Winnipeg's paddlewheel riverboats docked, for sale

The future of Winnipeg's riverboats is in doubtafter thecaptain and ownerof theM.S.Paddlewheel Queen and M.S. Paddlewheel Princess took his final cruiseafter 44 years at the helm.

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StevenHawchuktook hislast cruise at the wheel of the45-metre-longPaddlewheelQueenon Sunday. The Princess was docked earlier and both boats are now awaiting a buyer to step up.

It hasn't been easy running the businesses, when the city's waterways flood every year, Hawchuksaid, buthe still thinks there's a future for the riverboats.

High water levels on the Assiniboine and Red rivers in May and June of this yearmeant the Paddlewheel Queen couldn't get through the locks at Lockport, Man., so it was stuck at a dock in Selkirk, Man., during those months.

Hawchuck said he lost one-third of his summer tour business or about $200,000as a result.

"With the high floodwaters every year and you know, the boats are getting older and they need some work done to them, I decided just [to retire]," he said.

The PaddlewheelQueen first set sail in 1965, built by Ray Senft, who was inspired after seeing Mississippi-style riverboats during a vacation in Mexico.

It was so popular that he builtthe Princess in1966 to meet the demand, which continued to grow and prompted anothercity businessman, Dan Ritchie, to bring another cruise ship, theM.S. River Rouge, onto the river system in 1967.

While the popularity of the riverboats has waned,Hawchukwho hasownethe Paddlewheelboats since 1969 said it is still a viable business.

Lately, the PaddlewheelQueen and the River Rouge, which continues to operate, had been taking Blue Bomber fans to games via the rivers rather than the congested roadways.

Hawchuk said there is still much life left in the riverboat business, but it's time for someone else to take the wheel.

"It has to be somebody younger that wants to take over it, you know, that likes boats and wants a challenge. It's still a very, it's a viable operation, witha lot of potential," he said.

Hawchuk has some people interested in buying the boats, but nothing has been finalized.

Some of the VIP guests over the years on the Paddlewheel Queen and Princess include:

• Musician Burton Cummings
• Musical-comedy duo Maclean and Maclean
• KFC founder Colonel Sanders
• Singer Frankie Valli
• Environmental activist David Suzuki
• Princess Ann
• Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
• Author and Academy Award-nominated actor Chief Dan George