I used to build half million dollar yachts for the not so wealthily challenged. Some of my Yacht supplies and skills were acquired at Canoe Cove Mfg in 1988.
Being "rich" myself it only made sence to have a "yacht". My 1st choice for Yacht was a 1960 240 24 foot Fairliner built in Tacoma Washington by the Western Boat Co. Here we have the refit already months under way. $575 didn't buy a lotta cabin cruiser in 1987 but it bought the main components.
23 months after I sold my Van to pay for the new yacht it saw the ocean.
This was the fastest Cabin Cruiser around clocked at 33mph by Bruce Thompson and I broke it a lot once it did see the water in 89. For 3 years the boat was rented out as a live aboard in West Bay Marina.
Wasn't long till I broke the engine and Fred Proctor and I (the two best Ford mechanics around) embarked on rebuilding a Piece of Chev marine 327 I acquired while working at Canoe Cove Mfg.
Couldn't be done
Fred and I were disappointed to find the POC (Piece of
Chev) only ran on 7 cylinders. Tests indicated something was wrong on the Port
rear hole and the head was removed. Seemed the rocker was walking off the stem
and causing it to nearly release the valve into the engine.
The second coat of Blue was applied circa 92
By 95 on the final excursions (above) at Dennis Youell's May Day Extravaganza where 65 of us sat around the fire singing Takin' Cae of Business on Mark Francis old Fender acoustic Dennis once owned and now belonged to Rish. May Day was THE event. Salmon smoked on open fires, great fisherman, crabs, friends and teamwork prevailed on our 3 day bash. Sadly the event was discontinued after 96 and due to my condition was not able to make the final event. It was an awesome time that won't be seen again.
Things were falling apart. Bob and Heather, my accident and now Chris' boat lie beneath the waves taking a toll on our friendship for some years.
The BC Maid was re-floated and continues to take on water still I am told.
I never used my boat again after 95. Last couple times saw damage. Not long after my accident Mark V and I were bringing the yacht back from Sooke and while it wasn't really rough there was a small swell. My accident had left me dizzy and unable to focus or concentrate long nor could I really cope with the stress of it all so I asked for help and Mark was the one to volunteer to help me bring the vessel back to Oak Bay. I handed over control of the vessel to Mark and I ran navigation from the Port side. As " This is the kinda weather where logs are hit" fell from my lips BANG! we hit a log and bent the prop some good.
Limping we finally made our way up the Gorge where I got in the water removed the prop and took it and a hammer up to the road where I used the cement curb as an anvil and I reshaped my propeller. Re-installed I slept at anchor up the Gorge that night.
Nursed the boat thru a few more trips once it was back at Oak Bay but it was a slow go and a steady vibration. I didn't use the boat much as a result. However on one November day rather than going to my Physical exercise rehabilitation program I was going thru to appease ICBC I just didn't feel up to it and took my old boat for one last ride where I off course hit another log.
Luck was on my side in 95. Not just sure it was Good luck. Prior to my three accidents in 8 days 2 of which were boat accidents everyone and I mean everyone took turns cutting me off and there were several near misses during the month of June 1995 before impact one.
Friday I was preparing to get the new yacht ready for the trip to the Saturna Island Lamb Bake. Not that I am a big Lamb eater just that this sounded like a nautical adventure not to be missed. Coming out of my slip/dock I was looking Starboard and waving to a Nancy I had a crush on at the time. Her and her coke supplying bo were on there way to Gibsons for the summer. I couldn't really afford the blow and wasn't my game anyway so while we were having a nice crush when BANG! a small 17' boat piled right into my Port side.
I immediately thought I was at fault completely as I was waving at this girl rather than giving complete and full attention to my vessel under my command. I apologized profusely and seeing as the majority of the damage was to my vessel well serves me right I guessed. By time I made my way to the new yacht I had realized I was in the right of way and that this boat had hit me and actually was the vessel at fault. Even though I was waving and looking starboard nothing could have been done to avoid the impact I realized. The vessel that hit me was at end of the dock heading East and showing me a green. I was going North and showing Red. I had the right of way. No matter. The damage was incidental and I was pumped about going to Saturna trying to get the new vessel shipshape and trip worthy.
Wednesday June 25th 1995 I am at the Boaters Exchange in Sidney looking for a dual inlet dual outlet raw water pump. I spent quite a while there looking at different things but found no pump to my satisfaction. Eventually I decided to leave and traveling South on hyway17 I was cut off by a Camaro weaving in and out of heavy ferry traffic. As the car approached from the rear I had an uneasy feeling but when the car was beside me I felt then that he was going to cause an accident. Maybe the same accident I had heard about the Friday before while I was working on my Cougar I was driving.
Friday before I had three things to fix on my Cougar. Brake lite on dash was one. It was a little after 9 PM when I decided I had had enough working on my car. I was thirsty and wanted a beer. An uneasy feeling told me I needed to fix all three things or be in an accident the following Tuesday or Wednesday. A dozen beers and a sleep later I never gave it another thought till that Camaro was beside me and then I knew.
1986 I was living in my van in a restaurant parking lot I was working at 1000 miles from home when I got the sense I should buy lottery tickets. Next night same thing "Buy lottery tickets". Well me being the "rebel" that I am said "What if I don't buy lottery tickets". The third night answer was "Someone close to me would win the $$. I too would have $$ in ten years but it would be a lot less and I would have to work a lot harder for it". Never gave it another thought till my Aunt Selene whom I was close to in age as well as mindset won $437,000 on a ticket she didn't want. It was a quick pick that her and several employees of her social assistance office staff had shared. It was a very BIG win at the time.
Finally in 1996 it was the final phase of this bizarre chapter. I was called into ICBC and despite my thinking I was not going to settle I ended up settling that day almost like I had no free will in it. Like I was an actor in my own movie and unable to alter what seems to be destiny. ICBC cut me a check and I was richer than I'd ever been. I had worked long and hard and this was a lot less $$ than $437,000 in fact it was about $420,000 short.
I used the $$ to buy a few old Cougars and re-teach myself my job.