On the way home from the cottage on the weekend we had the opportunity to see this lovely steamship, restored and docked in the narrows in Dorset. I had not had the opportunity to see her prior to this although I did see her in dry dock when the restorations were being done. From their fabulous website I was able to get the history of this beauty!
"The Bigwin is 66' in length with 11' 8" beam and depth of 6' 1" with a registered weight of 25 tons. After years of neglect, the boat sat partially submerged on the bottom of her slip at Bigwin Inn."
The ship was brought to the old Clayton property wharf for restoration. The old building itself was used to sell tickets by the Huntsville, Lake of Bays Navigation Company and storing shipments and mail for the Bigwin Livery Company. The upstairs was used as sleeping quarters by the ship captains of the Mohawk Belle and the Iroquois steamboats.
It was ships such as this that opened up the lake to settlers and tourists in the last century or so. The Lakes and rivers were the highways and the steamers the transportation.
Bigwin Steamboat Restoration
1. Repair all steel frames, clean and prime with rust inhibiting paint.
2. Plank the hull.
3. Replace the keel and deadwood.
4. Repair the deck on the bow, stern and sides.
5. Rebuild the Wheelhouse.
6. Purchase, refurbish and install steam engine, propeller shaft and propeller.
7. Install new windows.
8. Install submersible pumps and put Bigwin in the water moored to the wharf in Dorset.
There plenty of watery shots to see at Watery Wednesday! Go take a look for yourself here! Out door Wednesday has wonderful photos too! Go here!
What a beautiful ship and what a great job they did restoring it. And I love the name.
What a great place to go and wander and take some photos...which I am glad you did!
we have a boat restoration project too. It is at a motorway, and each time I want to photograph it. the cars travels too fast.
As our seasons are reversed of yours, I think right now, we have a Canadian only competition here. Every year, your skiers come to New Zealand to train.
Wow, the restoration is just beautiful. What a neat boat. Great photos.
I enjoyed this post, Lorac. I would like to see this in person so will be off to google Dorset. :)
I just realized I have been in Dorset! I saw your photo of the Marine Museum and had an aha! moment. Now I want to go back!
Amazing photography as always. Admired the work on the boat. In my little children's story the sailing vessel was hard to write about as I've never sailed on a trow, no longer exist except for in a museum, and in book two I'm committed to sailing it down the Severn, at least my little characters are, Heaven help me! :0)
I have a penchant for boats - especially antique, classic vessels. When I was a teen my dad bought the pair of wooden tour boats from Peterborough and had them transported to our town on the Ottawa River. He sold one and kept the other. It was originally a decommissioned coastguard cutter - mahogany planked. She was a beauty. And on our lake we have a gentleman who cruises by every evening in his shiny lacquered Muskoka boat. Love it!
The bigwin looks really beautiful!
Standing graciously ready for a ride perhaps
Your pics are very lovely as usual :)
Thats a wonderful boat! I really like that and your photos.
Wish you a nice wekend:-)
I'd like to live on Bigwin
What a wonderful restoration...she's a beauty!!
Well done, it's a beauty!
Back in 1961, I was the "ENGINEER" on the 'Bigwin' for about 3-4 weeks. I was 'down below' and ran the throttle and gear under the captain's ringing bell. What a great time. (Rammed the Norway Point dock only once.)I am itching to see your great restoration.