Building Pathfinder
Pathfinder's Keel Ceremony.
Editorial:
WE'RE BUILDING A BOAT
GAM on Yachting September 1962
This year there is more than the usual autumn flurry of planning, ordering and building boats for the coming summer.
Our pleasure in these developments, however, has been multiplied by news of one contract in particular --that for a training ship hull for youth in the Toronto area.
The proposed ship, a brigantine to be named Pathfinder, will have a hull and sail plan identical that of St. Lawrence II from Kingston. This will make possible boat-to-boat racing between the two training ships.
Construction is of all welded steel, length 60', beam 15'2", draft 8'. Displacement is 45 tons and total sail area is 2.300 sq. ft.
The interior of the ships, however, will differ. With a new Palmer engine, made available through the courtesy of Atlas Polar Company Limited, modifications to the Toronto boat will allow sleeping accommodation for eight more boys, a total of thirty.
The Sea Scouts and Sea Cadets who will be cruising on the Pathfinder for periods of a week each will not be the only children to benefit. Other groups, such as the girls in the Sea Rangers and also Junior club members will be taken for sails during the day.
Following the lead of the Kingston group, the Pathfinder is sponsored by a charitable organization, Toronto Brigantine Incorporated. Approximately Eight Thousand of the $130,000 dollars has been raised to date.
Offers of goods and services are as valuable as those of cash. As well as the engine and the money mentioned above, a water purification system was donated by Everpure Canada Ltd. All the facilities as well as the experience and know-how of James Ward Cotton Advertising Agency have been made available to spearhead the publicity and fund raising campaign.
Services of craftsmen will be especially acceptable when the hull arrives in Toronto from Kingston Shipyards (goal is this December). Sea Cadets, Sea Scouts and Sea Rangers will, of course, help in the work of finishing but many other hands and many craftsmen will be needed.
It is difficult to statistically assess the value of a project such as the Brigantine. However, it's startling to note that although St. Lawrence II has been active as a training ship since 1957, not one of the youngsters involved in its program has been in a juvenile court.
As we go to press we hear much talk of the America's Cup and Canada's chances of entering this competition. We would very much like to see a Canadian 12 Metre. If it were ever a choice -we're awfully glad it's training ships they're building here.
Address of TORONTO BRIGANTINE INCORPORATED
Suite 419. 170 St. George St., Toronto.