Coastal Missions,http://www.coastalmissions.ca/index.htm#doodad . This is a missionary organization based in Chemainus BC. They operate along the coast of British Columbia and South East Alaska. My parents met them in the late 1980's when they commercial fished in south east Alaska and have kept in touch sense then. It was a blessing to be able to visit with them.
The "Coastal Messenger" is making there yearly(almost every year) visit through Puget Sound. They will return to their home base and start their maintenance period in early March and will be underway on their first voyage in April. The boat will be underway until November. Crews rotate at various ports along the coast. During their voyages they will call on many isolated ports and villages in very remote areas. Some of their journeys will take them along the open ocean areas of the west coast of Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Roy was captain on this voyage and actually drew the plans for "Coastal Messenger" and was the construction boss along with a lot of volunteer help. My dad actually helped during a visit to Chemainus. The boat is a great example of a very tough, seaworthy, west coast style work boat. It is NOT a yacht. It is built of steel. The accommodations are limited as they only travel with a crew of four. Roy did a great job with the design. Tom gave me a tour including the engine room. The engine room is spacious and well thought out with lots of room for maintenance. The pilot house is large with great visibility all around. The main salon has plenty of seating and also includes a piano that folds down out of a locker! Large amounts of storage space is included through out the vessel. The boat was launched in 1998 and was in service in 1999.
The previous "Coastal Messenger" was a similar sized wooden boat that was a retired BC fisheries patrol boat. I was on board once many years ago. It was in immaculate condition too, but the thing I found interesting was the Rolls Royce diesel engine. It was a showpiece. It was an antique and had been rebuilt. Coastal Missions actually had a spare Rolls Royce diesel that was initially installed in the new "Coastal Messenger" but has since been changed to a John Deere diesel.
Coastal Messenger(picture from the website)
Coastal Messenger at Gig Harbor
Coastal Messenger at Gig Harbor. Tom on board and my parents on the dock.
Great looking boat, the crew obviously takes great pride in what they have.
ReplyDeleteYour dad looks well.