Whether you own a houseboat, trawler or yacht, we want to get the scoop on watercrafts that call the Cove home.
For May we feature a custom Bill Garden boat belonging to Deep Cove Yacht Club’s rear commodore member Roger Williams.
What kind of boat is it?
Quester III is a Bill Garden (famous naval architect) designed one-of-a-kind boat. It was built in Victoria in 1972 in the first owner’s backyard. The builder was a skilled boat builder who brought in students from schools to help train them in woodworking. The boat has a wood hull made of yellow cedar and oak.
What is the size of the boat?
It is 43-feet long, 14-feet beam (wide), four-feet draft (depth).
What special features does it have?
It is a single-engine Detroit Diesel 8V71 with a bow thruster. One of its best features is the back deck, which is great for hanging out with friends and for dinners, and the command bridge, which is fantastic on a nice day to be under the Bimini and cruising.
When/why did you start boating?
We started boating about 30 years ago. We had moved to Deep Cove and we were looking to make new friends so we decided to join DCYC to make new friends and find out if we liked the boating lifestyle, which we have enjoyed completely.
What’s your favourite area to explore?
Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound, Broughton Archipelago, Indian Arm
What’s your dream day on the boat?
A dream day is waking up on the boat to a sunny morning, watching the sunrise come over the North Shore Mountains while we are tied up at Iron Bay, our DCYC outstation, or at anchorage somewhere up north.
What are the benefits of being a member of a yacht club?
The benefits of belonging to a yacht club are many. Camaraderie is one of the biggest reasons. One of the other assets is the knowledge base of all the members, which is incredible. Not only do these members have diverse careers, they have incredible knowledge about all marine and maintenance issues that come up on all boats.
The members that we boat with have become lifelong friends and we have even gone on major cruises around the world together, on large cruise ships not our own boats, but we always take our DCYC burgee (flag), which we ask the captain of these cruise ships to fly while we are on board. These cruise ships have obliged.
What kind of wildlife have you spotted up Indian Arm from the boat?
We have spotted a pilot whale in the Cove about 10 years ago, we have seen a deer swimming in Indian Arm near Croker Island, many black bears, elk, cougars, snow geese, swans, ducks, eagles, and seals.
Besides emergency gear, what’s the one staple item that’s always on board?
Our dog bowls, for our old English sheep dog Emma.
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The Deep Cove Yacht Club will host its annual sailpast to officially open the boating season in the Cove on Saturday, May 13, noon-4:30 p.m.
“DCYC Sailpast brings out members annually as it’s the start of the boating season.
The members come to attention and motor past the commodore and salute, dip the Canadian flag, and the commodore returns the salute. Once the last boat has gone by the commodore, a cannon is fired (yes, a real but miniature ship’s cannon) and then the boaters can come back to the docks.
Once they are docked, a procession is led past all the past commodores where the members show their respect for these commodores, then the members go inside for speeches, a toast to the Queen, food and drinks. The sail past is the largest club event of the year and brings out the best in sailors and power boaters alike,” says Williams.
