Hull 891. Canadian List of Shipping 1956: Usborne [C.193606] registered at Ottawa; built at Owen Sound in 1950. 24'8 x 7'5 x 2'9; 4 g.t.; 2 n.t.; 20 hp. Owned by Gillies Bros. & Co. Ltd., Braeside, Ontario. Canadian List of Shipping 1970: Steel tug Usborne [C.193606] registered at Ottawa. Built at Owen Sound in 1950. 25'; 4 g.t. Canadian List of Ships 1997: Owned by Gillies Bros., Braeside, Ontario. Transport Canada List 2002: Built by Russel-Hipwell Engine Co., Owen Sound, Ont. Transport Canada List 2003: Owned by Gillies Bros., Braeside, Ontario.
While it is not confirmed that this un-named winch boat is Usborne, Usborne was confirmed to have been bought by Gillies Bros. Stills taken from a 7 minute youtube video.
Gillies Logslide
posted on youtube 13 Nov 2015
by
North Country Aerial.
A 7 minute video of the Gillies Bros. Logging Company in the 1950's.
Pierre Arseneault from Trois Rivieres got Hull 891 from Consol in 1994 and extensively
modified and restored it. He uses it in the summer. Official Number 193.606 Registered Tonnage 2.48. 21 D 5085. Photos by Pierre Arseneault.
In the early 50's my parents bought a house on the St-Laurence River waterfront.
We could see boats passing every day, almost in our backyard: cargo ships, passenger
ships, tugs pushing or pulling barges, schooners transporting logs to the St-Lawrence
Paper Mill Company which was about a mile and a half away from our house. From
the end of our yard we could see barges full of wood being unloaded. And also those little
tug boats moving within the logs were attracting my attention with their "tuk- tuk,
tuk-tuk" sound. Walking on the shore we could get to the booms where the boats
were docked. I remember going inside, looking at the engines and smell the odor of
gasoline. It wouldn't take long that the foreman would tell us to go away. We would
soon be coming back!
Already then, in my head I was saying to myself , when I get older I will surely have
a boat like that. Well it happened forty years later. But it wasn't my first boat.
In the 70's, I owned a 25 ft. wooden sailing sloop.
In the 80's, I owned a 26 ft. steel double ender. Mid 80's, Russel Hull no. 721 (project was abandoned).
In 1994, Russel Hull 891. I bought a welding machine and decided to do the restoration. It took me quite
a few years, I succeeded and I'm pleased with the job I've done. (but I lost about 25
pounds working on it). I installed a 1944 Chrysler Crown Marine Engine, 6 cyl.,
251 cu. in. In autumn 2006, I installed a 4 cyl. Mercedes OM636 Diesel Engine, it will be coupled to a marine transmission this spring.
Furthermore, I have a couple of marine engines in my shed:
Universal Marine Engine, Utility Four Model BNMR (1937), Universal Marine Engine, Utility Four Model BN (1940), Chrysler Crown Marine Engine, 6 cyl. 251 cu. in. (1944), Mercedes OM636 Diesel Engines, 4 cyl.
and also a Paragon Marine Transmission, Model 3XE-90; 2:1 Reduction Gear.
That's my little hobby.
Pierre Arseneault Trois-Rivi�res, Qu�bec, parseno13 @ hotmail.com
Sept. 8, 2011 - FOR SALE $8500.
Yesterday my wife and I took 12 photos of the boat. You will see it as it is.
I own this boat since 1994 and I renovated it.
The hull is in an excellent condition as you will see.
There is no Engine in the boat right now. At the beginning of the summer, I took out the Chrysler 251 Marine Engine (gaz).
I had the intention to replace it with a Detroit Diesel Marine Engine GM 2-71. But I have decided to sell the boat.
The person interested will have the choice of the Engine ( included in the price ).
About the noise in the cabin, any motor inside will be noisy unless you install a sound isolation on it.
There is no winch in the cabin as you will see . Also I have never left the boat on the river in winter, it was always brought in the yard.
I hope you will be satisfied with those informations and communicate again if you need more details. - Pierre Arseneault.
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