Plaque on the Cockburn Pointer Boat in Champlain Trail Museum in Pembroke

The Cockburn Pointer boats were designed and built by the Cockburn Family about 1850-1969.

This authentic nearly 32 foot cockburn pointer boat Pembroke was presented by the Consolidated-Bathurst Inc Portage-du-Fort to the Ottawa Valley Historical Society in October 1986.

The "Little Bonnechere" replica Cockburn Pointer Boat with my son Trevor in background

This replica Cockburn Pointer boat was lovingly built by Merril Burchart and generously donated to Bonnechere Provincial Park in 2002 after its maiden voyage down the Bonnechere River from Basin Depot visiting Reg Turner at Turner's Camp, one of the last men to navigate a pointer boat down the Little Bonnechere.

Saturday August 4, 2007.

The "Little Bonnechere" replica Cockburn Pointer Boat

This 19 foot 400 lb. replica boat was built by hand with no blueprints with the help of a couple of nephews and 100 hours of determination. What is all the more remarkable is the Merril Burchart was 70 years old at the time.

Saturday August 4, 2007.

Cockburn Pointer Boat at Algonquin Logging Museum

The bright red interior is the result of a preservative made from double boiled linseed oil and jewelers rouge being applied to the whole structure except the middle of the plank seats where the loggers sat; apparently this preservative would wear out the seats of the loggers trousers. This distinctive bright brick red colour became another trademark of the Pointer Boat.

Saturday August 4, 2007

Pointer Boat at Algonquin Logging Museum

The "Little Bonnechere" replica Cockburn Pointer boat at Bonnechere Provinical Park

This replica Cockburn Pointer boat can be found at Bonnechere Provincial Park at the Davenport Centre on Round Lake.

Saturday August 4, 2007