by the late Patrick Wren of Legacy Boatworks. A 1956 Johnson Seahorse 10 hp was purchased to make the boat complete.

Lightning (28’ Greavette, 1946 Launch) This boat was built to include a 1905 ‘Standard’ racing engine found in the Eaton’s boathouse by Cameron Peck, who commissioned the boat to be built for $3000 in 1946. The boat was designed by John Hacker who was a well known boat designer of the time. The hull is a copy of speedboats of the 1905 era and the rare engine is an open crankcase design. Kindling (31’ Unknown Manufacturer, 1912 Launch) This boat is celebrating her 100th birthday this year. She travelled to a boat show in Missouri to celebrate her special year. She is powered by a Gray 4 cylinder 75 hp motor. She resides on this lake and is used frequently by her owners. (26’ Ditchburn, 1925 launch) This early Ditchburn was built at this site, in Gravenhurst, where Ditchburn Boats carried on their business. It now resides on Mary Lake, Muskoka after being restored in the 1970’s and again in 1995 by Butson Boats of Minett.

Pardon Me (20’ W. J. Johnson, 1934 Launch) This boat is a good example of the work of W.J. Johnston Jr. (Young Billy). In 1929, Johnston Jr. began his business at the site of the old Dispro Factory in Port Carling. Johnston’s first boats looked very similar to SeaBirDs however he quickly developed styles that were uniquely his own. His boats were known to be fast and smooth running. Johnston built boats until 1956 when he retired.

Merganser (23’ W.J. Johnson, 1932 Launch) Built in Port Carling, Muskoka, the original name of this boat was Lolipop. She is powered with a 6 cylinder Dodge engine.

Osprey III (20’ Minett-Shields, 1936 Gentleman’s Racer) This boat is a fine example of the great craftsmanship of the Minett-Shields boat company of Bracebridge, Muskoka. The boat was designed by Earl Barnes who worked on and off for Minett-Shields and later had his own boat building company, also in Bracebridge. Osprey III was built for Miss Marjorie Balm. Her present owner is the second owner.

Yohome (21’ Ditchburn, 1928 Launch ) This boat was built on this very property and was the smallest Ditchburn boat ever built. It features a 4 –cylinder flathead engine and its owner describes it as “cutting through the water like a mahogany knife”. It was discovered a few years ago in a field in Quebec with nothing but good bones. Yohome is named from Yoho Island in Lake Joseph. (19’ Duke Boat, 1950 Utility) Identified by its forward drive, walk around inboard engine and a general purpose intention in design, the utility boat became a popular model after World War II. It was like the station wagon of family boats. The last Duke to be built was a utility and was completed in 1971. Nearly every manufacturer of this period from 1945 to 1960 made a utility type boat.

Sailboat (14’ Ackroyd, 1939 sailboat) This boat has lapstake cedar planking on steam-bent white oak frames. There is a Sitka spruce mast, boom and gaff. Ackroyd sailboats were built in Toronto until 1945 and these boats were popular at children’s camps.

Nipissing (25’ Unknown manufacturer, Late 1800’s Canopy Steam Launch) Nipissing was found derelict on Georgian Bay in 1971. The present owner has restored her and installed an authentic wood burning 2cylinder compound steam engine built in England in the late 1800’s. The hull is cypress carvel strakes on white oak frames