Our Museum has a Ditchburn!

At least potentially we do. About a month ago we received a message from the ACBS that a Ditchburn up near North Bay was about to be cut up and burned! Grant and I went up to have a look and what we found was a little sister to Gordon Russell's 52' Ditchburn "Windswept III". This boat was built in 1928 at the Orillia Plant in the same manner as Windswept - which is to say true carvel construction of heavy planking on steamed ribs with externally caulked seams. She is 34' and what I would call a Day Cruiser style. High foredeck with a cutaway sheer leading to a low stern - she is about half deck and half open cockpit - elegant simplicity.

As Jingo looked when last restored in about 1976...

and as we found her.

With her large rear cockpit and wonderful heritage & lineage she seems perfect for handicapped boat rides and that's a large part of what we would like to do with her. Mind you there's a touch of restoration to be done before that. Her hull planking seems amazingly sound although there is a series of broken ribs along the port quarter chine area and some softness in the tumblehome on both sides.

The actual rescue was a bit of an adventure but we had lots of wonderful support both here and in Callander to make her removal happen. Thanks to Rob of Fred's Towing, John of Halton Tire here in Georgetown and in Callander/North Bay, Elizabeth Hughes (former owner), Paul Baker, Karl Lewis, Brent Bywater, Matt Parfitt and the folks at Kaltire.

leaving Callander on day 2

Fuelling up after a wheel came off!









and nearly home!

Stay tuned for more and watch for Paul Baker's article in ClassicBoat if you are an ACBS member!