RUSSEL BROTHERS Ltd. Steelcraft winch boat and warping tug builders from Owen Sound, Ontario.

Russel Brothers Limited OWEN SOUND, ONTARIO Steelcraft Boat Builders

Old Iron Sides

Currently owned by Harold Sutherland of Owen Sound, Ontario. ON2278201. Formerly named Old Ironsides and owned by Jib Turner. Built in 1947. 35’. Jib Turner comments (Sept. 2018): "Old Ironsides was acquired by our company Turners McGregor Bay in 1980 from Ferguson Bros, also of McGregor Bay, Ontario. She had been in McGregor Bay (just north of Manitoulin Island) since the 1960's. I understand she was used for fishing along the North Shore, and maybe located in Spanish. We had her until about 2000 when Joe Chapman of Little Current bought her to service his Mink Island location West of Little Current and subsequently sold to Harold Sutherland of Owen Sound some years later. Tom Green of Killarney told me he worked on Old Ironsides before we owned her, for Ferguson Bros. Tom said it belonged to the Hector Bishop family from Spanish or Cutler and was fished out of there before Ferguson had her." Tom Green comments (Dec. 10, 2018): "There have been a lot of changes made to it, Harold did it proud! It came to McGregor Bay from Spanish Ont. was a fishing boat belonged to Bishops and was bought by Fergusons in McGregor Bay had a Kermath engine that was changed to a 4 cylinder Perkins a year before I started running it."

Hector Bishop - (Spanish, ON?)
Ferguson Bros. - McGregor Bay, ON
Jib Turner - McGregor Bay, ON
Joe Chapman - Little Current, ON
Harold Sutherland - Owen Sound, ON

Jib Turner comments (Dec. 2018): "It would be hard to complete a list of all the different jobs Old Ironsides has performed while servicing McGregor Bay and the North Channel. Mostly hauling building materials, fuel and supplies for the “store” which included beer wine and liquor. She hauled a barge sometimes. I once remember John Recollect and I skidded logs out of the bush with her using block and tackle. Her shinning moment was being a limo for weddings at St. Christopher’s church, (including Tom Green's!) all decorated for the occasion. She sure looks her best right now. Thanks to Harold Sutherland and family for keeping her so well."