| Author |
Message |
jgr3rd
Member
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, January 8, 2005 - 5:29 pm: | 
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Brian: I have been searching for a boat named Ramona which has led me to your forums and specifically the above noted archived thread.I don't beleive the Ramona was in any of the photos posted. Do you have other pictures?} I am also interested in any stories about the Ramona,what ultimately happened to her or perhaps on a more positive note, her current whereabouts |
brian
Moderator
Post Number: 319
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 12:03 pm: |
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The Ramona, of course. She stayed on after the demise of the ONBL and was faster than most of the commercial passenger boats too. I know she was in use in 1969. Have you got her running after that?
She is in the following photo:
http://www.ottertooth.com/discus/show.cgi?tpc=25&p ost=610#POST610
This is the only closeup I have of her.
TIP: use the search function here in the forums and the search link on the main Ottertooth web pages. |
dan_carpenter
Moderator
Post Number: 16
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 6:37 pm: |
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The Ramona was the only passenger boat (along with the Cross Lakes II) that survived the change of ownership and 1967 move from the ONBL in town to the new company and location at Boatline Bay. It was used exclusively as a water taxi and freight boat (no more scheduled service) for the next four years or so and then disappeared from the lake. After which, Bill Plumsted at Loon Lodge acquired the exclusive rights to the taxi/freight business from Boatline Bay for the next few years.
I rode on the Ramona a few times in its final years on the lake and the boat's condition seemed to deteriorate near the end. In particular, its electrical system failed regularly, and it carried a set of jumper cables that were used quite often, along with a healthy shot of ether starter fluid, at various destinations so it could get home in one piece.
And then there was the story about how, on one of the last freight runs to Keewaydin, the boat took on quite a bit of water and there were "weiners floating all over the place...." |
brian
Moderator
Post Number: 320
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 8:26 am: |
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When was the weiner incident? |
dan_carpenter
Moderator
Post Number: 17
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 3:59 pm: |
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Sorry I can't remember the exact year, owing to my usual excuse of being up north for the entire season and so I just heard about it in passing. But it was probably 1970. |
boater
Member
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 6:02 pm: |
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Here is some info regarding the Ramona I think you will find interesting. The Ramona was a 45" Ditchburn, built approx. 1930. If you refernce the book Ditchburn boats, Muskoka legacy ( Shield and McMullen;The Boston Mills Press )and go to page 94 you will see some pictures form early Ditchburn brochures displaying completed boats. The 45" day cruiser is clearly the Ramona. Remeber these boats were all " one offs " , built to the buyers specifications. The rounded aft end to the side cab window, the oval window aft of that and the raised roof at the stern are all clearly dsitinguishing features of the Ramona. I had thought at one time that the stern roof was an add-on but it can be seen that it was original. As well , the raised engine compartment cowling ( standard on Ditchburns of that era ) I remember very well although it was all painted a ghastly "Boatlines" green and gray at the time ( about 1970 ). Brian; your boat is a mystery to me . The Gray Owl and the Ojibway I now beleive were pre- 1928 Ditchburns based upon their similarity to pictures ( and personal examination , ie; The Sevlo ) of Ditchburns of that era. In the picture with the Vedette they appear to be the two in front with the mystery boat tied up by the Vedette. Ditchburn did make some minesweepers and patrol boats for the war effort but these were very different from the cruisers and lauches produced by the factory in Gravenhurst. Also the expanded Marine museum in Gravenhurst ( when built ) I was told will have on display , finally, the bowsprit from the Niade. As for finding the Ramona we are all far too late. In the last years of use it was standard procedure to bail it out many times a day with a household sump pump. Boatlines finally gave up and burned it. Stupid. A restored Ditchburn of this size would fetch $200,000 on todays market quite easily. |
boater
Member
Post Number: 2
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 8:04 pm: |
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BTW , if the trip to Keewaydin is the one I think it is I was on the boat at the time. Yes, there was quite a lot of water sloshing about, and those weren't weiners! |
brian
Moderator
Post Number: 321
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 11:39 am: |
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boater, so you think the photo is not of the Ramona?
What year was the Ramona burned?
I thought, according to The Boatbuilders of Muskoka by Duke and Gray, that Ditchburn closed for the final time in 1938. If so, this would be too early to have built boats for the war. |
boater
Member
Post Number: 3
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 2:52 pm: |
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Brian; that boat is not the Ramona but it is intrigueing as it appears to be of similar vintage and design to the Gray Owl and The Ojibway.The Ramona was about 6 years newer and on the other side of a major design change at Ditchburn.I never saw it though but I saw the other 2. At that time the Gray Owl was on blocks in town. I had hoped the Ramona would be similarly found in 1972 ( or thereabouts ) when I went looking for it. I was then told it had been burned the year before. That seemed to be the boatlines way however the Ojibway saved them the trouble by blowing up and burning to the waterline on its own ( with a little help from accumulated gas fumes ).Gray Owl was just cut up with chain saw.
Ditchburn had built some government vessels while operating as a company.The company closed for good in 1938.At the start of the war Herb Ditchburn was called upon to supervise the construction of six rescue boats for use in the English channel, 80 ft long powered with 3 modified aircraft engines supplied by Gar Wood. They operated as Aero-Marine Craft in Trenton. This from the book I mentioned. |
boater
Member
Post Number: 4
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 9:09 pm: |
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BTW, when I say I never saw "it", I am referring to the mystery boat.I am very familiar with the "Ramona". Brian's photo and the boat tied up next to the Vedette in the other photo appear to me to be the same boat. Anyone know what it might be? Also anyone know the fate of the following boats;
"Rita D" boatlines boat 1971, late of Muskoka at that time.
Cheeko, boatlines boat, probably a Chris Craft Sedan cruiser
Another boat lines boat similar to Cheeko, K___?
Wendigo; small, very fast, boatlines boat, perhaps a small Greavette?
Camp Temagami had a very nice launch, about 30 ft. in length. A Minette or Ditchburn. Perhaps sold to someone in North Bay in 1972.
Hopefully some veteran locals in Temagami if they see this website can cast some light upon the situation. If so, Thanks very much in advance. |
jgr3rd
Member
Post Number: 2
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 10:04 pm: |
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Brian: Boater's explanation with respect to your picture is correct. The cabin windows are not right.The Ramona had an 8.5 foot after cockpit. The Ramona was 46 feet long.The boat in the picture would appear to be about 35 feet.Inside there was a 7 inch stepup from the floor of the salon to the after cockpit. Boater indicates the stern roof was original. In fact the after cockpit was covered with a canvas roof which could be removed. As well, the stern of the after cockpit area could be closed in as could the sides either partially or completely depending on weather. The Ramona was ordered in 1922/1923 and delivered 1924/1925.It was powered with a 250 HP Sterling engine. I have heard stories that Ramona was either burned or sunk and sitting on the bottom in some bay.However as more anecdotal information comes forward of the nature of Boater's information, the chances of finding Ramona are remote. |
brian
Moderator
Post Number: 323
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 13, 2005 - 12:16 pm: |
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I blew this up from a photo of the ONBL landing in town, about 1948. Is this the Ramona?
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jgr3rd
Member
Post Number: 3
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 13, 2005 - 1:42 pm: |
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Brian: Post 323 is the Ramona. Any further thoughts on her demise? If burned would they have removed any of the fixtures, hardware or engine prior to burning? |
brian
Moderator
Post Number: 324
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 13, 2005 - 2:04 pm: |
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The question remains as to who would have been present at, or who would know about the particulars of its destruction? It appears from discussion here that it was on or after late 1969.
It has been suggested to me that Bill Plumstead might. I don't think he took over Boatline Bay Marina until the mid-1970s. Am I correct?
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boater
Member
Post Number: 5
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 13, 2005 - 5:30 pm: |
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Ooops; I was a little off on my dates. Ditchburns with similar features ( such as the cabin and engine cowling ) to the Ramona began to be delivered in 1926( such as the Blythewood and the Dolly Durkin ) This would put the others at about 1920 -22 which is more in keeping with the appearance of Ditchburns at that era as depicted in all the books. So ya it was a 25 or 26 , who wants to dicker. If it comes thru OK here is a photo of the Ramona in a late 20's company brochure. It appears the aft roof was either original or added shortly thereafter. |
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