July 13, 2025

STEAM’S GONE OUT OF SEGWUN AS ENGINES FAILURE ENDS SEASON BEFORE IT STARTS, WITH ELECTRIFED WANDA III ALSO DELAYED HOPEFULLY JUST DAYS

GRAVENHURST — Hold the coal!

For the Muskoka Steamships Fleet it’s two down and one to go.

What was supposed to be a big week for the Wanda III to finally set sail with its first electric charter; and the steamship Segwun — pride of the Fleet — to finally toot her own whistle Saturday with its first cruise marking the 100^th anniversary of its renaming turned out to be a huge disappointment.

Not only for the owners and operators of the Muskoka Discovery Centre, but for those who had tickets for the momentous cruises.

The Segwun suffered more ongoing malfunctions and won’t sail this season, not surprising for a 137-year-old steamship. Last fall it managed a couple of cruises.

The fire’s gone out on the Segwun. A month after stoking her up – and painting her – the Muskoka Steamships have sadly shut down the pride and joy of their Fleet due to a mechanical engine failure. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont

On Wednesday, July 9, it marked a century since it was renamed.

And she was freshly painted up the past couple of weeks in anticipation of the big day when she would once again sail. The true lasting “Lady of the Lake.”

They even erected a sign marking the day.

Segwun was originally built in 1887 from the hull of the side-paddlewheel Nipissing II, which ended her illustrious sailing career in 1914. In 1925 she was rebuilt and renamed Segwun, which means “springtime” in Ojibwa.

Fortunately for the fleet the Wenonah II’s diesel engine continues to chug along even if the steam and electric powers do not.

The Wanda III had gone out on a couple of safe test runs recently each at full capacity of 20 on board, supporters who have helped make that building journey successful.

Muskoka Steamships president John Miller says everyone is devastated by the two setbacks, but that safety was their primary concern.

He says he’s hoping it return is soon. It’s is day-to-day.

**Chris Wiley and Sabastian Matchett were optimistic, giving the thumbs up last week for Saturday’s launch, but a SNAFU a week later put her fire out.**

No one’s more disappointed than Chris Wiley, “chief engineer” for the ship Fleet.

He’s been back since 2020 after helping return her to service June 27, 1981, after a quarter century sitting idle at the Town Dock mostly as a floating town, lake and boat museum.

He’s shakes his head at the ongoing challenges she has faces.

The costs to repair her are astronomical, which he blames in part on Canadian governments that haven’t kept up with marine technology and training. Challenges North American-wide, he said.

He used to be able to get parts easily in the U.S., then Europe and now it’s China if he’s lucky.

He’d only weeks ago gotten a head of steam up on the Segwun, stoking her day and night to keep the engines hot.

Touting the’100th anniversary’ of its renaming Wednesday July 9, the Segwun was expected to sail on its maiden season voyage yesterday disappointing ticket holders and the community that uses the iconic ships as a major part of its tourism branding.

Gravenhurst residents knew the ship was near operating in June when coal smoke wafted up from the bay the smell from it settling across the west side of town.

Could those coal polluting days be gone?

Could the Segwun go diesel or electric?

The next year could tell.