THE BC FORESTER

Greetings and welcome to the webpage all about the historic vessel named BC Forester a 94-year-old classic work boat.

When the forestry fleet was decommissioned in the mid-seventies, her name was changed to “Kwaietek” (a Coastal Salish word for seagull). We have recently been given permission to restore her name to the original “BC Forester” and she’s now registered by both names with the Coast Guard.

Our family lives aboard this beautiful vessel and continues to work on her inside and out in order to maintain the history and connection to her working past. Please, visit the site–check out the archived photographs from her heyday as well as pictures of her restoration, her new woodwork and photos of the many places we’ve visited with her.

Check back often to find out where Kwaietek/ BC Forester will be cruising in the upcoming season. (Currently on our schedule is a late-summer journey up to beautiful Haida Gwaii).

Thanks for your interest–if you have any questions about the old girl, please use the “contact” page on this site.

Fair winds,

The crew of the BC Forester

The Places She Goes

January 10, 2017 by ChristineCW

Our family has owned the BC Forester since 2010. We spent a great deal of time looking for the perfect boat to move onboard. In fact, we looked at so many wooden workboats that I coined a name for the ones that were an instant “no go”. We called them divorce boats–“D boats” for shorthand so … Continue reading The Places She Goes

Thurston Bay, birthplace of the fleet

January 9, 2017January 10, 2017 by ChristineCW

The British Columbia Ministry of Forests designed and built their own fleet of vessels. Sturdy, thick oak frames were planked with Douglas fir and skirted at the waterline with an eighteen-inch wide band of ironwood. The BC Forester was built to replace the original headquarter’s launch which was destroyed by a fire. She was launched … Continue reading Thurston Bay, birthplace of the fleet

Legacy of the BC Forester

January 9, 2017January 10, 2017 by ChristineCW

The BC Forester was a busy girl. Used extensively as the headquarters launch for Forest Service top brass for her first decade, she was moved to a survey position once the Ministry obtained the 80-foot Edwardian yacht “Syrene” as a replacement in the late 1930’s. During her time as a survey vessel, the crews on … Continue reading Legacy of the BC Forester