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.

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.