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The Launching of the Amorita

by John MacFarlane & Kristin Butler 2019

Amorita

The Amorita (Photo from the Kristin Butler collection.)

In 1942 the Amorita was built by Baba Bros. Boatworks at Sea Island BC. She was 36.1’ x 11’ x 5.5’ with a wooden hull 17.99gt 15.36rt She was originally powered with a 91bhp gasoline engine by Gray Motor Marine Co, Detroit, MI. In 1942 she was purchased by the Royal Canadian Air Force for their Marine Division as RCAF M.449 Jager. After the Second World War she was renamed as Jager.

Amorita

Rita Beckman prepares to launch the Amorita. (Photo from the Kristin Butler collection.)

These old photos come from a photo album that contributor Kristin Butler inherited from her great aunt Rita Roberts Beckman. Rita was married to Amos Beckman during the 1940s and they left an old suitcase that is full of old photos. Kristin is sharing the ones that show the launching of the Amorita on May 2nd, 1942. Kristin says " You can see Amos Beckman and my Aunt Rita who is front and centre with my Grandmother beside her Mary Bernice Roberts Butler. I am not sure who all the people are in the photo – perhaps some readers will recognize them!

Amorita

Rita Beckman prepares to launch the Amorita. (Photo from the Kristin Butler collection.)

Amorita

Kristin Butler can pick out a couple of relations but who are all these people in the picture? (Photo from the Kristin Butler collection.)

Amorita

It appears that one of the crew was launched with the boat. (Photo from the Kristin Butler collection.)

Amorita

Finally launched the Amorita floats free. (Photo from the Kristin Butler collection.)

In 1941–1942 she was owned by Amos Beckman, Vancouver BC. In 1942 she was chartered by and in 1943 purchased by the Royal Canadian Air Force for service at RCAF Station Boundary Bay and RCAF Station Bella Bella. In 1951–1962 she was owned by Horace H. German, Sidney BC. In 1963–1969 she was owned by Melville Webber, Nanaimo BC. In 1970–1971 she was owned by Elmer B. Carrothers, Nanoose BC. In 1972 she was owned by Brian Higgins, West Vancouver BC. In 1973–1988 she was owned by Guilford Brett, Vancouver BC. In 1989–1995 she was owned by Thomas Dent, Gabriola Island BC. In 1996–2004 she was owned by Terry A. Milos, Sehelt BC. In 2004–2014 she was owned by Richard and Margaret Hartley, Garden Bay BC. In 2017–2019 she was owned by Richard and Margaret Hartley, Clearwater BC.

Rick Hartley notes (2013) that "Technically, we are listed as owning her from 2011–present (2019). We finally registered the transfer then, but actually purchased the boat in 1992 after a fire had destroyed her to the waterline. As my late father, George Hartley, and I had built boats together on the West Coast for many years, I thought she would be a good project and make a beautiful cruiser for us. I ended up spending a good many years on the rebuild, between other work and raising a family. I stripped her right down to bare hull, redesigned everything, glassed over the wooden hull, and here she is today. We launched her in 2011 and that’s when we re–registered her."


To quote from this article please cite:

MacFarlane, John and Kristin Butler (2019) The Launching of the Amorita. Nauticapedia.ca 2019. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Amorita.php

Nauticapedia

Site News: November 20, 2024

The vessel database has been updated and is now holding 94,591 vessel histories (with 16,203 images and 13,900 records of ship wrecks and marine disasters).

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Thanks to contributor Mike Rydqvist McCammon for the hundreds of photos he has contributed to illustrate British Columbia’s floating heritage.

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