| Captain Robert Bennie reports that "This vessel entered service in the fall of that year on the Gambier Keats Island route (Route 13) of BC Ferries. This was the only passenger only ferry route run directly by BC Ferries (as opposed to contracted route). This vessel was 4.91 tons and was 29 feet 9 inches LOA. Her hull was constructed of steel and her superstructure of aluminum. This vessel was powered by a 145 Hp GMC 653 diesel engine (screaming Jimmy) which was located directly below the wheelhouse floor. Her service speed was 8 knots. Passenger accommodation for 30 was fore and aft down steps from the wheelhouse access. This vessel was designed to fall under the five ton limit so did not require a certificated officer, sailing with a crew of 2 - a Launch Operator and a deckhand. An article in the local paper in 1969 mentions that this vessel was sailed back from Victoria by Hugo Hjorthy who also worked on her predecessor the Sea Wolf V. The trip took 10 hours. Other Launch Operators around the same time included Art Cherry, Rocky Grey and Lorne Blaine. I joined BC Ferries as a summer student in 1973 and worked as a deckhand on her then. In 1974, when I finished school, I returned and began working full time as deckhand/Launch Operator, became full time Launch Operator in 1975 and continued working on the vessel until it was replaced by the Dogwood Princess II. Other Launch Operators on the Dogwood Princess back in the early 1970s included Don Black and Bob Reed. As an added note of interest, when this vessel was first commissioned this vesseldid not have a radar or a VHF on board - hard to believe nowadays considering we were carrying passengers and school children in all weather. Radar was installed in 1974 and VHF even later than that. This vessel had a company FM radio so if there was an emergency you had to hope that someone was in the terminal office to answer your call. We serviced New Brighton, Gambier Harbour and West Bay on Gambier Island and Plumpers Cove and Keats Landing on Keats Island. Eventually when traffic got too heavy for multiple stops we went only to Keats Landing and New Brighton - most islanders had cars to get across the islands."
Robert Critchley (British Columbia Nautical History Facebook Group 27/10/2016) reports that "the Carders bought the Dogwood Princess about 1980, this vessel had a v653 G.M., they took the aft section of cabin off, decked it in and had a tow post. it is now at the bottom ." |
