York Boats
York Boats were used
for transporting furs, supplies and company families between
York Factory on Hudson’s Bay and company posts from the early
1820’s to the 1880’s. They were made of woods such as Spruce and
lasted about three summers. York Boats were about 42 feet long
and had a keel length of 30 feet. They had flat oval bottoms and
were 9 feet wide by approximately 3 or 4 feet deep. Eight
oarsmen, who rowed 20 feet long oars (sweeps), powered the
boats. The oarsmen were "rested" by a square sail.
York boats traveled
by twos or more. When they were empty, the boats were hauled by
pushing and pulling over portages employing log rollers
underneath.
Steam ships came into
use during the 1880’s. They traveled Lake Winnipeg to Selkirk.
The need for York Boats declined and the boat works at both
Norway House and York Factory was closed.