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

Russel Brothers Limited OWEN SOUND, ONTARIO Steelcraft Boat Builders

Rapide Blanc

Canadian List of Shipping 1956: Rapide Blanc [C.192799] registered at Montreal; built at Owen Sound in 1951. 35'l x 10’ x 4'3; 11 g.t.; 7 n.t.; 165 hp. Owned by St. Maurice River Drive Co. Ltd, Trois Riviers, Québec. Canadian List of Shipping 1970: Steel tug Rapide Blanc [C.192799] registered at Montreal. Built at Owen Sound in 1951. 35'; 11 g.t. Canadian List of Ships 1997: Owned by Compagnie Du Flottage Du St. Maurice Ltee., Trois Rivieres, Québec. Transport Canada List 2002: Built by Russel-Hipwell Engine Co., Owen Sound, Ont. Transport Canada List 2003: Owned by Le Groupe Ocean Inc., Québec.

The small tugboat Rapide Blanc was built in 1951 by Russel Brothers of Owen Sound, ON for the St. Maurice River Drive Company. She was eventually acquired by Ocean Group of Quebec, QC, where she retained her name. Type: Single Screw Tugboat Year Built: 1951 Builder: Russel Bros. Ltd., Owen Sound, ON Horsepower: 165 bhp Length: 34' 00? Breadth: 10' 00? Depth: 4' 03? Port of Registry: Montreal, QC.

YC Notes: Boom Jumping: The front of the boat almost completely out of the water after hitting a 42 in. piece of boom. Notice the water coming on the back of the boat....Picture taken at La Trenche Qc., in 1973. We had also to jump on occasion 4 piece booms (56 in. wide)..... It's recommended to hit square and to push the throttle to the max after the hit if you don't want to get stuck.

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Clipping courtesy Gerry Ouderkirk

Rapide Blanc from Russel-Hipwell News fall 1951, Vol. 11 No. 1.

Rapide Blanc and Coo-Coo in Québec City, Aug. 4th, 2005. Photo by Mac Mackay.

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Rapide-des-Coeurs and Rapide Blanc, still working together 55 years after the arrival of Rapide-Blanc along with Henry Sorgius and La Trenche sister ships at Rapide-Blanc in 1951. Now working on repair works on the St-Laurence River. Shot in Montréal 16 July 2006 at le Pont de l'ile Charon.