Identification & Technical Data

  • Name: Sarona
  • Official Number: 116254
  • Year Built: 1902
  • Built at: D. Smith Shipyard, Toronto, Ontario
  • Propulsion: Single-screw yacht
  • Gross Tonnage: 32 tons
  • Hull Dimensions: 72 ft × 11 ft × 8 ft
  • Engine: 5″ × 10″ × 6″ installed by Goderich Engine Co.

Vessel Type & Description

Sarona was a modest-sized wooden yacht, likely outfitted with plush accommodations suitable for recreational or light commercial use. Her length and beam suggest a slender, graceful yacht form with a midship engine room and fore-and-aft cabin layouts typical of early 20th-century pleasure crafts.

Ownership History

  • Assigned Owner (1902): Huntsville & Bracebridge Tanning Co. (C.O. Shaw), Ontario
    Suggests use either as a company inspection or executive vessel, providing leisure travel on Muskoka lakes.

Final Disposition

  • Method: Scuttled
  • Date & Location: Remain undocumented. Likely intentionally sunk in a sheltered area once the yacht became obsolete or too costly to maintain. Possible scuttling location includes Muskoka lakes or a Georgian Bay bay close to Huntsville/Bracebridge.

Research Gaps

While the vessel’s origins and specs are clear, major gaps remain:

  • Scuttling details: date, reason, exact location
  • Registry cancellation records in Ontario archives
  • Company rationale: Whether scuttling was due to damage, disuse, or finance

Recommended Research Steps

  • Ontario Transport Canada Archives: Investigate registry cancellation and scuttling permit records (likely early–mid-20th century).
  • Local Newspapers (Huntsville/Bracebridge): Search for surrender or disposal notices (1902–1950).
  • Company Records of Huntsville & Bracebridge Tanning Co.: Potential mention of asset write-off or disposal.
  • Hydrographic Survey Maps: Early charts of Muskoka region may note wreck or scuttled yacht zones
  • Heritage Organizations: Contact Muskoka Heritage Place or Bracebridge museum for anecdotal or photographic materials.

Summary

Sarona, a 32-ton wooden yacht built in 1902 for the Huntsville & Bracebridge Tanning Co., served as a leisure or inspection craft before being intentionally scuttled to end her service life. Detailed records of her disposal remain elusive and would likely benefit from regional archival investigation. If you’d like, I can proceed to access Transport Canada archives, Muskoka newspaper databases, or connect with local heritage groups to help pinpoint her scuttling.