ALONDRA
OWNER: David Cook
ABOUT THE BOAT:
The construction is of carvel type planked haul on bent ribs. The planking above the waterline is western red cedar and planks below the waterline are of Douglas Fir. The hull is a displacement style with result being that she is good in a following sea.
HISTORY:
During WWII, Alondra was enrolled in the coast guard auxillary. The white board near the wheelhouse door has her war time number displayed. Private vessels were encouraged to join the auxillary and were to be used to evacuate Vancouver Island in the event of an armed attack.
RESTORATION:
The vessel is equipped with two masts that accommodate three steady sails. The clinker built dinghy was constructed in the early 1950’s and has recently been restored.
Alondra was designed and constructed by David E. (Ted) Cook and his son Edward- the owner’s father and grandfather! Ted Cook was a master shipwright who spent the second quarter of the twentieth century in various shipyards in the Vancouver Coal Harbour area.
ANJA
OWNER: Arnt and Valerie Arntzen
ABOUT THE BOAT:
23′ carvel-planked gaff rigged Bristol pilot cutter designed by Roger Long as a pocket cruiser. The Hull was built in 2014 on Saltspring Island, BC. By David Betts, but without the trunk cabin. It is Sapele (mahogany) planking on steam-bent oak frames with bronze fastenings. In 2020 current owner Arnt Arntzen added to the great hull and completed the pocket cruiser build. This included adding the cabin, rig and interior. She has a two burner propane stove, ice box, plenty of storage and a large double berth for comfortable cruising.
POWER:
20 horse Beta Marine diesel
GREAT STORY:
Arnt designs and builds custom furniture, often from castaway wood or metal oddments that have outlived their designated life and he has stashed away. Much of Anjas’ hardware is made from recycled bronze and the Cockpit seats are recycled old growth fir church pews.
TIDBIT:
ANJA has cruised the west coast as far north as Alert Bay and Broken Islands on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
She is exciting to sail with plenty of strings to pull with 4 sails including the topsail which sets over 500 square feet. She now calls Vancouver her home port.
BIANCA
OWNER: Maurizio Hublitz & Cecilia Rosell
DESIGN:
Bianca is a 32 foot cabin cruiser built in 1959. She is a Chris Craft 32ft Express one of 17 built between 1957 and 1959 in Holland Michigan. Her hull is Double planked solid Mahogany under the water line and batten seamed Mahogany above the water line. Deck is solid teak, interior is Mahogany and a teak sole . We have restored her to be as original as possible We use her extensively and have cruised up and down the coast and about 2000 nautical miles every year for the past 9 years. We now have Francis our 2 year old deck hand, who at some point had spent half his life cruising.
ABOUT THE BOAT:
She was originally powered by two Chrysler 392 and had a recorded top speed by the first Dealer at Bryant Marine in Seattle of 33mph (28knots), today she has two chevy 350 based engines and a top speed we had her to 27 knots.
RENOVATIONS:
No conversions have been made; Bianca has been restored to be as original as possible. Every item onboard is from 1959, including such items as chairs, table, silverware or magazines in the magazine stand: The galley even features a dishwasher by Husqvarna from 1961.
BLACK DAVE
OWNER: Liz Kelly
DESIGN:
Recreational Troller-cruiser built by Bill Garden and Laurie Armstrong & Son in Sidney, Vancouver Island in 1996. LOA 28′, Beam 10′, Draft 3′. Oak frames, carvel planked yellow cedar Engine is a US Marine Hino W04D diesel, 4 cylinder 110 HP inboard. 6ft V-berth forward with lockers, Port side: dinette which converts to a sleeping bunk, fridge, head with basin and toilet. Starboard side: helm, galley stove and sink. Large aft cockpit with helm to port and seating, engine below the cockpit.
HISTORY:
Black Dave was owned by naval architects Greg Marshall and Gord Galbraith, based in Victoria. Greg was introduced to Bill Garden at the age of 15 and spent the next 6 years as Bill Garden’s apprentice.
Black Dave was Bill Garden’s long serving mechanic, nicknamed because he was always covered in oil and dirt. Apparently Black Dave also had a dark side, so the story goes he was a big drinker and quite the ladies man. It was a condition of sale that the name would never be changed.
China Cloud
OWNER: Eden Murray
ABOUT THE BOAT:
45’ 1982 Junk Rig Sailboat designed and built by Allen Farrell on the beach at Scotty Bay, near the northwest corner of Lasqueti using wood milled for him by Bill McLean on Bull Island.
Built without power tools, hull covered in copper plating, heated by a wood stove. Shallow draft and equipped with bilge keels, and able to sit comfy on mud beaches
POWER:
9.9 Yamaha (and original skulling oar)
GREAT STORY:
Eden Murray, great great grand niece to Allen and Sharie Farrell has owned China Cloud since 2022. Home ported in Esquimalt, Eden and her father Hans, and many of their friends, are lovingly restoring and maintaining her.
Eden is accepting donations to purchase materials to enable them to continue her journey. https://www.edengrace.ca/china-cloud
TIDBIT:
As long as Allen owned China Cloud she never had an engine and instead waited for wind or was propelled gracefully with a skulling oar.
China Cloud, the Farell’s last large sailing vessel, was built as the last home for Allen and Sharie
Escalante
OWNER: Gord Wintrup
ABOUT THE BOAT:
48’ Yacht designed by Ed Monk and built in 1961 by Benson Brothers in Coal Harbour. Hull is traditional carvel with 1 1/2″ yellow cedar bottom planking, 1 1/4″ yellow cedar sides over 8″ oak frames
POWER:
1961 – 180hp gasoline GM -671 engine.
Repowered in 1965 with a 220hp General Motors Corp. GM-871 diesel engine
GREAT STORY:
In 1961-1971 her name was Dorlen (I) she was owned by Leonard G. Sewell. In 1964 she was winner of the Dr. Bob McKechnie Predicted Log Race (RVYC Trophy for the British Columbia yacht with the lowest percentage of error of all British Columbia skippers competing in the International Power Boat Race
From 1971 to 2025 her new name was Escalante (II), and she was owned Lyon H. (Mike) and Joan Michalson, West Vancouver BC
TIDBIT:
In 2025 Gord Wintrup had registered to attend our show with “My Fair Lady” but with a month to go he announced he was assuming guardianship of “Escalante”. Mike Michalson, who had owned her for the last 54 years, and is now 96 years old himself, is aboard her for his last cruise on the old girl
Forest Ranger II
OWNER: Doug Mitchell
ABOUT THE BOAT:
45’ Forest Ranger Launch built in 1953 at the Forest Service Marine Depot on the Fraser River in Vancouver. Mahogany-planked transom stern, carvel cedar-planked hull above the waterline, fir planking below on bent oak frames. Marine plywood decks and superstructure.
POWER:
165 hp GM (“Jimmy”) 6-71 engine (rebuilt in 1998)
GREAT STORY:
The Ranger/Skipper was supported by two crew, a cook /deckhand and engineer /cook) Initially based at Thurston Bay on Sonora Island and later Campbell River, She was used to patrol and inspect coastal logging operations between Vancouver Island and the mainland, including some adjacent mainland inlets. She has been restored and maintained for more than three decades by owner Doug Mitchell,
TIDBIT:
In retirement, Forest Ranger II has not been idle, having circumnavigated Vancouver Island and cruised to Haida Gwaii and the central Coast. She has been home-ported in Sidney since 1992
Forest Surveyor
OWNER: Micheal Wollaston/Northwest Propulsion Museum, Seattle WA. Captained by Daniel Hanson
ABOUT THE BOAT:
63 ft Freighter built in 1942 at A.C. Benson Shipyard by the Royal Canadian Army Transportation Corps for use as a picket patrol boat. Wood hull, Alaskan Cedar Oak frames.
POWER:
165 hp Detroit 8V-71
GREAT STORY:
After war service as the Colonel Ward, she passed into ownership of the BC government. After joining the fleet of Forest Service vessels, she was renamed Forest Surveyor. In 1947 she collided with the Merry Sea II at a wharf in Campbell River and subsequently underwent a rebuild at Star Shipyard. In 2008 she was extensively remodelled by Baketun and Thomas Shipyard, Seattle.
After 23 years of patrol duty with the Forest Service, Forest Surveyor was surplused in 1973 and passed into private hands
TIDBIT:
Although no longer registered in Canada, Forest Surveyor is still afloat in familiar Pacific waters. She has voyaged with Wollaston to Alaska and often provides sea experiences to history enthusiasts in Puget Sound.
GLADSONG II
OWNER: David Peebles
ABOUT THE BOAT:
Gladsong II was manufactured at the Chris-Craft plant in Holland, Michigan in 1962.
She was moored at RVYC Coal Harbour for her first 39 years. Her current owners are her second. They have refastened and refinished Gladsong II, rebuilt the original running gear, and upgraded her with new systems and wiring.
Lil Random
OWNER: Phil Cook
ABOUT THE BOAT:
(1957) 35′ Hinckley Pilot diesel auxiliary sloop. Traditional Carvel wood Hull with mahogany planks on oak frames, round bilge, full keel
Designed by Sparkman & Stephens for the New York yacht club back in the 50s. Built by Hinckley at Southwest Harbour Maine.
Her home port is Spruce Harbour Marina at the South of False Creek near Granville Island.
POWER:
25 HP, 3 cylinder Westerbeke marine diesel engine
GREAT STORY:
Through the 2025 winter Abernathy and Gaudin (Sydney B. C.) replaced the stern post and two of the de-lignified frames around the engine bed. This shall be an ongoing dance.
Sometimes referred to as a Gentleman‘s Yacht – Gentleman’s? – because it’s really quite uncomfortable to stay on.
TIDBIT:
Yacht? – the term “yacht” is of Dutch origin, and it was initially described as a small, swift sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to track down and catch pirates.
Madera
OWNER: Audrey and Michael Topliss
ABOUT THE BOAT:
52’ Flybridge Cruiser Designed by Stephens Bros and Built in 1953 by Stephens Bros in Stockton, CA.
Hull – 1 1/4 Philippine Mahogany, Frames – Oak at 10″ centres, Decks – Burma Teak and Cabin Sides are Teak
Home Port: Secret Cove, BC, Canada
POWER:
Twin Detroit 6-71’s
GREAT STORY:
In 2009 in a deal with RVYC club member Jerry Rendell, owner of Syrene, Madera found a new home with Rendell in Canada and Syrene went to Seattle.
June 2013, Madera was sold as part of Rendell’s estate to Audrey and Michael Topliss and now has a new home on the Sunshine Coast (Secret Cove)
TIDBIT:
Stephens Brothers Boat Builders and Designers (1902 to 1987), began in the back yard of two brothers. It became famous for its elegantly designed pleasure craft, including sailboats, speedboats, cruisers and private yachts.
MESSENGER III
OWNER: Capt Bill Noon
ABOUT THE BOAT:
MESSENGER III was built in 1946 for the Shantymen’s Christian Association (SCA) for religious missions to the numerous First Nations communities, logging camps, and fishing camps along the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island. She is one of the few survivors of 91 mission boats of various sizes known to have served in this role in the province.
HISTORY:
Every summer MESSENGER III carried children to summer camps that the SCA ran at several locations, and she also occasionally served as an ambulance vessel for a mission hospital at Esperanza, about two thirds of the way up Vancouver Island. Messenger has served as a pleasure vessel since 1968.
RESTORATION:
Messenger has undergone a slow but steady rebuild since 2001 by well-known and respected shipwrights Ted Knowles of Victoria and Chris Earl of Vancouver’s Gronlunds boatyard.
Messenger III is featured in several books. “Splendor from the Sea” by R. Keller, and “Looking Astern” by Earl Johnson. She was also featured in 1954 Life Magazine, and in Wooden oat magazine in 2022.
Her history involves the development of Scotty fishing products, including the SCOTTY Downrigger through to the 1990s.
Nimpkish II
OWNER: Peter & Christine Thomas
ABOUT THE BOAT:
60’ wooden hulled power-cruiser. Built in 1944 by Vancouver Shipyards Ltd as a Supply Vessel for the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Second World War RCAF supply vessel that was used to supply RCAF coastal stations on the west coast
Converted to a private pleasure craft in 1912. Her home port is currently Shelter Island, East Richmond on the South Arm of the Fraser River
POWER:
300 HP 6-110 Detroit
GREAT STORY:
In 1944-1961 she was built for and owned by the Royal Canadian Air Force and employed as a R.C.A.F. Supply Vessel at RCAF radar station Station Holberg.
In 1961 she was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy and first employed as a buoy monitoring and retrieval vessel for air-dropped sensors at Patricia Bay followed by becoming a Torpedo Recovery Vessel at Canadian Forces Experimental Test Range, Nanoose
TIDBIT:
RCAF radar station at Holberg was on the northern tip of Vancouver Island. It was one of 44 radar stations that formed the Pinetree Line across Canada.
Two former Captains were RCAF officers – Flight Sergeant McCallum RCAF (c1953) and Flight Sgt Fred Bahosic (1963);
NEREUS
OWNER: Christopher Earl
DESIGN:
Built in 1969 in Sydney B.C. by Doug Barrons and Allan Falyck.
ABOUT THE BOAT:
She is fir on oak with yellow cedar beams, clamps and stringers and a laid fir deck.
RENOVATIONS:
I have done no major changes to Nereus except removed some fishing gear.
HISTORY:
Builders Doug Barrons and Allan Falcon fished her for one season. John Homer owned her 1972-79 and then Gerry Creelman 1980 – 2007. I bought the Nereus in 2008.
Nereus was the original ‘old man of the sea’ in Greek mythology.
Nootka
OWNER: Tim Robison & Sandra Clavero
ABOUT THE BOAT:
A 38’ Canadian missionary boat designed and built in 1957 by Barney Williams, fisherman and shipwright of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation.
The carvel planked hull is constructed of 1 1/4” cedar planking. Frames are steam bent White oak, 1 3⁄4” x 2 3/4 “ on approx.11” centers in the Canadian style
POWER:
96 hp 4 cyl John Deere Diesel, replacing a Bedford Diesel
GREAT STORY:
Initially named “Ave Maria” her name was changed in 2016. Tim and Sandra became more familiar with the fraught history of Residential Schools and the treatment of First Nations and Native American children where attendance was compulsory, and speaking in native languages was punished. They decided the name “NOOTKA” more appropriately reflected the history of the Pacific Northwest, as it is the name explorers originally gave to the Nuu-chah-nulth and seeks to honor the heritage of the builder.
TIDBIT:
This vessel was designed and built in 1957 by the eye and hand of a First Nation shipwright on the beach at Meares Island, Clayoquot Sound. Barney Williams was a shipwright, fisherman and Chief of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation. This makes Nootka unique in the history of the Mission Boats.
Oak II
OWNER: Lorne Berman
ABOUT THE BOAT:
34’ 4’ draft 9’ beam Designed as a forestry cruiser by Tommy Edwards of the BC Forest Service Marine Division and launched in 1952 at the Marine Station Builders shipyard on the Fraser River. Hull is red and yellow cedar and fir; frames are bent white oak on 8” centres; trim is mahogany and oak with gumwood guards; fir mast, stainless boom.
POWER:
371 Jimmy (GM) 110 HP
GREAT STORY:
Oak II was designed to provide live-aboard accommodation for two forest rangers who conducted forest surveys, monitored logging operations and assisted with fires. For 25 years, she worked around Campbell River and Kelsey Bay then, when the Forest Service retired the cruisers in 1977, she and her sister ships were put up for auction.
TIDBIT:
One of 11 forestry sister ships nicknamed The Blimps.
Pacific
OWNER: DON MACMILLAN
ABOUT THE BOAT:
50’ retired Halibut longliner, Built 1970-71 by Roy Johnson in Queensborough
Hull is fir on oak ribs with yellow cedar beams, stringers and a laid fir deck.
Powered by a Scania DS 1101 diesel
Home port for “Pacific” is now Degnen Bay, Gabriola Island
HISTORY:
Pacific was built to longline for halibut in the North Pacific. Don bought “Pacific” in 1996 and she fished halibut exclusively until they both retired.
RENOVATIONS:
Her configuration is much unchanged from her fishing days. She now has bunks in the fish hold now though. Over the last few years almost every piece of wood above the waterline has been replaced but with the goal of retaining her original appearance
TIDBIT:
The halibut fishermen of B.C. regarded her as one of the best of her type.
Passat V
OWNER: William Mainguy
ABOUT THE BOAT:
45’ double-ended pilothouse ketch built in 1951 at Niendorff, West Germany by Ernst Evers Yacht & Boatworks. The hull is teak-planked and it has undergone several maintenance refits, as well as benefitting from the addition of modern cruising features to its classic seaworthy design. The ketch rig features Doyle sails, aluminum spars, roller-furling genoa, and stack pack sail covers/lazy jacks
It can be captained from either the half-round cockpit or the pilothouse.
POWER:
Originally powered 1951 87bhp GMC diesel engine, now powered by a
70 HP Beta (Kubota) diesel engine
GREAT STORY:
When Harold V. Seaglynn, Victoria BC sold her in 2019. All proceeds from the sale went to help send young people on sail training voyages with SALTS (Sail and Life Training Society).
TIDBIT:
The Passat was built in 1951 at Niendorff, West Germany by Ernst Evers Yacht & Boatworks. She is ketch–rigged and named for the famous four–masted barque Passat.
PUFFIN
OWNER: Don McPherson
ABOUT THE BOAT:
23’ motorsailer designed by Bill Garden and built in 1986 by Walker Boatbuilding, Kingston Ontario.
Hull is Mahogany strip planking, sheathed in epoxy and glass with an Oak keel and sitka spruce spars.
POWER: 13 HP Yanmar 2GM Diesel
GREAT STORY:
Don was working for Walker Boatbuilding and fell in love with the boat when he motored it from Toronto after the varnished teak staving was renewed.
In 2004 he had moved to B. C. but heard the boat was available, so purchased it and moved it from Ontario to Gibsons, B.C.
Puffin has inboard power, standing headroom, double berth forward and a galley. A lot of boat in 23’
TIDBIT:
In the 1980’s Bill Garden reimagined his John Hart catboat as a pocket motorsailer, rigging it as a sloop.
Querencia
OWNER: Duane Elverum
ABOUT THE BOAT:
A 42” Yawl, the hull is 1-1/8” Burmese teak over yakel frames and locust deadwood. The 1/2 ton centre board, fastenings, floors and mast steps are bronze. Spars are cedar and sitka spruce and rigging and hardware is Merriman chrome plated bronze.
HISTORY:
Built in 1960, Querencia was originally christened as Nancy L at the Wing-on-Shing shipyard in Hong Kong, She was found at a dock in Sausalito in 2002, where its fittings, hardware and rigging had been stripped, the bilge and engine flooded and the interior had been set on fire.
RESTORATION:
The boat underwent an 18 month restoration by previous owner Tom Hudson working with shipwright Ed Lamberson on Bainbridge Island, and was christened Querencia and launched in Port Townsend, Washington in 2004.
Querencia has competed in 9 Swiftsure Regattas, 2004-2015 and multiple wooden boat festivals, including being awarded Best Overall Sailboat at the 2006 and 2007 Victoria Classic Boat Festival.
Ricochet
OWNER: Brent Ash
ABOUT THE BOAT:
Designed George Kettenburg Jr., and built by Kettenburg Boat Works in 1956. 46′-4″ PCC (Pacific Cruising Class) fractional-rigged sloop. Designed for cruising or offshore racing such as the Transpac to Hawaii.
Hull is Honduras mahogany on white oak frames, carvel construction, Douglas Fir keel & centerline and Keel-Hung Rudder with Tiller steering. Sitka Spruce mast & spars. Home port- Heritage Harbour, Vancouver Maritime Museum
POWER:
New 25HP Beta Diesel
GREAT STORY:
Original owner was Lamont M. Cochran of NYC, who named the boat Compadre II. Subsequent owners named her Sothis Tahiti, Tatalina, Esoteric, Minita B, and finally Ricochet. Brent purchased her in 2007 and won the coveted Spruce Cup at the 2011 Vancouver Wooden Boat Festival, only to see her undergo a shallow-water sinking a few months later.
TIDBIT:
Ricochet bounced back from the 2011 sinking, enjoying a thorough keel-up rebuild and restoration by her long-term owner, to relaunch in January 2023. She went on to win Best Restored Sailboat at the 44th Annual Victoria Classic Boat Festival in 2023.
Sannox
OWNER: Mark Johnston
ABOUT THE BOAT:
40’ Pilothouse Power cruiser. Designed and built in Caulfield, West Vancouver by the Kabayakawa brothers in 1920 for the Vancouver boat show. Hull is cedar planks on oak frames, Hardwood keel and bow stem, House and Decks are Solid Burmese teak
POWER:
1948 Chrysler Crown 6 cyl gas, 120 hp, (completely rebuilt with new parts in 2014)
GREAT STORY:
106 year old boat, originally a steamer built to ply the waters of BC as a showcase for her owners marine business. Two couches that double as bunks are in the aft cabin, which, together with the open aft cockpit comprise the owners quarters.
The steam engine was changed for a gasoline power plant around 1925 and upgraded to the current engine about 1950.
TIDBIT:
She has survived a theft where the thieves forgot to turn on the engine cooling system. The engine was fried and she never made it across the harbour. She has been used as a funeral barge, a drug smuggler and the Commodore’s vessel for the Classic Yacht Association.
Seascape
OWNER: William Schmalz
ABOUT THE BOAT:
42’ designed by Bill Garden and built in 1956 at W.R. Menchion’s Shipyard in Coal Harbour. Constructed of yellow cedar on 2 inch oak frames with 8 inch spacing. Teak cabin and decks, oak toe rail, gumwood fender guard.
POWER: The original 6LW Gardner is still running well and is approaching 24,000 hours – nearly half way towards an engine rebuild!
GREAT STORY:
She has been down to El Salvador through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean and eventually back home to BC on her own bottom.
She is a very good sea vessel and never took on water: a dry ship. She was a ‘roller’ so originally a sail and later the stabilizers were of value.
TIDBIT:
Local builders in El Salvador hauled her up on to a beach at the edge of the jungle and the complete hull, above and below the waterline, was stripped down to bare wood. They removed all the paint that had built up over the years and applied fresh new coats.
WESTERN YEW
OWNER: Jeff Hilberry, 1st Mate: Suzanne Steele Crew: Frieda the Bernese/GoldenX
ABOUT THE BOAT:
46’ Yacht, Power Cruiser. Hull is yellow cedar with oak ribs.
Inside cabins and decks are varnished teak and mahogany
Designed by Milton Veale. Built in 1946 in North Vancouver by Oliver Shipyard for Carl Johnson
POWER:
In 1946 she had a 15hp engine. Repowered in 1952 with a 6-354 Perkins Diesel.
GREAT STORY:
Originally built as the pleasure vessel Forynt, in 1952 she was purchased by the Forest Service and renamed Western Yew. They painted it grey – over the beautiful varnished teak and called it a “Ranger” boat.
For the last part of her service she was stationed here at Madeira Park, Forest Service: 1979 Charles Hyatt and Ranger Greenwood were assigned to the Ranger boat Western Yew followed by P.C.Nicholson, 1980 to 1984. In 1984 she was decommissioned
TIDBIT:
1988-1998 she was owned by Kim Campbell & Howard Eddy, Vancouver BC.
Former owner Kim Campbell was later elected as a Member of Parliament and later the Prime Minister of Canada.
Wind Gypsy
OWNER: Marty Bowles and Mae Jong-Bowles
ABOUT THE BOAT:
1996 Brandlmayr 41 Schooner. Hull completed in 1967 and stored in shed. Purchased by the shipwright at S&H custom Yachts in Richmond BC where the boat was professionally finished and finally launched in 1996. Heavy marine ply construction with fibre glass mat / roving over using Isophthalic resin. A second resin coating was applied in 2006 from the waterline down.
The hull was made from specially made full length strips of marine ply.
The deck is plywood with fibre glass and teak planking over. The house is of plywood and fibre glass
POWER:
35 HP Perkins model 4107 4 cylinder diesel engine. Originally built in 1962 but stored till launch in 1996.
GREAT STORY:
At launch time in 1996 the engine was discovered to be missing. A new engine was found on the East Coast of the United States, bought still in the crate and shipped to Vancouver. The serial numbers were compared and it was found to be the very same original engine.
TIDBIT:
It is believed that the second owner had previously named her Phillip William as a tribute to his father, who died in the Battle of Britain. By July 2018 she was purchased by the 4th owner already re-named the Wind Gypsy.