Russel Brothers Limited OWEN SOUND, ONTARIO Steelcraft Boat Builders
| P. P. M. 31
Canadian List of Ships 1945: P. P. M. 31 [C.170552] built at Fort Frances, Ontario in 1937; Registered at Toronto. Owned by Abitibi Power & Paper Co. Ltd., Toronto. RBF Notes: Owned by Jeff Nelson of Thunder Bay, ON 2004. Jeff rebuilt her and installed engine from Dryden III. He unofficially named her W/T Marion Laura in 2003. Re-registered with Transport Canada on July 14, 2004: PPM 31 Ex- P.P.M. 31 [C.170552] registered at Thunder Bay, ON. Built by Russel Brothers Ltd., Fort Frances, ON in 1937. 12.04 m x 3.66 m x 1.52 m; 24.06 g.t.; 16.36 n.t. Owned Jeffrey Scott Nelson, 243 Balsam St., Thunder Bay, ON. Details for registered vessel PPM 31 (O.N. 170552)
Date of closing: 2018-05-07. |
RBF notes: PPM 31 - Rebuilt and unofficially renamed WT Marion Laura,
re-registered 2005 as PPM 31 (Thunder Bay, ON Dec 8, 2001). 06/04/02 (from http://www.boatnerd.com/news/archive/6-02.htm):
The old logging tug PPM-31 has been relaunched. She was built by Russel Brothers at Fort Frances, Ontario in 1937 and served the inland lakes as an alligator tug for many years. She is 40' x 12' x 5' and 24 gt. Owned by Abitibi Power and Paper Co., Ltd., at one time. Sold and eventually moved up to Lake Nipigon at Orient Bay. Recently sold and brought to Thunder Bay, she was hauled up on the bank of the McKellar River for reconditioning. As of Monday, June 3, 2002, she was tied up at the slip behind the old Kemp Fisheries near the P & H elevator.
PPM 31 on the bank of the McKellar River being refurbished.
Ginny Flett comments (Oct. 2020):
This was owned by Abitibi and was used at PIne Portage in conjunction with the Wabinosh mostly at Victoria Storage and Pine Lake below VIrgin Falls and Pine dam.
1983 Nipigon Gazette article on the logging history and tugs of the Nipigon River. Mentions Russels Wabinosh, PPM 31, Outan, Purdom, Babikan.
article online source: http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/Nipigon/NPL002290835pf_0009.pdf
Easy to read text version of article with photos
Matthew Carlson comments
(Oct. 2nd, 2020): For the historical part of it I will announce that PPM 31 is still around, this was one of a number photos sent to me in August 2019 by my friend Tim Irish who unfortunately passed away in January 2020. With his wishes I will not post any other photos or information that he gave me but I have talked to the owner of the boat and whenever I have a chance to go see it I will be happy to post more photos. The owner of had it as a pleasure boat, I am not sure when the last time it was actually in the water was but she is still around. Photo was taken by and belongs to Tim Irish.
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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