SS Bigwin

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History
Canada
NameSS Bigwin
Owner
  • James Kuhn & G. J. Gibson (1910-1924)
  • Huntsville & Lake of Bays Navigation Co. (1924-1945)
  • Bigwin Boat Livery Co. (1945-1960)
  • Bigwin Inn Resort (1960-1970)
  • Lake of Bays Marine Museum (2002)
OperatorLake of Bays Marine Museum
Port of registryCanada
Ordered1909
BuilderPolson Iron Works, Toronto
Laid down1909
Launched1910
Completed1910
In service
  • 1910-1970
  • 2013-present
Out of service1970-2012
IdentificationOfficial number: 126835
FatePartially sunk 1970-1991, raised 1992 and restored 2002-2013
StatusIn service as of 2013
General characteristics [1]
Tonnage
  • 41.5 GT
  • 24.64 NT
Length66 ft (20 m)
Beam11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
Depth6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Decks1
Propulsion
  • Polson triple expansion steam engine (1910)
  • General Motors 115 bhp (86 kW) diesel engine (1956)
Capacity32

SS Bigwin is a small steamship ferry that plies the waters of Lake of Bays in Muskoka area of Ontario.[2]

History[]

The ship was built by Polson Iron Works of Toronto as a private boat[3] for an American owner James Kuhn in 1910 as a yacht and named for his wife as Ella Mary.[4] It was later sold to several owners (1924, 1945 and 1960) to serve as a ferry boat and renamed Bigwin after Bigwin Inn and Chief . In her last years of service, she shuttled customers to Bigwin Inn until it was abandoned and submerged in a slip next to Bigwin Inn from 1970s to 1991.[5]

Recovery and restoration[]

After interested parties took notice of the ship, it was finally raised from the waters in 1991, and was stored on land for a few years until restoration began in 2002 and completed in 2013.[6]

As cruise ship[]

Once restored to service, Bigwin provides cruises near Dorset, Ontario during a July and August sailing period (restricted due to navigation laws).[7]

See also[]

  • RMS Segwun, a larger steamship that operates in the Muskoka region.

References[]

Notes
  1. ^ "Polson Iron Works ships built 1910, Shuniah, Trillium, Bigwin". polsonironworks.ca. 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. ^ "The Bigwin | Bringing it back to life". Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  3. ^ Terry, Marijane. "A Link to the Past" (PDF). www.loba.ca.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Bigwin Steamship • Dorset Ontario Directory Of Tourism Attractions, Resort Accommodations, Community Events & Business Resources - Dorset Community Planning". Dorset Ontario Directory Of Tourism Attractions, Resort Accommodations, Community Events & Business Resources - Dorset Community Planning. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  5. ^ "History of the SS Bigwin". ssbigwin.com. 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  6. ^ Daubs, Katie (14 June 2013). "SS Bigwin returns to Lake of Bays". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Sailing the SS Bigwin". ssbigwin.com. 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
Sources


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