Captain Andy

One of the many great things about being on the River, is the variety of offerings we have available to us. Obviously, some are to cater to tourists, but many are of interest to us River Rats as well.

There are a number of local River cruise outfits that cater to folks wanting a tour of our magnificent area. And who could blame them? One company that is based out of Brockville is called “1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises.” A more modest sized enterprise than the “big boys” out of Gananoque or Alexandria Bay, it still punches above its weight. It provides tours through the Brock group of islands, the millionaires row of elegant homes east of the downtown area, as well as the Three Sisters islands.

The city purchased 29 islands in the Brockville narrows from the Federal government in 1933 for $3,361 and makes 16 of them accessible to the public. There are only a few private islands in the area. Royal Island overlooks the Brockville Narrows where the ships come so close it feels like you can touch them. On Prince Alfred Island, also private, you can see a cottage made to resemble a ship with its very own plank and captains’ wheel. Moderate sized boats allow for cruising shallower waters, allowing the tours to be closer to the Islands and properties visited. On some of the municipal islands, boaters can dock and camp.

With his home port at the Brockville municipal harbour on Blockhouse Island, Kingston native Andrew Neeteson operates his fleet. The Sea Fox II, a twin deck catamaran with a capacity of 100 people, and the General Brock III, a twin deck monohull with a capacity of 56 people, for traditional styled tours of the nearby islands.

Captain Andy started his business in 1994, and along with his 16 employees (a son works with him) has watched it grow ever since. This endeavor is a 24/7 occupation during the season, with emphasis on the 7. His winters involve travel, allowing him to wind down before another busy season starts.

Andy’s latest addition is a tropical Polynesian styled ‘Tiki” boat, the Kahawai-Nui, with her sister ship the Polynesia, scheduled to be in service in July. Built on the base of what is essentially an oversized pontoon boat, it bristles with high end features. With custom exotic hardwood finishings throughout, each offers both comfort and safety for a group of 12 people plus a crew of two. Both are equipped with an on-board bathroom and are fully licensed for serving alcohol and catered food. A fun tropical beat completes the vibe.

Safety-wise, the Tiki boats has all the mandatory life jackets, radio communications, and twin 90 HP outboards for redundancy. They are equipped with exits on the starboard, port, stern, and bow. (All four sides for landlubbers!) The pontoon ‘tubes’ are compartmentalized every 4 feet; even a puncture in one would hardly be noticed.

Cruises on any of the boats are available daily, but the Tiki boats specialize in public or private charters, usually lasting 1.5 to 2+ hours. While they usually depart from the town municipal harbor, it can arrange a pickup from a private dock, an island, or the mainland or any location where suitable. The occasions are all over the map, from friends' get togethers to weddings (yes, he had one) and even a celebration of life (wreath dropped in the water).

Many of the visitors are surprised to find out that the beauty of the area also has a fascinating history. Brockville, one of the oldest towns in Ontario, was incorporated in 1732. Its shores are steeped in the history of the war of 1812 and that many of the islands are named after British officers. Now you can experience it all aboard a Tiki boat!

By Michael Leprade

Michael Laprade and his wife Janice are retired Californians, who spend the summer at their “Honey Bee Island” property. It is located in the International Rift, between Blacksnake Passage at the mouth of Lake of the Isles and the stone span of the US / Canadian Customs Bridge. Michael is a former prison administrator, and also is a Professional Magician. In October 2013, Michael and Janice wrote Honey Bee Island’s Little Free Library for TI Life. Now Michael has joined our regular team of authors and I encourage you to see his past articles here and here. His articles are both interesting and fun!