The first steam boats on Lake Winnipegosis were built in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s at Totogan, a Hudson’s Bay Landing Place on the White Mud River, near Westbourne, on the southern tip of Lake Manitoba. “Lady Isobel” and “idell” were purchased by Peter McArthur, and “Lady Ellen” and “osprey” by the Armstrong Company. “Lady Isobel” was the first steam boat to make the journey up Lake Manitoba, through the Waterhens, River and Lake, to Winnipegosis.

“Lady Isobel”, originally, “Lady Blanche”, was purchased, by Peter McArthur, from the Pratt brothers. A.D. McArthur, accomplished for her, the running of the rapids on the lower Waterhen River, by the use of two government barges. By means of two lighters, he lifted the steamer to lessen the drag. The barges, connected with timbers and screws attached to the steamer, lifted the boat, without taking it out of the water.

In 1899, “Iona” and in 1900, “Manitou” were built on the Mossey River, at the south end of Lake Winnipegosis, and just across from the already growing village. The S.S. “Manitou” was a freight boat in service on Lake Winnipegosis from 1900 to 1942. The builder was Albert Hackett, of Goderich, Ontario. Most of the material used was from Collingwood. Local lumber was used for the section above the waterline. Many happy days were spent on the lake on the “Manitou.”

In 1899, “Iona” and in 1900, “Manitou” were built on the Mossey River, at the south end of Lake Winnipegosis, and just across from the already growing village. The S.S. “Manitou” was a freight boat in service on Lake Winnipegosis from 1900 to 1942. The builder was Albert Hackett, of Goderich, Ontario. Most of the material used was from Collingwood. Local lumber was used for the section above the waterline. Many happy days were spent on the lake on the “Manitou.”

In 1899, also, Captain Coffey of the North-West Fish Company, brought tugs up from Lake Michigan, through the Lake of the Woods, and by connecting lakes and rivers, all the way to Winnipegosis. Captain Coffey also acquired the steam boat, “Mockingbird”, which had been built on the Canadian side of Lake Huron and sailed from Port Arthur.

Some boats were built locally by men like John Stefanson on Red Deer Point who built two larger boats: the “Woolf” and the “Bear” as well as a sloop to go back and forth to town in the 1930’s.