Letter from Jon M. Rank to Vilhjalmur Stefansson, 22 December 1922

It may be that durung the coming summer you may want the use of a suitable boat to make a trip to Wrangle Island to bring back your party there. I have the hull of the Arctic for sale. The Arctic is constructed the same and of the same dimensions as the Alaska except she is 3 feet narrower. She has not been in commission for several years, I have taken the 80 H.P. Atlas Engine she had out of her for the reason that the high cost of fuel made it out of the question for me to operate her on the coast here. She now comes under the law which makes her an inspected boat being over I5 tons. She is limited to passengers and this with the high cost ov operating made it impossible for me to operate on the coast here at a profit. I have been carring the mail on the Sea Wolf for several years past. If you are going to send another boat to Wrangle I believe I can fit you out with the Arctic the best of any boat here. You could furnish any kind of an engine you want and I could put the hull in first class condition. I would remove the present masts and give the Arctic more sail power. A 50 H.P.engine would be sufficient to give her a speed of 7 miles an hour . A 40 H.P / engine would be all right, too. Then considerable fuel would be saved. It has been my experience that speed in not necessary in the northern country. If you are interested let me hear from you at your concenience.