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| Photo by Frank Micklethwaite |
One of the pleasures of summering in lake-land is being out
on the water, perhaps gliding silently through the morning mist in a canoe, sitting
patiently in a rowboat as you hope to catch a fish for your supper, or wafting across
the lake with a breeze filling your sails. But when the affluent wanted to take
their friends for a scenic tour or picnic, a steam launch was surely the way to
go.
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| Wanda III |
One of the grandest on the Muskoka lakes was Mrs. Timothy
Eaton’s 94 ft. long
Wanda III, built in
1915 at a cost of $34,000. Licensed to carry 44 people, she was the fastest
steamer on the lakes, reaching speeds of 24 miles per hour. On board were
special “Wanda III” dishes for elegant teas and picnics. The
Wanda III is now owned by
Muskoka Steamships, and can be rented for private functions.
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| Photo copyright Gabriele Wills |
Because the steam yachts required licensed pilots, people
began buying the new motorboats, which they could drive themselves. Boat
building became important in Muskoka, with legendary builders like Ditchurn,
Minett-Shields, Greavette, Duke, and others, whose beautiful, sleek craft still
provide a sense of elegance on the lakes today. Many of them can be seen at the
annual Antique and Classic Boat Show in Gravenhurst in July, where the above
photo was taken. The
Muskoka Boat and Heritage Museum there is also well worth
a visit!
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