Busy as Beavers

This past winter the phrase “busy as a beaver” certainly applies to the volunteers at Heritage Boat Works. However, since they create many items with wood, this phrase might not be appropriate.
Heritage Boatworks is a group of volunteers who work every Wednesday morning year-round repairing items on the RMS Segwun and Wenonah II and building and repairing items for exhibits at Muskoka Discovery Centre. Lately they have added many jobs for Wanda III yacht restoration.

When the Steamship Museum beside the Ticket Office closed in 2006 and all artifacts and exhibits were moved to the Muskoka Discovery Centre, it was decided to make the building a workshop to repair parts from the ships and assist in exhibit building at the Discovery Centre.
Since that time, this group has restored a Greavette boat, a lifeboat from RMS Sagamo, several rowing skiffs, and a Disappearing Propellor Boat, as well as building a canoe. They have repaired many items from the ships, including building a new mast for Segwun and refurbishing Segwun’s Phoenix twice.

At this time, items for Wanda III are taking priority. They have refurbished most of the tables and chairs, updated the lights on the mast, cleaned and painted the original steam engine for display, cleaned and refurbished all the stained-glass lights, and worked on the canvas covering the stern deck. They have ordered and installed an electric actuator that will lower the mast when entering the boathouse and then lift it for cruising.

RMS Segwun work includes fixing, replacing wood, sanding and painting all doors, as well as building and installing a new freight gate.
The binnacle unit from Wanda has been repaired and polish and is now on display at the Discovery Center. The original steam engine from the yacht Naiad and a very old Waterous steam engine are ready for the move to the Discovery Centre for display.
Muskoka Steamships is very fortunate to have these workers and their talents.
John and Mary Storey