The B.C. Surveyor

by John MacFarlane and Joanna Lipsey 2017

B.C. Surveyor

The B.C. Surveyor (Photo from the Joanna Lipsey collection.)

Joanna Lipsey’s father served in the B.C. Surveyor.

In 1939 the B.C. Surveyor was built at Marpole BC by George Askew as the Leola Vivian. She was originally powered by a 110hp gas engine (by Vivian Engine Works, Vancouver BC). 17.0m x 4.4m x 2.5m (55.8’ x 14.3’ x 8.2’) wooden hull 46.92gt 31.91rt. In 1947 she was renamed as B.C. Surveyor. In 1949 she was rebuilt at the Forest Service Maintenance Depot and re–engined with a 230hp engine. In 1968 she was renamed as Oliver Clark II.

B.C. Surveyor

The B.C. Surveyor (Photo from the Joanna Lipsey collection.)

In 1939 she was owned by Will Vivian, Vancouver BC. In 1941–1942 she was owned by Vivian Engine Works, Vancouver BC. In 1942 she was a Canadian Naval Tender to H.M.C.S. Burrard chartered to the Royal Canadian Navy and later purchased on November 30, 1942. In 1947–1961 she was owned by Minister of Lands and Forests Victoria BC. In 1967-1983 she was owned by Minister Lands and Water Resources, Victoria BC. In 1983–1989 she was owned by James A. Burroughs, Surrey BC. In 1993–2011 she was owned by Jed F. Currie, Halfmoon Bay BC.

B.C. Surveyor

The B.C. Surveyor (Photo from the Joanna Lipsey collection.)

During World War Two the B.C. Surveyor was a Canadian Naval Tender to H.M.C.S. Burrard. In October 2015 she hit a rock and the owner was ejected from the wheel house into the water. The boat righted itself and kept on going. Some jerry cans fell off the stern of boat and served as flotation devices for the skipper who was later saved.

B.C. Surveyor

The dinghy tender of the B.C. Surveyor. (Photo from the collection.)

B.C. Surveyor

The crew of the B.C. Surveyor. (Photo from the collection.)

B.C. Surveyor

Survey party coming ashore from the boat. (Photo from the collection.)

B.C. Surveyor

A survey party departing to a remote location to carry out surveying operations. (Photo from the collection.)

B.C. Surveyor

Survey marker built ashore by one of the survey crews. (Photo from the collection.)



To quote from this article please cite:

MacFarlane, John M. and Joanna Lipsey (2017) The B.C. Surveyor. Nauticapedia.ca 2017. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/BC_Surveyor.php

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Site News: November 2, 2024

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