Doug Gagnon noted (c. 2005): I had the privilege of growing up in Maniwaki and on the Baskatong Resevoir and seeing these boats in operation and being able to ride along with my uncle and father who were both operators. Both my father and uncle worked on "Basko" when it was brand new in the spring of 1946 and my uncle operated both "Basko" and "Imelda M" on Baskatong, my father worked mainly on 25 foot gas Russel boats, his boat was "G-20". I did ride on them frequently (Basko, Imelda M and some small Russels) and you really couldn't feel any forward momentum because of the vibration, looking out the sides you could see the water moving so you knew you were going somewhere! And yes, the winch boats were very noisy, smelly and vibrated a lot, because of the Detroit diesel engine. My father told me the original 20 hp gas engines were much nicer. Gary Picard of Venosta Qc. (about 5 minutes from Low) mentioned that the Max G. ( scrapped) which was used as a spare, vibrated so much it made them physically ill...they checked it numerous times but never found the problem.

My good friend and neighbour Aldei Lafrance, who worked on the boats at Baskatong and later as a mechanic, told me that all the diesel 35 footers vibrated a lot. While growing up on Baskatong, I used to ride with my uncle Arthur on the Imelda M and Basko, and what always struck me was it seemed you could never feel any forward motion when the boat was under way, even when I was steering. Arthur would tell me where to point the bow and , maybe because Baskatong is so big, it always seemed like you weren't going anywhere! The boat seemd so heavy, was really noisy, vibrated and plowed through the water, it was as though the water around you was moving and you were standing still, yet holding that wheel was, and still is, one of the best times of my life. Last July I went and visited the Basko (I go every summer) And it's strange, but when you step inside, the smell of oil and steel hits you, and it's like a part of your life flashes in front of your eyes. For a few seconds, your at your favorite place on earth, with your favorite uncle, on the Basko.

At Lacroix Depot, Baskatong, behind the shop were several 25 foot Russel's that were pretty much worn out but were kept for parts, and when everything shut down they were sold for scrap: Elliotte St-Denis, Dejourdy, G-19 and G-20 (my father's boat). In 1990, Dorimas Richer bought three 25 footers from the Dent lumber mill in LaVerendry park, Dent, LaFrance and another I remember seeing not far from the mill rusting away in the bush, I don't have a name for that one. Dent and LaFrance were in really nice shape, he was asking $500 each for them. I let my father convince me not to buy one and I've been kicking myself ever since, I remember seeing them for sale along HWY 117 in Grand-Remous for about a year then they were gone...

 

G-20 bought by Philippe Gagne in Dec. 2019.

 

G-20 March 20, 2020. Photos by Philippe Gagné. He bought the G-20 from Maurecon in Dec. 2019.

 

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