By Jean-François (Jeff) Chalut
1940 PORT CARLING SEABIRD “LOON”
Boat Hull: #4008
Name: Glenadene
Original engine: 1935 Buchanan, inline six-cylinder, 90 hp
Actual engine: 1956 Buchanan, inline six-cylinder, 100 hp
Construction: Mahogany and copper rivets
“When you love antique boats, you truly love them. But when you see yours — the one that turns your head, the one that obsesses you — from the very first glance, it’s already too late. Days go by, then months, then years, but one day, it will become part of the family, part of your life.”
That’s how Glenadene’s story begins.
In 1940, Roy Charles Bauer, a visionary entrepreneur and president of the Western Shoe Company Limited best known for founding the iconic Bauer skate brand, commissioned a Seabird boat from Port Carling Boat Works, located in Port Carling. Hull: 4008 for 1940, the 8th on the assembly line. He named her Glenadene, name of his second daughter born in 1925.
The Bauer family spent their summers at the Ferndale Hotel on Lake Rosseau, a cherished retreat nestled in the heart of Muskoka. Glenadene was housed in a boathouse on the hotel’s property, a gleaming symbol of leisure and craftsmanship. She ferried the family across the lake’s shimmering waters, her mahogany hull catching the sunlight, her engine humming like a lullaby of summer.
But in 1946, tragedy struck. A fire ravaged the Ferndale Hotel, reducing much of it to ashes. Miraculously, Glenadene survived, protected by the boathouse that stood far from the main building. In the aftermath, Roy Charles Bauer built a cottage nearby, continuing the family’s tradition of summers on Rosseau. Yet, as the family grew, so did their needs. Bauer sold Glenadene back to the hotel after its reconstruction in the late 1940s and acquired a larger boat.
For decades, Glenadene remained a quiet witness to the changing tides of time. By 1976, the Ferndale Hotel had gone bankrupt, and the boathouse was sealed shut. Glenadene was left untouched, gathering dust and silence.
Then, in the early 1980s, a young man named Gary Bryant, son of the owner of the Shamrock Lodge, swam near the old Ferndale property. Curious, he dove beneath the water and slipped under the boathouse door. Inside, he found Glenadene—dry-docked, forgotten, yet still regal. Covered in dust, she seemed to whisper stories of summers past. Gary sat inside her, feeling the weight of history and the pull of destiny.
Determined to bring her back to life, Gary sought out the owner. Days turned into weeks as he returned again and again, hoping to find someone who could tell him more. Eventually, he met someone who knew the owner. When Gary asked if the boat was for sale, the response was simple: “Make me an offer.” He did, and Glenadene became part of the Bryant family.
For the next 40 years, Glenadene was the pride of the Shamrock Lodge. She carried guests across the lake, hosted weddings, and became a fixture in the lives of the Bryant family. Her polished wood gleamed once more, her engine roared with joy, and her legacy grew with every trip.
After seeing listings and appearances of the boat for nearly two years, at the end of summer 2025, I reached out to Gary. Many conversations and stories followed. He shared how he learned about Glenadene’s history through his meeting with Donald Roy Bauer, Glenadene’s brother and son of Roy Charles Bauer, during a day at the country club next to the Shamrock Lodge. He told me the boat’s last outing was for his niece’s wedding.
That’s when I knew what the next chapter of this exceptional Seabird would be. “From a wedding to the big proposal”
On September 27, 2025, I was set to take possession of Glenadene and propose to my girlfriend. She had been watching me closely for months and made me promise that if I ever got a new boat, I had to give her THE ring. I had been searching for the perfect moment and way to propose, and Glenadene gave me the entire script.
That weekend, I orchestrated a scene worthy of a movie. A lake cruise, a visit to a vineyard, a fabricated story about handing off the boat to a friend. And then, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the lake shimmered in gold, knee to the ground, I made the big proposal and introduced her to the newest member of our family. In addition to adding to Glenadene’s story, she holds a special place in my heart, as she dates from 1940, the same year my father was born.
Glenadene, welcome to the family.
(P.S. She said yes.)