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The Powercruiser Seamus

by Glen Billwiller 2016

Seamus

Seamus (Photo from the Glen Billwiller collection. )

My Dad, James Billwiller, owned the Aleta II built in 1947. He and I lived on it for a few years around 1974 when I was 13 years old I moved to Perth in Western Australia in 1988. As a child I was like a "river–rat" hanging around the docks of Ladner, Steveston and Richmond BC. I have great memories of a live aboard community on River Road at the foot of Cambie Street in Richmond. I wanted to share some pictures of our boat, the Seamus.

Seamus

Seamus I’m at the helm with my fiancee, Linda Edmonds, (she was the owner at this time) going up river from Shelter Island Marina in Richmond to High Water Marina on River Road in Richmond where we lived on the Seamus. (Photo from the Glen Billwiller collection. )

Seamus

Seamus Docked at the High Water Marina in Richmond when it was up for sale after restoration. (Photo from the Glen Billwiller collection. )

Seamus

Seamus (Photo from the Glen Billwiller collection. )

Seamus

Myself (Glen Billwiller) and My Brother (Jeff Billwiller) on the Bow of the Seamus (I am in the foreground) being brought up from Ladner to High Water Marina in Richmond strapped to the side of Wally Nelson’s 1946 46–foot Chris–Craft which was rumored to have been once owned by Fulgencio Batista of Cuba. (Photo from the Glen Billwiller collection. )

Seamus

A young Jeff Billwiller standing between Seamus and the Chris–Craft as she is brought up the river. Jeff is still active in the marine business as President of Global Marine located at Shelter Island Marina in Richmond BC. (Photo from the Glen Billwiller collection. )

Seamus

Former owner Linda Edmonds in front of the Seamus. (Photo from the Glen Billwiller collection. )

She was built in 1953 by Matsumoto & Sons Shipyards Ltd., Dollarton BC. 11.80m x 3.78m x 1.62m (38.7’ x 12.4’ x 5.3’) wooden hull 23.74gt 19.89rt. She is a twin screw powered by 2–145bhp diesel engines. Her radio callsign was CY4014.

Claudia M

Claudia M in French Creek BC. (Photo from the John MacFarlane collection. )

She was originally the Fiesta II, then called the Rita J. III, then the Catch 22, then the Seamus, and currently the Claudia M.

Claudia M

Claudia M. with Bright Work Newly Refinished (Photo from the John MacFarlane collection. )

In 1953 she was owned by William Rathie, Vancouver BC. In 1956 she was owned by Hassell Brothers (1954) Ltd., White Rock BC. In 1958 she was owned by D. Robinson Construction Ltd., Nanaimo BC. In 1964–1968 she was owned by Douglas N. Jones, North Vancouver BC. In 1969–1973 she was owned by H. & H. Investments Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1974 she was owned by All–West Holdings Ltd., North Vancouver BC. In 1975–1980 she was owned by Julian B. Smith, West Vancouver BC. In 1982–1984 she was owned by Maisie A. Pring and Robert Pring, Ganges BC. In 1985–1986 she was owned by Maisie A. Pring, Ganges BC. In 1987–1988 she was owned by Linda J. Edmonds, Richmond BC. In 1989–1999 she was owned by Rhyon Caldwell, Richmond BC. In 2001–2014 she was owned by George N.D. McNeilly, Vancouver BC. In 2015–2016 she was owned by Wayne R. Garneau, Parksville BC.


To quote from this article please cite:

Billwiller, Glen (2016) Seamus. Nauticapedia.ca 2016. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Seamus.php

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