Hull 642. The Sturgeon Bay Transportation Company owned this boat operated out of a larger inland lake north of Ignace, Ont. named Sturgeon Lake. Details for registered vessel HARRIS BAY (O.N. 177317) Date of closing: 1984-01-09. Was registered in Port Arthur, owned by Sandy Smith at Garden Lake Timber. Purchased Nov. 30th, 2018 by Matthew Carlson.
Hull 642 (possibly Towalong) still in the bush, summer 2016. Matthew Carlson notes (dec. 20, 2016): "Built 1946. When I went and took a look at it during the summer I noticed it still has a brass builders plate on the frame for the winch, it is a Steelcraft model 38, serial number 280 winch in this boat. still has some of the cable on the bow deck with the end still hooked up to the winch drum. this boat also has 2 round fuel tanks under the stern deck, exhaust pipe out the port-stern quarter, flat rudder, and looks like it was originally sea bay (raw water) cooled, but modified to have cooling coils on the port side of the hull. the boat appears to be mostly complete exept missing the engine/gearbox, and steering wheel, and anchor. my boss knows the owner of this boat well so I have been thinking about possibly buying this one after mine is finished. since this one still has the winch i would probably just restore this one with a new engine in it." Click here for a 49 Facebook photo album of hull 749 by Matthew Carlson.
Harris Bay (hull 642) in green, Dryden 3 (hull 749) in blue.
Hull 642 on Mount Baldy Rd., outside Thunder Bay, ON, June 3, 2018. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
Matthew Carlson, new owner of Harris Bay, hull #642. Thunder Bay, ON. Matthew comments (Dec. 2018): "I have been trying to buy the boat for a few years now since around 2014 without luck until getting a email back on November 11, 2018 accepting my offer. I purchased the boat Nov. 30, 2018 paid in full making it officially mine. I have plans on doing a complete restoration of this boat Harris Bay (#642) so it looks like the day it was built only exception may be the engine. I was told he has the engine in storage unless it has been taken or scrapped over the years, if that’s the case I may install a little Diesel engine."
Hull 642 on Mount Baldy Rd., outside Thunder Bay, ON, Nov. 30, 2018. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
Cleared some of the branches and small trees from around Harris Bay (hull 642) today. Thunder Bay, Dec. 9, 2018. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
Video by Rob Farrow, Published on 17 Feb 2019. The 1946 Winch Boat called Harris Bay (hull 642), and the 1947 37' Warping Tug Dryden 3 (hull 749).
For more Russel exhibits visit Owen Sound Marine & Rail Museum 1165 1st Ave West, Owen Sound, ON N4K 4K8 (519) 371-3333 http://marinerail.com
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