"Cikobia" story

This story started rather a long time before December of 2005 when the boat arrived at ALSO Island for rebuilding. The boat had stopped by ALSO Island first for some engine repairs and then later for an estimate of hull repairs. Both the engine and the hull were in bad shape. The boat is the only means of transportation to Cikobia Island, some 30 nautical miles off Udu Point. When I first saw the boat and it got it going again so they could continue their trip; I cried when they left, in fear for their safety.

They stopped couple of more times to discuss hull repair and we came to an agreement for repairing the hull. Some time after that but before they brought it for repair the engine lost its oil. The boat was to be left on the other side of their island where it foundered in some bad weather before they could get it back to their village. When the weather cleared they raised it and got it back to their village, but the engine was seized.

About the same time the Divisional Planning Officer and I were talking about building them a new boat. I found a suitable plan and worked up a bid. After almost 2 years ALSO Island was awarded a contract to build a new boat, but funding has never come through and it is still not built. (I am told now that it won't be built)

In the meantime the people wanted the old boat going again. After the government boat had been at Cikobia Island 3 times and refused to tow the boat back for repair I went to see the boat with Peter of the yacht "Stelite" who was visiting. We thought we might just tow it back. By the time we arrived the weather had changed and we decided that we could not tow the boat with the "ALSO V", and left it behind too.

A few months later I had an idea that I could mount the 40 horse outboard motor (from the "ALSO V") on the boat and bring it back myself. A few weeks later I saw a weather pattern that I believed would allow us to go get it. I took Naquila, two drums of fuel, the chain saw, timber to mount the motor on the boat and we went to get it. Naquila and arrived mid afternoon and worked right up to dark getting the motor mounted. We had dinner and left at first light the next morning. We made it back with out incident, just as the weather started to turn. But look at the photo's and take note of the condition of the boat when we got it back and blocked up in the shed! It still scares me to think we brought it across 30 miles of open water in that condition!

Cikobia Story continued