"Cikobia" Story continued

But we made it back, got it up on shore under the canopy and started dismantling the boat looking for what was good and could be saved. At one point I thought we were going to have to burn the whole thing. In the end we replaced one small area of the bottom, repaired one small bad piece in the chine log, put a sister bottom on and then fiber glassed it, spliced in some new wood in the keel, spliced in new planking on the lower part of the free board, put on a sister transom, installed new plywood (epoxy treated) decks and built a whole new superstructure. The engine was replaced with a more modern, and appropriate, 4 cylinder Ford of 80 horse power. Now we have a boat that is better than it was when it was new. I believe it will give several years of safe service. To ensure that it would give good safe service we did a lot of strengthening of the boat; by adding cross timbers under the floor, butt blocking many of the joints, all with liberal use of epoxy, fiberglass, new timber, and plywood. In other words we completely rebuilt the boat. That is the reconstruction story.

The rest of the story is: We started the dismantling when we got the boat back to ALSO Island so we could prepare an accurate estimate. By that time the Divisional office had agreed to help with financing of the project. We had been paid for going to get the boat, but that was all. Then the Divisional Planning officer that I was working with got transferred. No more money was coming. So eventually we scarped in new planking, put a protective coat of paint on what was remaining of it and put it out on anchor. As I suspected, when word of the boat being out on anchor got around; some people got moving on the money issue. We had talk of money, promises of money, but no money for about 9 months. Then the Provincial office got involved and came up with some money. At that point we purchased material and brought the boat back to the shed to begin the rebuild.

It took 4 months. It seemed every time we were getting along there was a funeral and we would loose a week, then the weather would come out of the North and get every thing wet and bring things to a stand still. Anyway, we have finished it and it is working well. I am sure that it will last another 10 years with some care and luck.

The hand over date is May 24. Until then ALSO Island is operating the boat. We are keeping it busy. With all of the bad weather we have had many of the roads are still not open and so we are largely the only people carrying fish to market and supplies back to Udu and Cikobia. The boat has already proven to be a real work horse!! By us running the boat I have seen a number of additions needed to make it safe and more user friendly.

One of the things I suggested was that we put navigation and safety gear on board. After the Commissioner Northern saw the boat he agreed to fund a package of navigation instruments and safety gear. Now the boat has a Furuno combination depth sounder, GPS, Chart Pplotter, Compass, Life jackets, Fire Extinguisher, Proper Anchoring System and a set of Proper Dock Llines. Quite an accomplishment!!
So . . . the project is almost over and we are ready for the next one!

We are told the department of education will fund the building of a 23 foot half cabin boat for the local school and also they want us to build 20 bunk beds for the dormitory. Those two projects should keep us busy for a while!