Wee “Kitty” Hawk – Galop Lock #28
Site Description
- Ferry
- 146ft 47m Lengths
- 0 -15ffw 3m Depths
- Gallop Canal in Cardinal, Ontario, Canada
- N 44 46.623
W 075 24.001
The ferryboat “Weehawk” (Official No. 226166) was a diesel-electric automobile ferry built in 1926 in Camden, New Jersey. It was constructed by the American Boveri Electric Company using a design by naval architect Eads Johnson. The Weehawk had a gross tonnage of 405 tons and a net tonnage of 268 tons. Its dimensions were 145.6 feet in length, 37.1 feet in width, and 12.7 feet in depth.
The Weehawk had a capacity of approximately 36 cars and 500 passengers. It operated on the Hudson River, crossing from Manhattan’s West 23rd Street to Weehawken, New Jersey. The ferry was part of the Electric Ferries Incorporated, a new enterprise that also had interests in real estate and the Erie Rail Road.
The design of the Weehawk was innovative for its time, using diesel and electricity instead of steam power like most ferries of that era. The vessel had a mechanical injection type system for fuel oil, which resulted in lower fuel consumption compared to steam engines. The Weehawk and its sister ships were considered more efficient and cost-effective.
In 1943, the original ferry route from Manhattan’s West 23rd Street to Weehawken was discontinued due to the construction of the Lincoln Tunnel and the decline in private automobile usage. However, the Weehawk and other ferries from the Electric Ferries company were relocated to the West 125th Street-Edgewater route, taking over from another ferry company.
From 1947 to 1958, the Weehawk was owned and operated by the Westchester Ferry Corporation. It was part of the Yonkers-Alpine service, sharing the route with another ferry called the John J. Walsh. However, with the construction of the George Washington Bridge and the Tappan Zee Bridge, the Westchester Ferry company gradually abandoned its operation, as the bridges provided a more efficient means of transportation across the Hudson River.
The next chapter in the Weehawk’s history was its involvement in the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The debate over the Seaway project between Canada and the US had been ongoing since the early 1900s. Finally, in 1954, the American Seaway bills were passed, authorizing the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Weehawk and the John J. Walsh played a role in the development of the International Rapids Section of the Seaway.
The Weehawk’s service as a ferry eventually came to an end. The Yonkers-Alpine ferry route was discontinued in December 1956, and no bids were received to replace it. The ferryboat had a significant presence during celebrations for the opening of the George Washington Bridge, but its existence was threatened by the new bridge.
Today, the wreck of the Weehawk lies in the Gallop Canal in Cardinal, Ontario, Canada. It has become a popular dive site for scuba divers, who explore the remains of the ship’s hull, mostly composed of wood and iron. Volunteer organizations like Save Ontario Shipwrecks work to preserve and raise awareness of such wrecks as underwater museums.
Note: The provided information is based on the given text. It is always recommended to verify historical facts with additional sources for accuracy.
As an alternate you can drift upstream in the back-current towards the starting point.
