Otonabee (1907 Steamship)
The steamship Otonabee (1907-1916) was built in Harwood, Ontario as a passenger ferry on lake Ontario. She sailed for a few years until 1912 when she was purchased and re-located to lake Simcoe, a smaller lake between the Great Lakes in Ontario. From there, it would transport people between Barrie and the Peninsular Hotel on Big Bay Point. In 1915, she crashed into a bridge and never sailed again.
At 6:00 a.m. in August 1916, while docked at the Big Bay Point Government Dock, fire was discovered within her hold by the crew of another steamer. Once the two occupants on board Otonabee were rescued, the captain and purser, they abandoned the dock at which Otonabee was tied to, because there were no firefighting services nearby. The fire spread from the ship to the wharf, and from the wharf to a lighthouse, powered by three gas tanks. When they exploded, it sent an 18-mile shockwave causing damage as far as the Eastern side of Barrie. The ship burned to the waterline, where even today, some remnants are visible from the dock.
FEATURES:
- Steam engine & boiler
- Historically accurate scuttle mode
- Electric lights
- Clocks
- Interior, featuring cabins, hallways & lounges
- Spotlight
CONTROLS & STARTUP:
- Turn on boiler ignition from the boiler room. It may take a while to heat up enough to build steam pressure.
- Throttle near helm is engine telegraph. Only works if enough steam pressure is available.
- Dial opposite from the engine telegraph is the speed dial (m/s).
- Scuttle is activated by pressing space while at the helm.
- Lifeboats are hooked up to davits via ropes behind the Captain's cabin and bridge. You may need to raise the boat to swing it out properly without catching on the hurricane deck. Release is located on the boat.
- Electric lights are controlled from the bridge.
