Album of Smaller Work Boats

A previous article (February 2025) highlighted some of the larger working barges seen plying the St. Lawrence River in the Admiralty Islands group, near Gananoque, ON. This set of photographs highlights some of the smaller, often custom-outfitted, boats that bring workers, materials, and sometimes barges out to the islands. And what a variety can be seen!

Top left photo is one of the first Carolina skiffs to be used as a work boat in this part of the river. It served both as a working platform at the site and as a vessel carrying supplies. More recently, skiffs and pontoon boats have been fitted with a small cabin, which gives some protection from the sun, wind, and inclement weather. Some vessels are fitted with a platform, which can make it easier to load and unload. What happens to the loads on a low-to-the-water platform when the water is really choppy?

These turquoise cabins are probably all on the same boat where a platform serves as the deck. Check out all the different ways the boat and its associated barge are used.

These similar-looking boats zip by with a variety of loads during the season.

The boat on the left is pushing one of the smaller barges, transporting a colorful excavator. The boat on the right proclaims that it brings cleaning services out to the islanders.

These last couple of boats probably are much the way they came from the factory, now loaded with the equipment and supplies needed for the job.

As Islanders, we are grateful to the people who are willing to cross the River, climb the stairs and slopes with their gear to reach the cottages and help us out - for most cottages are uphill from the dock. Such people can be hard to find and we thank them for providing their services.

By Winifred McGowan

Winifred (Winky) McGowan came to the islands at a young age to visit her grandmother, aunt, and sometimes her cousins, and continued coming with her parents for several years. She and her husband became owners of Little Sagastaweka Island in more recent years. Sagastaweka Island, the other island bought in the late 1800s by her great grandparents, the Finleys, was a gathering place for a large, extended family.

Winifred spent much of her working life in conservation related jobs, inspired by her love of plants, maps, and the outdoors. You can guess that the islands were part of that inspiration.

See Winky's other TI Life articles here

[Editor's Note: Thank you Winky, for taking the time to capture these wonderful workboats. Your two essays have described the workboats seen in the Canadian Admiralty Islands. Now we hope those in other parts of the River will watch out in 2025, and send us their favourites. And most important, your final comment is most appropriate and appreciated!