25'- Wednesday, April'30, 1986 - ‘North Shore News.

See Inside:
¢ Revised fishing regulations
¢ Viewing Expo from the water
¢ North Shore maritime merchants

THE S.S. Master, a wooden steam tug built in
1922, is being restored to its earlier splendor but

donations are still required to complete the work.
To date, over $250,000 and an untold number of
volunteer hours have gone into reconstructing the
boat. The tug, now worth $2 million, will be dock-
ed at False Creek during Expo "86.

S.S. MASTER
Tug is a

working | |

reminder of B.C.
maritime history

lovers.

: Ss. ‘Master,’ an. 85- foot wooden

hulled,” log-towing- steam. tug, was
built in. Vancouver by’ Arthur
Moscrop in. 1922. With a 19-foot
beam’ and drawing 12: ft of water,
she is still powered by her original
350°‘ hip.. triple:'expansion steam
engine manufactured*on the Clyde
by Beardmore six years earliez. -

.. However, ..her .. original » Scotch
boiler was ‘coal-fired and she now
boasts a more modern (1944) oil-
fired,’ twin..furnace natural draft
Scotch boiler.

in the last century and the earlier
part:of the present one some
.steam- driven .tugs puffed up and

down the: Pacific coast, -

stoutly fulfilling ‘the ‘needs of our
busy harbors: and: indistries. They
~ were the workhorses that opened
“up coastal B.C: — and the Master
-was.one. of them.
“Incredibly, thanks “to’’a: set” “ol
“Unusual : ‘cifcumstances,.. the ° vessel

~~ has survived: in her: ‘Original | cconfigu-.

Oration
= Other : tugs have come through

: "decades of hard work, but along the .% ine history enthusiasts sethat , :

’ N¢.ia Shore can help.

. Way thelrsteam engines have been’
; replaced, i-with = “diesels'. and their

-houseworks:-modified.to accommo: |

roles. Not 50 the Master.

: date ne
HERITAGE OBJECT _

“Today, she remains a “Ting ex
; ample of the many pioneer tugs that
worked the coast. The man respon-
sible for her, Arthur Moscrop, was.a
Vancouver-bom designer and tug-
builder who became widely known
and respected. for his beautiful and
innovative designs. So valuable is
the Master -. and so’ unusual her
survival in her original configuration
---that the B.C. Heritage Trust has
recognized the vessel as a heritage
object. The Trust has supported the
efforts of the restoration committee
with - grants totalling $75,000 so
that she may again steam in Van-
couver waters, bringing wonderment
to the eyes ‘of the young and lumps
to the throats of oldtimers.. ._.
“All in-all; over: $250,000 ‘and un-
told hours’ ~by “-many - ‘volunteer
workers have gone into the restora-
 tHon’and maintenance of the Master
since: she ‘was :rescued from the
Sctapyard : ‘in: 1962, She has been.

ESTORATION of one of the most interesting vessels
B on the B.C. coast i almost complete — but a little help
with the finishing touches i is still needed from local boat

. By PETER SPECK :
North Shore News Publisher

~ photo ‘submitted

New 1985 9.8hp :
Mercury Outboards

R08.

readied for EXPO and (i

many North Shore people have
been : actively involved in her
refurbishing.

‘“You'll be proud.to see her,” says |
Geoff . Burnett, a retired school . |
teacher. living-in Caiulfeild...“We've

done ‘a lot of work. She sparkles
and gleams here and there, and we
hope to see some smoke rising from
the funnel soon.”.

EARTHY WHISTLE

Meanwhile, the Master has been -
as. far. south as Anacortes ..to .be °
displayed in:a recent Steam’ Vessel.
Festival . there, and her: distinctive -

- earthy whistle can be heard each
-. Christmas when she participates in ‘
ip :

Vancouver's annual Carol
Parade,

But the Master | is still lackin afew. § :
little things to finish her off in the fine -

style she deserves — and it’s here that

pis Geoff

'- "Cash, of course,”
used. We

Burnett, “can always be

owe about $25,000 and we need a .

. little more money to buy. the things -
“ “>that we cannot get donated. We still J
need to finish the interiors of the .

cabins and the galley, and to replace

some of the bulwarks and the rail -

caps. ;
“And we could improve the steer-

ing and communications in the

wheelhouse. We have an engine-”
room telegraph, of course, but we :
are looking for an_ old-fashioned -

brass voice pipe.” ”

So what else could the Master =

use?

“Well,” continues Bumett off the °

top of his head, “She needs a dona-
tion of mattresses for the bunks:
She needs old brass marine fixtures
— she was pretty thoroughly vandaliz- .

ed before we got her and, while we've

replaced much of her stuff, there are

a few items still missing. Steam -
gauges, for instance, up to 500 Ib ©
pressure, lamps ‘and especially |

whistles.”

See Local
Page 26

: Now —
jin stock

| ‘Alpha

‘Boards

We'r re having a fantastic

Mercury Outboard Sale!

"NORTH SHORE SAILBOARD SWAP & SHOP

; "British Columbia’ Ss only ‘sailboard swap shop"

| 1625 Lonsdale Ave., North Van .

Right now you can make. your boating dream
“come true with a dependable Mercury Outboard
powered rig... AND SAVE A BUNDLE. We offer
, awide selection of Mercury outboards and Merc
powered boats. Take advantage of tremendous
boating values now.

Buy. top quality Boston ...:
‘Whaler Inflatable and: get a
_ $75 U.S. Rebate. :

Farmer John
- wetsuits
starting as low as.

o ayett Starts Saturday
Wetsuit
‘Jackets -

399)

lowas..:..,
Full selection of

| USED WINDSURFERS

e ‘used Sedjuipment sold; a a

“on consignment 92>

“© complete line of NEW ~”
1986 sailboards & © .

wetsults.

980-1911

_Opén 7 Gays @ a week