Bigwin Steamer 66' rebuild need help

[Jeff G]

I am a director of the Lake of Bays heritage Foundation in Canada. We have a 66' Polsons Ironworks steamboat which we plan to restore. Because it is a composite design in poor condition we expect to start a new hull and use as much of the old boat as we can. I have contacted Melbourne Smith as a possible boat designer and builder but am unaware of other people who might have enough experience to do the work. We plan to use the boat for commercial operations in Canada so we will need to meet all DOT and Coast guard regulations. Any suggestions of who I should speak to about design plans etc. Thanks

[RGM]

Do you have any pictures, new and old, of the vessel in question that you can post? What is the age of the vessel? What type of composite construction are you dealing with? Has the boat been given the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. designation of "Historic Landmark"? Is it eligible for such a designation? Have you already sat down with the Canadian Coast Guard and fully discussed/disclosed what your intentions are for the vessel? Have you already started acquiring and storing suitable material for the restoration? Will it be equipped with a full galley (built in equipment) or be set up for removable/portable catering equipment? You can probably tell that I'ld like to know a little more about your project.

[ 04-11-2002, 02:16 PM: Message edited by: RGM ]

[Bob Cleek]

I can't speak for the Canadians, but down here, that shot hull is the least of your problems. I'd just about bet that you'd never get a ticket to run a steam engine for passenger carrying on a 66 footer in a million years. Do you have any idea what kind of documentation, certification, and qualifications it requires just to START a steam engine... put passengers under it and you're increasing that exponentially. Still, it sounds like a worthwhile project... expensivea and not profitable, but definitely worthwhile! LOL

[Jeff G]

I have some pictures from the 50's and I am waiting to get some pictures from the surveyor. The Bigwin was built in Toronto by the Polsons Iron Works for a Pittsburg industrialist Mr. Kuhn. It was originally named the Ella Mary. The family used it as a pleasure boat on lake Muskoka, Canada until 1924 when it was sold to the Huntsville Lake of Bays Navigation Company. It served as a ferry until the lodge closed in 1969. Our foundation removed it from its boat house in 1991 and it has been on shore since then. The boat has has 2 L beams bolted together down the keel and steel ribs with the hull planking bolted to them. In Canada we do not have strong laws protecting heritage or historic landmarks. Actually because it is 66' long and 11' 10" wide it does not meet the Coast Guard regulations for stability. To meet these regulatiopns the Architec and CG have agreed that we should reconstruct it 4" wider. We do not plan to use the steam engine. Unfortunately the regulations are too difficult to maintain over time. We have a 36 foot boat on our lake which converted to an electric engine and apparently this is very popular in Sweden and Norway. We expect to replace the 9.95 HP steam engine with an 18 HP electric engine. Because the wood and steel are in bad shape and we need to operate this boat commercially, in a not for profit company, we think it might be better to start with a new hull and then use as many of the good pices of the boat as we can. We expect to get a large amount of the funding from government and the rest from private donations. We have 1400 summer lake houses on the lake and they are mostly wealthy and supportive to the restoration. We have spoken to Melbourne Smith about designinmg and building. Any suggestions on others who could do either? We plan to have a small galley with a bar and 2 washrooms. Charters will be very popular. We are in a similar market to the Segwun on Lake Muskoka. They carry 40,000 pax/year. We have not started to acquire materials yet. We are however buying the land and buildings we need to operate the boat from. Piers and land acccess are scarce so we have an opportunity to acquire the perfect location now. Sorry for going on so long. I hope you sence that I am not an expert but I have the drive and passion to make this project go. I do need help however so fire away at the questions or challenge my comments.

[Jeff G]

Bob thanks for your comments. We are planning on running an electric engine and having the steam engine on display. We do have steam boats in operation in Canada however they require a 3rd class steam ticket which means you need years on the great lakes. There are only 10 steam ships on th GLs now so it is unlikely we could acquire these people. We are a not for profit group and we can issue tax receipts for donations. Canadian tax rates are around 48% so you can get a lot back. We can get half the moneyu from the gov and we have a large population of wealthy cottagers so we should be able to raise the money.

[RGM]

Jeff, no apologies necessary for "going on so long". I look forward to seeing the pictures. That's quite the task that you and your group are undertaking. It sounds like you are "getting your ducks in a row" with regard to Coast Guard and engineering. Four inches wider doesn't sound like enough, but what the hell, they know what they're talking about,right? Good move to secure the property while you can. Building a new hull should go smoothly for you folks. Are you going back with steel and wood? Good luck on your project and do keep us posted.

[Crip]

Here's a pic of Bigwin



Crip

[RGM]

Great looking boat. I wonder when that picture was taken. Sure would be nice if it were going to be steam powered again.

[Jeff G]

Sorry I am just getting used to using this service. Thanks CRIP for posting the picture I havent figured that out yet. The picture is from the 50s or 60s. It was originally white on the hull and natural wood on the cabin and wheelhouse. I meant to say that we are adding four feet not inches to the width. We plan to use laminated ribs treated with preservative. I always wanted to do this boat with a steam engine however the economics are not there. I have the emails regarding materials at the office. I will print them and post some more on that next week. Any suggestions on designers we should be talking to. We want a good hull design as we are using an electric engine so the hull must be sleek.

[ 04-13-2002, 10:07 PM: Message edited by: Jeff G ]

[Art Read]

Can't go to far wrong with Melbourne as designer for this sort of job. Nice guy, too... Tri-Coastal Marine might be another. Thomas Gilmer perhaps, but I think he probably specialises in sail. Neat project!