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Restoration of the C.A. Kirkegaard
by R. Jeff Reichert 2020
The C.A. Kirkegaard early in her life. (Photo from the Ladysmith Maritime Society collection.)
It is hard for me to believe that the restoration work on the C.A. Kirkegaard started four years ago this spring. Known locally as the "Kirk", she had a colorful history before being acquired by the Ladysmith Maritime Society (LMS).
The C.A. Kirkegaard was built in 1947 by Clark Brothers Boat Works in Brentwood Bay. It was designed as a passenger boat for Canadian Industries Ltd. (C.I.L.), who used it to transport workers from Sidney to their explosives factory on James Island at the south end of Vancouver Island. Clark Brothers built many Ed Monk–designed west coast tuna trawlers after the second world war, and the C.A. Kirkegaard is possibly a Monk design as well. The C.A. Kirkegaard is 30 feet in length and displaces about 6 tons including ballast. She was owned by Canadian Industries Ltd. until 1982. From 1983 to 1988 she was used by several owners as a ferry to Sidney Island and for whale watching in Johnstone Strait. She was eventually abandoned on Hanson Island BC.
The C.A. Kirkegaard before we took things apart. (Photo from the Ladysmith Maritime Society collection.)
The C.A. Kirkegaard undertaking harbour tours about 1993. (Photo from the Ladysmith Maritime Society collection.)
The "Kirk" was acquired by the Ladysmith Maritime Society in 1992 and relaunched in 1993 after a significant restoration. By that time the original Easthope engine had been replaced long ago and she had been repowered several times before the current Nissan SD226 diesel inboard. She was used by the Ladysmith Maritime Society for harbour tours until 2016 when she was moved inside for repairs, to the historic "Car Shop" in the heart of the Ladysmith Arts and Heritage Hub.
An early stage in the restoration of the wheelhouse. (Photo from the Ladysmith Maritime Society collection.)
A new plank being installed. Persons in the photo are left to right, shipwright Eric Sandilands, John Beames, and Larry McCoy (Photo from the Ladysmith Maritime Society collection.)
A lot of work has been done since then, starting with removal of rotten planks, ribs, horn timber and stern timbers. In order to access the structure, the aft deck and the interior finishes and partitions were removed.
As work progressed, there was a lot of discussion about the future use and appearance of the "Kirk". The appearance of the pilothouse and aft cabin had been altered significantly from its original configuration. Traditional lines had been changed to accommodate forward sloping windows, which was a point of many lively conversations. Should the project attempt to restore original form and character or should the altered lines be retained as part of the Ladysmith Maritime Society heritage? There was also a desire to return the "Kirk" to service as a tour boat for the society. The eventual consensus was to restore the "Kirk" to the original lines as built by Clark Brothers and operated by Canadian Industries Ltd. Ladysmith Maritime Society member, Robert Lawson was helpful with stories and information from his time as a boat master for Canadian Industries Ltd.
:Installation of new horn timber and ribs. Stern and aft deck has been removed. Persons in the photo are left to right, John Beames and Brian McLaurin (Photo from the Ladysmith Maritime Society collection.)
In order to resume work for the Ladysmith Maritime Society as a passenger vessel, certain requirements took precedence over original form. For example, the engine was moved back to accommodate a head in the forward cabin. Raised combings were added around the cockpit to accommodate Transport Canada requirements for over flooding and one additional bay of the aft cabin was opened for passenger viewing.
Rebuilding of the Stern (Photo from the Ladysmith Maritime Society collection.)
Rebuilding of the aft deck, combing and cockpit seats (Photo from Ladysmith Maritime Society collection.)
Work is now in the final stages. Replacement of planks, ribs and beams is complete, existing planks have been refastened and caulked and a primer has been applied to the hull. The pilothouse and window configuration have been restored. The aft deck and combings are complete, and work is progressing on the cockpit deck and seats. Wiring is nearly complete, and the engine was fired up recently. There is plenty of work to complete but we have come a long way and we can see the end from here. It will not be long now before you can once again, take a tour on the C.A. Kirkegaard.
Rebuilding of the cockpit seating (Photo from the Ladysmith Maritime Society collection.)
Original window configuration restored (Photo from the Ladysmith Maritime Society collection.)
The Ladysmith Maritime Society is a 280–member non–profit charitable society that has been in continuous operation since 1985. The purpose of the Society as stated in its constitution is to serve the community by protecting and promoting Ladysmith’s maritime heritage including development and operation of a maritime museum and fostering expertise in the construction, maintenance, and restoration of heritage boats and promoting tourism activity in the harbour. They protect and promote public access to the waterfront and operate a marina for the benefit of Ladysmith area residents including providing moorage and services for local and visiting boaters and providing services for heritage and other vessels, including heritage vessels owned by the Society.
The author, R. Jeff Reichert, describes himself as being both a volunteer and Director at the Ladysmith Heritage Society. He has been volunteering with the Society and working on the C.A. Kirkegaard for the past four years. He had been sailing in Saskatchewan for many years and his love of boats and the water brought him to the west coast for retirement. After moving to Ladysmith from Saskatchewan he is now cruising the Gulf Islands on his own boat and volunteering in his spare time.
To quote from this article please cite:
Reichert, R. Jeff (2020) Restoration of the C.A. Kirkegaard Nauticapedia.ca 2020. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Kirkegaard.php
Site News: November 2, 2024
The vessel database has been updated and is now holding 94,538 vessel histories (with 16,140 images and 13,887 records of ship wrecks and marine disasters). The mariner and naval biography database has also been updated and now contains 58,599 entries (with 3989 images). Vessel records are currently being reviewed and updated with more than 35,000 processed so far this year.
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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