Construction In the 1920s the Muskoka Lakes saw strong growth in tourism as the Canadian economy recovered from the trauma of
World War I. By 1924 the Muskoka Lakes Navigation Company found that the six steamers then serving the lakes were growing inadequate to the task and looked to add to their fleet. Rather than commission an entirely new boat, management decided to convert the decommissioned SS
Nipissing from a
paddle-wheeler to a twin propeller passenger steamer.
Nipissings
wrought iron hull was built on the Clyde in 1887 and was in service on the lakes from 1887 through 1915. When Segwun was rebuilt on the hull of the second SS
Nipissing she was also converted from a side paddle wheel steamer with a
walking beam engine into the current two
counter-rotating propellers. The conversion was performed at the Navigation Company's yard in
Gravenhurst, Ontario during the fall and winter of 1924–5, at which time the bulk of
Nipissings machinery was removed, including her engines. Workers installed a new Scotch marine boiler along with two secondhand
Doty compound
steam engines and stack.
Remodel The Navigation Company underwent a change in ownership at the end of
World War II, when Major Hugh C. MacLean, publisher, sold his 90% interest in the company to a Toronto businessman, Gordon Douglas Fairley.
Segwun still maintains its
Canada Post 'R.M.S.' designation as an official
Royal Mail Ship. As part of a fundraising venture, she once carried her own private label wine which was distributed throughout Ontario by the
L.C.B.O. In 2001 & 2002,
Segwun was voted 'Best Large Attraction' by Attractions Canada. ==Current operations==