River Driver Crews Converging on a Big Log Jam

Boat crews converge on a big log jam further downstream on the Montreal River which flows into Lake Superior.

The Pointer Boat
Ontario Department of Lands and Forests
1963

River Drivers Breaking up Log Jam from Their Pointer Boat

Two river drivers use their pointer to break up a log jam on the Montreal River which flows into Lake Superior north of Sault Ste. Marie Ontario.

The Pointer Boat
Ontario Department of Lands and Forests
1963

Mississauga River Drivers

Mississauga river drivers return hung-up logs to the main stream.


The Pointer Boat
Ontario Department of Lands and Forests
1963

Pointer Leaping into Rapids

This pointer leaps into the swift and dangerous action at Pig Pen Chutes on the Mississauga River between Blind River and Elliott Lake Ontario.


The Pointer Boat
Ontario Department of Lands and Forests
1963

Pointer Boat Portage

River men roller a pointer around dangerous rapids. Boat crews co-operate at portages because a pointer, although responsive in the water, weighs half a ton or more on land.

The Pointer Boat
Ontario Department of Lands and Forests
1963

Legacy of the Cockburns - Pointer Boat Racing

Back in the 80's until the mid 90's the friendly rivalry between towns along the Ottawa gave rise to "Pointerboat Races" that were held at various town regattas. Boats were entered from Arnprior, Renfrew, McNab Twshp, Calabogie, Gilles Lumber in Arnprior, Fort Coulonge and Pembroke

This photo was taken at Arnprior in 1983. Some of the boats were the real thing
while others were replicas built to Pointer boat specs. In this photo the boats are being towed out to the starting line by an ICO Tug. Then the race was on to the finish line which may have varied from one mile to four miles away.

Photo courtesy of John Wright

Legacy of the Cockburns - Pointer Boat Racing

Back in the 80's the friendly rivelry between towns along the Ottawa gave rise to "Pointerboat Races" that were held at various town regattas.

This photo was taken at Arnprior in 1983. Some of the boats were the real thing
while others were replicas built to Pointer boat specs. The boats were towed out to the starting line by an ICO Tug that day and then the race was on to the finish line which may have been at least a mile away.

Photos courtesy of John Wright

Legacy of the Cockburns - Pointer Boat Racing

Back in the 80's the friendly rivelry betwean towns along the Ottawa gave rise to "Pointerboat Races" that were held at various town regattas.

This photo was taken at Arnprior in 1983. Some of the boats were the real thing
while others were replicas built to Pointer boat specs. The boats were towed out to the starting line by an ICO Tug that day and then the race was on to the finish line which may have been at least a mile away.

Photos courtesy of John Wright

Legacy of the Cockburns - Pointer Boat Racing

Back in the 80's the friendly rivalry between towns along the Ottawa gave rise to "Pointerboat Races" that were held at various town regattas.
This picture was taken at Arnprior in 1983.

Some of the boats were the real thing while others were replicas built to Pointer boat specs. The boats were towed out to the starting line by an ICO Tug that day and then the race was on to the finish line which may have been at least a mile away.

Photos courtesy of John Wright

Old Pointer R.I.P.

This photo was taken about 20 years ago on the shore of the Ottawa just west of Stonecliff. There were several old boats rotting away in the bush there at that time.

Photo courtesy of:

John Wright

Pointer Boat Crews Converging on a Big Log Jam Down Stream

Photo scanned from

The Pointer Boat
Ontario Department of Lands and Forests
1963

Pointer Boats of the Upper Ottawa Drive of the 1880's

Photo and caption courtesy of:
"The Upper Ottawa Valley, A Glimpse of History"
Renfrew County Council
1970

Source provided with the enthusiastic assistance of:

John Wright
Rolph, Buchanan, Wylie and McKay Historical Society
The Schoolhouse Museum in Meilleur's Bay

Cockburn Pointer Boat filled with Children with Oars Raised

Photo and caption courtesy of:

"Notes on the History of Renfrew County"
Renfrew County Council
1969

Source provided with the enthusiastic assistance of:

John Wright
Rolph, Buchanan, Wylie and McKay Historical Society
The Schoolhouse Museum in Meilleur's Bay

Cockburn Pointer Boat escorting Horse Across Ottawa River

According to John Wright of the Rolph, Buchanan, Wylie and McKay
Historical Society located at the Schoolhouse Museum in Meilleur's Bay this is a picture of lumber men swimming a horse across the rapids at Deux Rivieres Ontario to be used in the lumber camps on the Quebec side. Due to the quality of the picture the horse is barely visible.