A comprehensive write-up can be located here Scanner V30 No.3
The Knapp roller boat, designed by Frederick August Knapp, was a unique vessel that aimed to revolutionize cargo-carrying traffic. The boat was cylindrical in shape, measuring 110 feet in length and approximately 25 feet in diameter, with a draft of 23 inches. It was constructed in Polson’s yard in Toronto and was launched in Toronto Bay.
Initially, the design involved a heavy stationary cylinder with the outer part revolving around it. However, the design was modified, and the central part of the hull was left empty. At each end of the boat, there was a platform resting on wheels, which remained stationary and were weighted. Two engines with upright boilers were placed on each platform, and a large driving wheel connected to the engines caused the hull to revolve through a system of cogs. The boat had platforms equipped with wheels, allowing it to travel on four big driving wheels. The entire vessel weighed 100 tons, and 500 square feet of its surface area made contact with the water.
The Knapp roller boat was intended to reach a speed of one mile per minute and would be steered by two large rudders or tall boards located below the platforms. Steam steering gear was likely used for navigation. However, the vessel did not live up to its expectations, as it could only reach a maximum speed of four miles per hour under favorable conditions.
In 1897, the boat was transformed into a coal-carrying barge by the Bertram shipyard. The open ends of the boat were enclosed in wooden pontoons to allow it to be towed end-on. The vessel underwent modifications, including the addition of twin screws and steel ends. Deck houses and pilot houses were built above the plates, and the accommodation for officers and crew was located in the dome of the cylinder. It was expected to operate as a cargo carrier between Lake Erie ports and Toronto.
Despite the initial excitement surrounding the Knapp roller boat, the concept proved impractical, and the vessel had an unsuccessful career. Eventually, it was laid up in the boneyard east of Jarvis Street in Toronto’s old harbor, where it remained for approximately 25 years. In 1927, during harbor redevelopment, the hull was excavated and cut up for scrap.
These details about the Knapp roller boat can be found in various newspaper sources, including The Marine Review (June 15, 1899), Milwaukee Wisconsin (September 11, 1897), and British Whig (Kingston, ON) (August 18, 1904).
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