Identification & Site Information

  • Name: SS Pumper
  • Former Names: SS Planet, Racey, Paul Evans
  • Registration Number(s): Not recorded
  • Year of Build: 1903
  • Built at: Buffalo, New York, USA
  • Measurements: 61 ft x 14 ft x 5.5 ft (18.6 m x 4.3 m x 1.7 m)
  • Final Location: Moored near Kars marina, Rideau River, Ontario
  • Coordinates (approximate): View on Google Maps

Vessel Type

Steamship – multipurpose inland vessel (converted over time from fishing vessel to Tug, icebreaker, and tour boat)

Description

The SS Pumper is a steel-hulled Steamship launched in 1903 in Buffalo, NY, originally named the SS Planet. The vessel underwent numerous conversions during her lifetime, reflecting her various roles — from a fishing boat, Tugboat, and icebreaker, to a tour boat. Her Hull and design reflect the early 20th-century focus on robust and utilitarian shipbuilding, making her durable across changing uses and icy inland waters.

History

The SS Pumper has a storied past, beginning with her seizure by Canadian authorities in 1909 for involvement in cross-border “Running the Line” operations — illegal fishing and suspected smuggling during the Prohibition era. Renamed Racey, she became a trusted lead vessel in the fishing fleet out of Port Dover, and later contributed to search and rescue efforts.

By the 1980s, the vessel underwent significant restoration led by the Pettit family, including the installation of a Doty steam engine (1895) and a Scotch marine boiler (1900). From there, she operated as a tour boat on the Rideau Canal before settling in the Kars/Manotick region, where she remains to this day.

Final Disposition

The SS Pumper is currently moored near the Kars marina. While not derelict, she is inactive and rests seasonally encased in ice, her steel Hull still floating after more than a century. The vessel is well-known in the local community and highlighted in local historical resources.

Located By & Date Found

The vessel has been at this mooring since the early 2000s, listed in the Canadian National Inventory under Location ID #BR0108.

NOTMARs & Advisories

  • Navigational Advisory: Mariners should use caution near the Kars marina location, especially in winter months when the Pumper may be encased in ice or partially submerged.

Resources & Links

Glossary Term

C-3 – Register of Wrecks and Casualties, Inland Waters
A federal record of wrecked, Abandoned, or hazardous vessels on Canadian inland waters. The SS Pumper is included under this designation due to her historical status and stationary condition.

Keywords

SS Pumper, SS Planet, Racey, Paul Evans, Buffalo, Steamship, Steel Hull, Doty Steam Engine, Scotch marine boiler, Tugboat, Icebreaker, Rideau Canal, Ottawa River, Kars marina, Capital Gems, Pumper.ca