Roche Cove
There’s a new vessel in the harbour at Pier 66 this week. Well…. It’s not exactly a new vessel in the true sense. It’s probably not even new to Cowichan Bay.
No, Roche Cove has been around for quite a while, and probably seen about all of this coast at one time or another.
She’s a small wooden tug, named for a place to be found near the town of Sooke BC. That’s the same place my own little boat is originally from, and so a bit of investigation was in order.
Built by the Canadian Navy in 1938, Roche Cove spent a fair bit of time shifting barges in the Esquimalt area. Having served her term and no longer needed by the navy, she was dry docked and mothballed for several years before being bought by a gentleman who used her as a log salvage tug.
For many years she scooted up and down the waters of Southern Vancouver Island, before once more finding herself out of work, this time tied to the dock. The third owner updated her power plant with a then new Detroit 6-71 two stroke diesel, the engine she still has today. It makes about 160 horsepower, plenty to turn the three bladed bronze prop, and about twice the power she was built with.
After more various sorts of work, she again fell our of favour, and lay at moorage in Sidney BC for 8 years virtually unattended.
Finally rescued by two of our local fellows, she was accidentally smuggled into and out of United States waters twice on her way to Cowichan Bay due to intense fog and a failing gps. All’s well that ended well, and now you may find her tied up temporarily in the slot belonging to George Weeks at Pier 67 in Cowichan Bay.
There’s lots of work to be done, a bit of investment required in both time and money. However, she floats without pumping her bilges, much of the decay appears superficial and she was originally built very strongly.
Here’s hope then, that the old girl will get the care she needs, on her way as so many vessels are around here, on to that semi-retired life which in some cases can be of longer duration than the first!
First time I saw her I knew how beautiful this not totally little boat could look. It has such nice lines.