O.B. 1

On January 30, 1942 this vessel was stranded at Rocky Bay BC Canada. This vessel was recovered and rebuilt in 1943. This vessel was last seen in Lund BC rotting on the beach. Chuck Franzin (British Columbia Nautical History Facebook Group 06/06/2019) stated "Last I saw of her this vessel was at Lund and had been restored by Jens Sorenson of Lund Marine, he used it as his personal cruiser." Elaine Sorenson (Email to Bill Noon 01/12/2021) stated "My father, Jens Sorensen (owner of Lund Marine Ltd), purchased the OB-1 in 1968 from MacMillan & Bloedel (M&B). At that time it had been working in Teakerne Arm and being an older 'wooden' tug, M&B offered it for sale as a 'scrap' vessel (wooden tugs were being replaced by steel vessels). Dad purchased it primarily for the engine - at that time it had a '671 GM' - which Dad felt he could rebuild and sell for a profit over the purchase cost....at least that was the justification he gave my Mom.

In 1939, Jimmy(?) O'Brien (O'Brien Logging Co.) invited Dad (Jens Sorensen) to attend the launch of his new tug 'OB-1' (O'Brien No 1), in Vancouver. Due to travel delays, Jens arrived late only to find the 'launch party' already well underway. Mr. O'Brien grabbed hold of Dad and said, "Jens, you are the only sober one here so I want you to flash her up and take us for a spin"....thus Dad was at the helm for the OB-1's maiden run in Burrard Inlet. ...29 years later, with a history of being a BC coastal tug, the 'OB' was in pretty rough shape when this vessel came to (was purchased by) Lund Marine Ltd... but, on close inspection, our (Lund Marine) then shipwright, George Bone, advised Dad that the vessel was still basically sound and that, with a lot of work, could be restored and serviceable. The restoration at Lund Marine (vessel and engine) took the next 1.5-2 years. Once complete, the O.B 1, served as the 'workboat' for Lund Marine and our family's 'pleasure craft', but also as a primary CCG Aux SAR (Owner/Operated Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Search & Rescue) vessel for the Lund, Savary Island, Powell River, and Desolation Sound area between 1970 and 1981."