MV Hiawatha
The Hiawatha is a passenger ferry built in 1895 for the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1][2] She is 56 feet (17 m) long, 13.3 feet (4.1 m) wide and has a draft of 6.3 feet (1.9 m). She displaces 46 gross tons. Her capacity is 100 passengers.[3] She was built by the Bertram Engine Works. The Hiawatha is claimed to be possibly the oldest passenger vessel still in active service on the North American Great Lakes.
The Hiawatha has served as a ferry for the yacht club since 1895.[1] She was converted from a steam engine to diesel in 1944.
On July 26, 2000, both the Hiawath, and the yacht club's slightly newer ferry, the Kwasind, were sunk by vandals.[3][4] The Kwasind was refloated, and was back in working order the day of the sinking, while the Hiawatha required further repair.[5]
References
- ^ a b
"Ship of the Month, No. 9 Hiawatha". Toronto Marine Historical Society. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
Bearing this in mind, we find it surprising that very few of our Toronto members realize that they have, right under their noses, what appears to be the oldest operating passenger vessel on the Great Lakes.
- ^
"Doing water-tight deals". National Post. 2011-08-06. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
The Royal Canadian Yacht Club, founded 1852, moved its clubhouse to Toronto Island in 1881; members and guests access the island with a pair of century-old ferry boats, the Hiawatha and Kwasind (names in a Longfellow poem).
- ^ a b
Louis Surette (2000-07-27). Toronto Star. p. B 07 http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/426893591.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+27%2C+2000&author=Louise+Surette&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=What+lies+beneath+is+ferry+low+blow&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^
"Ferry Sinks". boatnerd. 2000-07-29. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
The Hiawatha's sister vessel the Kwasind was also left semi-submerged and adrift, but was salvaged and returned to its dock. Police investigation continues but the police suspect that vandals opened the sea valves, allowing the vessel to fill with water.
- ^ Greg Younger-Lewis (2000-08-22). "Cash reward offered to solve boat sinkings". Toronto Star. p. B 05. Retrieved 2011-12-21.