SS Island Princess

The steamboat Daily operated in the early 1900s as part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet. In later years, "Daily" was renamed Island Princess and later Cy Peck.
Construction.
"Daily" was built in 1913 by Matthew McDowell at his yard at Caledonia, near Tacoma. "Daily" was one of the larger vessels built by Captain McDowell, 116' long, 25' on the beam, 8' depth of hold and rated at 254 tons. "Daily" was the seventh Puget Sound passenger and freight vessel built by Captain McDowell. "Daily" was a classic example of a mixed-used Puget Sound mosquito fleet vessel, as shown by photos published and drawings prepared by Professor Turner.
Operations.
"Daily" was placed on the Seattle-Tacoma route, running via points on Vashon and Maury islands.
Sale to Canadian Pacific Railway.
In 1918, "Daily" was sold to the coastal service of the Canadian Pacific Railway, who renamed her "Island Princess". CPR put her in the Gulf Islands service, where she made a significant improvement. She was the smallest vessel in the CPR Fleet. "Island Princess" (ex "Daily") ran for CPR from 1918 to 1930. She served points on North Pender, South Pender, Mayne, Galiano, and Saltspring Islands.
Sale to Gulf Islands Ferry Co..
CPR’s Gulf Island service was proving successful, so Captain Troup, the head of CPR’s steamship division, decided to replace "Island Princess" with the old CPR steamer "Charmer" in 1927. Unlike "Island Princess", "Charmer" had been rebuilt to carry automobiles. In 1930, CPR sold "Island Princess" to the Gulf Islands Ferry Company which renamed her "Cy Peck" after British Columbia war hero and politician Cyrus Wesley Peck. Unfortunately but probably inevitably the new owners rebuilt her to carry automobiles.
Later career.
"Cy Peck" (ex "Island Princess" ex "Daily") must have been a well-built boat, as she was still in regular operation in British Columbia waters (on the Fulford Harbour-Swartz Bay crossing) as late as 1956. In 1961, BC Ferries purchased the "Cy Peck" along with other Gulf Island ferries, keeping her as a relief vessel at Fulford Harbour. In 1966, she was sold to J.H. Todd & Sons for use as a floating fishing camp. In 1975, she was reported still extant in private use on Saltspring Island at the town of Ganges. A replica of the ship's wheelhouse can be found on the Ganges waterfront.
See also.
Matthew McDowell