Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Rideau King
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller passenger steamer
- Year Built: 1893
- Builder: Robert Davis, Kingston, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length: 107.0 ft (32.6 m); Beam: 23.33 ft (7.1 m); Depth: 6.0 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 266 gross / 197 net tons
- Location: Kingston, Ontario
- Official Number: 96920
- Original Owners: Holton & Flint (as James Swift); Rideau Lakes Navigation Co. (as Rideau King)
- Number of Masts: N/A
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Rideau King was a wooden-hulled, screw-propelled passenger steamer designed for service in Ontario’s inland waterways.
Description
The James Swift (later Rideau King) was built to carry passengers comfortably along the scenic Rideau Lakes and canal system, offering both utility transportation and leisure cruising during a period of growing tourism in Ontario.
History
Launched in Kingston in 1893 by shipbuilder Robert Davis, the James Swift entered service for Holton & Flint. She quickly became a familiar sight in the Rideau Lakes region, ferrying locals, tourists, and light cargo between communities linked by the Rideau Canal.
In 1901, the vessel was renamed Rideau King and continued operation under the Rideau Lakes Navigation Co. This period coincided with a boom in excursion travel, as city residents sought recreational trips along Ontario’s waterways. The Rideau King contributed to this trade for nearly 30 years, serving as both transport and tourist attraction.
Significant Incidents
- No significant incidents reported.
Final Disposition
By 1920, the aging wooden steamer had outlived its commercial utility in an era increasingly dominated by steel-hulled vessels. Rather than being abandoned or sunk, the Rideau King was systematically dismantled at Kingston. No wreck or remains survive today.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No wreck site exists; the vessel was scrapped in 1920. The site presents no hazard.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”rideau-king-james-swiftc-96920″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
As a reminder, Shotline Diving encourages divers to respect the underwater environment. Leave only bubbles, take only memories, and ensure that you leave the site better than you found it.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Lead Image
Identification Card (Site Style)
Other Names: Rideau King
Official Number: 96920
Registry: Kingston, Ontario
Vessel Type: Wooden-hulled propeller passenger steamer
Builder: Robert Davis, Kingston, Ontario
Year Built: 1893
Dimensions: Length: 107.0 ft (32.6 m); Beam: 23.33 ft (7.1 m); Depth: 6.0 ft (1.8 m)
Tonnage: 266 gross / 197 net tons
Propulsion: Screw propeller, 12-horsepower steam engine
Cargo on Final Voyage: N/A (passenger steamer)
Date of Loss: Dismantled in 1920
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Coordinates: None (scrapped)
Depth: N/A
Home Port: Kingston, Ontario
Owners: Holton & Flint (as *James Swift*); Rideau Lakes Navigation Co. (as *Rideau King*)
Crew: Not recorded
Casualties: None
Description
The James Swift (later Rideau King) was a wooden-hulled, screw-propelled passenger steamer designed for service in Ontario’s inland waterways. At 107 ft in length and 266 gross tons, she was modest in scale, with a small 12-horsepower engine. She was built to carry passengers comfortably along the scenic Rideau Lakes and canal system, offering both utility transportation and leisure cruising during a period of growing tourism in Ontario.
History
Launched in Kingston in 1893 by shipbuilder Robert Davis, the James Swift entered service for Holton & Flint. She quickly became a familiar sight in the Rideau Lakes region, ferrying locals, tourists, and light cargo between communities linked by the Rideau Canal.
In 1901, the vessel was renamed Rideau King and continued operation under the Rideau Lakes Navigation Co. This period coincided with a boom in excursion travel, as city residents sought recreational trips along Ontario’s waterways. The Rideau King contributed to this trade for nearly 30 years, serving as both transport and tourist attraction.
Final Disposition
By 1920, the aging wooden steamer had outlived its commercial utility in an era increasingly dominated by steel-hulled vessels. Rather than being abandoned or sunk, the Rideau King was systematically dismantled at Kingston. No wreck or remains survive today.
Located By & Date Found
No wreck site exists; the vessel was scrapped in 1920.
Notmars & Advisories
No modern Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) exist; the vessel presents no hazard.
Dive Information
Access: None — vessel dismantled
Entry Point: N/A
Conditions: N/A
Depth Range: N/A
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard, Kingston sector
Permits: Not applicable
Dive Support: Not applicable
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No casualties reported. Crew rosters not preserved in known archives.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The steamer Rideau King, long associated with the Rideau Lakes service, has been dismantled at Kingston. For nearly three decades she carried passengers across Ontario’s inland seas.” — Ottawa Journal, 1920.
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Registered at Kingston under official number 96920. Originally entered as James Swift, later amended to Rideau King. Registry closed in 1920 upon dismantling. Insurance records not located.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Ontario Archives – Rideau Canal history collections
- David Swayze’s Great Lakes Shipwreck File
- Ottawa Journal, 1920 — dismantling notice
- Canadian Vessel Registry — official number 96920
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes — registry and ownership entries
Historical Photogallery
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Rideau King
Official Number: 96920
Coordinates: Kingston, Ontario (dismantled)
Depth: N/A
Location Description: Rideau Lakes passenger service, dismantled at Kingston
Vessel Type: Passenger steamer (propeller-driven)
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 107 × 23.33 × 6 ft (32.6 × 7.1 × 1.8 m); 266 GRT / 197 NRT
Condition: Dismantled
Cause of Loss: Dismantled (1920)
Discovery Date: N/A
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
Legal Notes: Registry struck 1920
Hazards: None
Permits Required: None
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