After the period of unemployment, the Warkaus was bought by the Helsinki ”Lirimassen”, a group of nine youngsters. When they bought it, the boat was in bad conditions, but they saved it thanks to the help of sailors from Varkaus. They cruised the renewed Saimaa Canal, Gulf of Finland, in 1968 and the Warkaus was the first leisure boat.
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Lirimassen was composed by Bill Mikander (master), Anki and Lasse Holappa, Gunvor and Tom Ryynänen, Kerstin Duncker, Klara Ekstam, Kaj Grönroos (engine driver) and Lasse Quickström. For the new life of the boat they chose the colours black, white and green, still in use. With the Warkaus they had a memorable 2-year adventure in the waters of Helsinki and Hanko. Then the group broke up and the boat was sold.

Changing of the guards of the engine drivers in the Saimaa Canal, September 1972 (left: Henkka, right: Jaska Löppönen).

The third owner was the ship building engineer Juhani (Jussi) Salovaara who repaired the boat and furnished it professionally, especially considering the sea conditions. When the wood started to be in short supply, the heating system changed and fuel oil was used or turbine heat. These solutions are common for instance in the Dutch traditional steam boats. Salovaara’s Warkaus became a family boat to navigate to their summer house in the island of Hiittinen on the Finnish archipelago. They also went by sea with friends on the routes to Helsinki and Hanko from the place for anchoring of Westend.

Changing of the guards of the captains (left: Jussi Salovaara, right: Pauli Löppönen).

The Warkaus traveling to Saimaa, in the Saimaa Canal (from the left: Sea captain Mikko Toivonen, Jussi Salovaara, Jussi Itkonen and Pauli Pauli Löppönen).

Pauli Löppönen got to know the Warkaus when it was already on the sea, as he was the boat’s captain when his owner was Jussi. When the Warkaus was put on sale, he decided to buy the boat together with his father Jaakko Löppönen. Pauli Löppönen (born 1942) and his father Jaakko (born 1918), whose grandfather Juhan (born 1861) was ship’s master and whose father Fritjof (born 1888) was an engine driver, repaired systematically the boat, lived on board during July every summer and visited in 16 years time all routes in the Saimaa area. When the big repairs were approaching in 1988 the Warkaus became property of the company Löppönen Original Ltd., owned by members of the Löppönen family. Pauli and Sirkka Löppönen and their children Paula Lehto (born 1970), Topi Löppönen (born 1972) and Anni Järvenpää (born 1975) became the owners. The home port is Ristiina.
Jaakkoand his father Fritjofin on the deck of freight steamer, 1930s.	Engine driver Jaakko Löppönen in the engine room of the Warkaus, 1980s.	Engine driver Kimmo and apprentice Timo. Kimmo Ruuskanen has been working as engine driver since 2001.
As engine drivers we can mention Jaakko Löppönen, 1972-1988, Pauli Löppönen, 1989-2000, and Kimmo Ruuskanen since 2001. The member of the Löpponen family Timo Löppönen is now continuing the family tradition and working as engine driver. During the years the Warkaus has seen not only the members of the crew but also their friends and guests. Moreover many apprentices have learnt a job onboard the boat. The favourite harbours are Puumala, Savonlinna and Lappeenranta. The cruise to the Regatta organized by the Finnish Steam Yacht Association has become the highlight of the Warkaus in the summers. To cover the maintenance costs, every season are organized several “One day on the Saimaa” leisure cruises.

Mother in 1972 and daughter in 2005 – Who’s who?	Anni drawing 1980.

A concert for the 150th anniversary of the Finnish steam boating, Regatta of Kitee, 1983.

Paula and Topi at Midsummer in Puumala 1973.

Nelli and Stella at Varkaantaipale Canal, 2009.

Pauli's 60th birthday in Laukansaari, 2002.

Owners and home ports of the s/s Warkaus: 1910-1967 1968-1969 1970-1972 1972-1988 1988- A.Ahlström Oy Lirimassen-ryhmä Juhani Salovaara Pauli ja Jaakko Löppönen Löppönen Original Oy Varkaus Pirttisaari,Helsinki Westend, Espoo Mikkeli Ristiina