Russel Brothers Limited OWEN SOUND, ONTARIO Steelcraft Boat Builders
| Rae II / X II
Design 130 - 35' Raised Deck Cruiser
Andy Charette Notes: Built 1936, Fort Frances, ON by Russel Brothers Ltd. 35’ Raised Deck Cabin Cruiser. Fire destroyed the superstructure and it was rebuilt in metal. Russel Express engine replaced with Chrysler Ind 6 cyl. Renamed X II after the rebuild and registered in Toronto, ON by Abitibi Power and Paper Company 50-E-1. First boat registered in Toronto, ON. Used by Abitibi as a tender to supply perishable food to the T. Gibbons, the Clark B. Davis, and the scows working in the area. Bought by Andy Charette and Richie Irving in 1973, after the river drives ended. Sitting in a field beside Twin Falls Marina (formerly owned by Andy Charette) at Iroquois Falls, ON as of 2004, still there in 2019.
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From a newspaper clipping Jan. 8th 1937
courtesy Robert B. Farrow
Ivan Dawkins. Tim Olaveson Sr. comments (Dec. 11, 2018): "This boat is what we knew as the X2, it was used by the ABITIBI PULP AND PAPER company in their marine division. This boat normally worked on Abitibi Lake and on the Abitibi River down to Twin Falls depot where it was usually docked. It was kind of considered the supervisor's launch. It carried personnel and groceries and kept an eye on the operations. It was powered by a gasoline engine, a galley in the front and beds in the rear. It was used at Twin during sluicing operation to push wood through the sluice gates of the Twin Falls dam. The gentleman on deck is Ivan Dawkins a long time supervisor with Abitibi, he was the supervisor of the marine operations spring to fall and a supervisor of the building and preparing the log dumps in the winter on Abitibi Lake."
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Deb Tripp notes: My Dad, Bud Tripp, worked a lot in that boat. Rémi Mousseau notes: That checkered shirt in the window is my dad Lorenzo Mousseau. Jan Olaveson said: Loved going on the x2 with my dad Bob Olaveson.
Wheelhouse of the X II. Photo courtesy George Poirier.
X II and T. Gibbens c. mid 80s, Twin Falls, ON. Photos courtesy Roger Gaboury.
RBF Notes: Sitting in a field beside Twin Falls Marina
at Iroquois Falls, ON as of 2004.
Andy Charette of Grimsby, Ont. notes (Jan. 2007): I purchased the X II 50-E-1 with my buddy Ritchie Irvine in 1973 from Abitibi Consolidated. My friend lost interest in the boat and wanted to purchase a cottage so he asked me to buy him out which I did. Abitibi had ended their river drives and this boat was made available on bids. At the time I had also bid on Abitibi II with the MNR and while I was waiting for their answer I was advised that my bid was approved for the X II 50-E-1 (known earlier as the Ray II).
We chose to go with the bird in hand. Later I was told my bid for the Abitibi II was successful but had to withdraw my bid on this. I believe it was also a Russel Boat. The reason I took the X II out of the water was because of heavy hull pitting and was not prepared to spend money on it. The hull is sound above the water line but that is not the place where it counts the most.
The engine was changed to a Chrysler 260 cu. in. which is the same block as the 252 that was in it. I had to purchase a new manifold for it, Later on I was given another manifold. You find them when you do not need them. The trans is an Acme Screw and Gear. I have the manual for it somewhere.
X II and Abitibi I sitting ashore at Twin Falls Marina, Sept. 2016. Photos by Shawn MacDonald.
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 |
