Vancouver Island, BC. Logging at its Best!

[camptramp]

Gordy I. , Munns Lumber , #T-101 at Duke Point Nanimo .

 

[camptramp]

Gordy I. #T-104 doing lowbed duty at Shaw Cr. ( North shore of Lake Cowichan ).

 

[Len Burton]

Tow coming northbound through Dodd Narrows.

 

[Len Burton]

Jervis Queen towing a boom boat up Malaspina strait.

 

[Hank R]

Really like the Tug pictures, never been close to one.

 

[Blk prince]

Len Burton,we still get log barges dumping in Ladysmith harbour. Is the Capt. Bob still in service? Do you know how the name was given to this vessel?

 

[Len Burton]

Black Prince, I'm not sure how Rivtow named Captain Bob. Most of Rivtows names came from former Rivtow Captains some just retained the name they came with. Rivtow was originally called Straits Towing, then Rivtow Straits towing, then Rivtow. When they became Rivtow they bought a lot of tugs that were owned by independents that were being sold off. Rivtow and Seaspan were fierce competitors on the coast. Some of Rivtow tugs were good to work on some weren't. Rivtow Captain Bob was built in Vancouver Shipyard in 1982. If memory serves me she was sold to SMIT/Lloyd Towing around 2008 changing her colours from Rivtow green to Smit/Lloyd colours with a yellow stripe. Around 2011 Seaspan International purchased her and shortened her name to Captain Bob, she kept this name until 2013 when her name was changed to Seaspan Royal. She still dumps her log barge in Ladysmith Hbr. When I make reference to tugs as "Hot Rods", that name came in around the 70s. They were the smaller tugs around 50 to 60 feet in length and were way overpowered for their size. I hope this helps.

 

[RCP57]

Over the years we've watched Captain Bob rolling it's guts out while coming out of or going past Nootka Sound many times. I've never been on it but it looks like it wallows around horribly in the trough or in a following sea compared to some of the other tugs. Obviously it is a very capable unit but it doesn't look comfortable at all!lol Looks like you would need a seat belt to stay in the chair!

 

[Len Burton]

Here are a few pics for K Phelps and BLK Prince of the Hecate Straits when I was on her. Attached are some pics inside including the Engine Room and EMD Main Engine, changing a power pack (weight 650 pounds), mess deck. The pics I took alongside the dock were taken at Rivtows main office on Commissioner Street in Vancouver.

 

[dirty4fun]

Len,
That engine looks clean enough that you could eat on it. More great pictures and stories being shared, can't get enough of them.

The only tug I was ever on was sitting beside a dry dock in N. Florida. It was a rust bucket and looked like it was only fit for rats to be on.

Just so much stuff to see the next time I am out there!

 

[VIPMedia]

Here is a video of her [video=youtube;q8XHU6TWWpw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8XHU6TWWpw[/video]

 

[Len Burton]

Dirty for fun,
I was always particular with my engine room. Easier to spot leaks if you keep them clean. I liked GM engines in general, from the 49 series to the big EMDS. Tow boats run full ahead when underway and the 2 stroke engines are best suited for that. You just can't run a four stroke flat out for 24/7 like they do on tow boats. My experience with four stroke engines run full ahead: Cummins V12s Fresh Water manifold used to leak like a sieve, so I had to throttle back, our Coast Guard cutters were powered with them. Not great when going out on a rescue. Cat engines used to rattle like they had a hand full of bearings in them. The Cats were the ones that used to grenade themselves for no reason. Marine Diesels have crankcase explosion doors on the bottom of the block, supposed to blow open when the bottom end ignited the oil mist in the crankcase from a hot bearing. The doors are spring loaded and will unload if ignition happens. It still makes one hell of a noise when they blow open. Working in an Engine Room isn't for everyone. You need a cast iron stomach if you work the West Coast especially in the winter. It's extremely loud, in excess of 120 decibles and it's hot. Just about every engine room I have worked in is about 135 ° fah so you have to have a pretty good tolerance for heat. I guess you could compare it to being under the hood of a car and you definitely learn what noises are normal and what are not. The worst boat I worked on would roll tied to the dock was the Ocean Master. She was built in Holland. Everything in the Engine Room was in Dutch including the engine telegraph. It had a Stork Workspoor 8 Cylinder engine. No valve covers, the top end was open and had to be oiled every couple of hours. Did I mention this was done on a cat walk.

 

[RCP57]

Sea Span Commodore off of Nootka Sound 2013. Not sure where they were coming from but I would guess Kyuquot or Esperanza. There was some decent looking wood on the barge.

 

[Len Burton]

Great pics. It's good to see log barges still working the coast. What kind of boat were you on I can see Vancouver Island in the background.

 

[RCP57]

Yep, Nootka Island in the background of the first couple of pictures. We were long lining.

 

[KPhelps]

Thanks for all the Hecate Straits photos.

My understanding was that RivTow was originally River Towing. They may have bought Raake Marine on Harrison Lake sometime in the late 50s or early 60s. Raake Marine had a large floating office/boatshed on the lake when I was small. They later disappeared, and I assumed that they were bought by RivTow, but my recollections are from childhood and probably not too accurate. In the course of managing for Pretty's around Harrison Lake and at Hope through the 50s and 60s, my dad was well acquainted with Norm and Cecil Cosulich and Lucille Johnstone, the builders of RivTow.

But back to the Island.

A couple more shots of the Pacific with lowbed at Nanaimo Lakes:











And a shot of the 1951 Pacific at Alberni in 2010.




KP

 

[Blk prince]

Len,thanks for updating the status on the Capt. Bob. I now know what to look for if I spot a barge in Ladysmith harbour. The new colours with the white top end makes her look so top heavy in my eyes. A break in the colour would be nice. Thanks again.

 

[diamondtguy]

I find the pic of the P-16 interesting and has me thinking...It appears to be Cat powered (3408 ??)I am going to guess its been repowered.The factory installations of 3408's in P-16's is very few.I would also guess the truck is late 70's early 80's...I also notice there is no heat exchanger mounted up top of the right front frame rail..Its possible it was moved as the exhaust is routed over the rail or the truck has manual transmissions..Working stricktly off my memory here.....Its been a few years.......Cory

 

[dirty4fun]

Thanks Len, for sharing the information, so much to learn when you have lived in the Midwest most of your life. I had thought it would awful lot of noise, hadn't thought about the heat. It would take a special person to work in those conditions. Interesting to learn about the 2 stroke motors, holding up better. Quite a few less parts to be moving at a steady wide open.

Reg now I have to try and see a barge loaded with logs, I thought they had quit using them. Great pictures thanks for sharing them, with us.

 

[49pacific]

Cory it's got a 3406 with the automatic in it still.the tranny cooler is up beside the motor on the right side. This is One of cougar inlet loggings trucks they go by bear lake logging now