Event Report: 2026 Silent Boat Rally

On Saturday, July 25th, a few members from the Northern Lakes Chapter participated in the annual Lake of Bays Silent Boat Rally in Dwight, Ontario. Hosted by the Lake of Bays Heritage Association, roughly two dozen watercraft launched from the public beach to paddle the lower Oxtongue River to Marsh's Falls. 

This year I was accompanied by my younger son so we got to take out our circa1919, 15 foot Chestnut Twozer.

However, my little bow engine wanted to spend more time checking out the wildlife so switched to sitting in the bottom of the hull for the majority of the upstream paddle and eventually started dozing off!

Though not an exclusive wooden canoe event, there were plenty of interesting vintage craft around including a 14ft Chestnut Little, a Peterborough Mermaid, as well as a rare 16foot Peterborough Riverdale.

Peterborough Riverdale Model 1432

This rare model seems to have first been offered in the 1936 catalogue under a different serial number (P404). After the serial number system switch around 1940, its number changed to 1432 and seems to have been last offered in the 1943 catalogue.

All the paddlers enjoyed a beautiful day of easy paddling to Marsh's Falls where we beached at the adjacent Nature Reserve and stretched out legs.

Once there, my son found two large quartz boulders marking the entrance to a trail. They were quite impressive shimmering in the sunlight

Northern Lakes Chapter members are encouraged to attend this well organized annual event next year!