MV Skookum (1906)

MV Skookum, also known as Tut Tut, was a ferry that operated on Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada starting on April 2, 1906. She was the first official, government-subsidized ferry on the lake to connect the communities of Kelowna and Westbank.

Skookum was built by the H. B. D. Lysons and measured 30 ft by 6 ft by 2 ft, with a Turscott one-cylinder, seven horsepower engine that gave her a speed of eight to ten miles per hour. She had a capacity of 20 passengers and would charge 25 cents per passenger or one dollar per horse. In addition, Skookum had a scow that was 40 ft by 16 ft by 4 ft to handle livestock or one vehicle. If the scow was needed, the customer would build two fires on the West side of the lake as a signal. Skookum was granted a CAD$1000 per year subsidy to run two round trips daily, except Sundays, for three years.

In 1907, the ferry charter was bought by Captain Len A. Hayman, who continued the service until 1911, when the Okanagan Lake Boat Company, owned by Peter Roe, took her over. Roe and his brothers, Fred and Gerald, then operated Skookum and another ship, MV Trepanier, for many years.