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The Brockton (workboat and yacht)

by John MacFarlane 2021

Brockton

The Brockton (Photo from the Robert Lawson collection.)

I received a series of images of the Brockton from Robert Lawson (the boatwright and nautical researcher) that are of particular interest. The Brockton was built in Vancouver BC by W.R. Menchions & Co. Ltd. She was 45.0’ x 11.4’ x 4.9’ with a wood hull 17gt 11rt. She was originally powered by a 60hp engine by Vivian Engine Works Ltd., Vancouver BC. Over the years she was repowered by a 70hp engine by Vivian Engine Works, Vancouver BC (1958c), and repowered again in 1972 with a Gardiner 6LW with a Capitol 3:1 gear.

Brockton

The Brockton (Photo from the Robert Lawson collection.)

In 1928–1940 she was owned by the Vancouver Harbour Commissioners, Vancouver BC. In 1940–1948 she was owned by National Harbours Board, Ottawa ON. In 1948–1949 she was owned by Charles F. Cook (MO), Vancouver BC. In 1949–1951 she was owned by Harold W. Germyn (MO) Vancouver BC. In 1951–c1970 she was owned by Cearly & Trotter Co., Courtenay BC. In 1972–1974 she was owned by Graham Wilson, Vancouver BC. In 1974–1975 she was owned by Robert and Margaret Lawson, Maple Bay BC. In 1975 she was owned by Reid Neufer, Hornby Island BC.

Brockton

The Brockton (Photo from the Robert Lawson collection.)

Robert Lawson (Email to Nauticapedia 11/08/2021) states that "About 1972? she was found in Courtenay Slough by Graham Wilson, towed to Vancouver where he installed a Gardiner 6LW with a Capitol 3:1 gear. The boat, nicely maintained and updated, was at Westview in 1985. She may still be around, I seem to remember her at the wooden boat show in Victoria in the early 1990s. She was 48ft on deck, 12 foot beam, had a 48 in x 42 in bronze propeller on a 2 inch monel shaft and the rudder and shoe, both massive, were cast in bronze. I believe the after deck house was a later edition. When she was powered with the Vivian there would have been a low trunk cabin over the engine, accommodation was forward."

Brockton

The Brockton rudder and propeller in 1976. (Photo from the Robert Lawson collection.)

From 1928–1948 she provided patrol services on Vancouver Harbour and False Creek.


To quote from this article please cite:

MacFarlane, John (2021) The Brockton (work boat and yacht). Nauticapedia.ca 2021. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Brockton.php

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Site News: December 21, 2024

The vessel database has been updated and is now holding 94,824 vessel histories (with 16,274 images and 13,929 records of ship wrecks and marine disasters).

Vessel records are currently being reviewed and updated with more than 45,000 processed so far this year (2024).

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Thanks to Ray Warren who is beginning a long process of filling gaps in the photo record of vessel histories in the database. Ray has been documenting the ships of Vancouver Harbour for more than 60 years.

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