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Silver Fir – Forestry Patrol Vessel and Work Boat

by Chad Giesbrecht 2016

Silver Fir

Silver Fir (Photo from the Chad Giesbrecht collection. )

She’s 34’ 9" in length, 9’ beam, draws 3’8". She was built in 1950 by the British Columbia Forest Service in their yard on the Fraser River. She was designed by Tommy Edwards. She was powered with a 3–71 Jimmy with a Twin Disc transmission. She is carvel planked in fir below the waterline, red cedar above the waterline with galvanized fasteners.

Silver Fir

Silver Fir displays the ‘Fire Warden‘ signage is because I have been working with her for the British Columbia Forest Service for the last couple of years, patrolling the Gulf Islands. (Photo from the Chad Giesbrecht collection. )

She was sold out of service in 1979. She went with the Cherry II to Williston Lake, and while the Cherry II but only spent about 6 months there, while the Silver Fir spent about 6 years. As far as I know, they’re the only two ‘Blimp’–style boats that were also insulated.

Silver Fir

Silver Fir swinging at her buoy. (Photo from the Chad Giesbrecht collection. )

Silver Fir

Silver Fir when she first arrived. She was actually in remarkable condition, other than cosmetics. She just needed some love and love is something I’m still catching up with on her. (Photo from the Chad Giesbrecht collection. )

Silver Fir

Silver Fir BCFS funnel livery. (Photo from the Chad Giesbrecht collection. )

Silver Fir

Silver Fir on the ways. She was accidentally snagged by a tow during the night. I could hear the impact from my house. The company allowed me to use their ways at Chemainus so that she could be made right. (Photo from the Chad Giesbrecht collection. )

Silver Fir

Silver Fir with her sister ship the Maple. The Maple is a sister to Silver Fir. They are in the same fleet. However they’re different design, different builder, different dimensions etc. The BCFS built 11 ‘blimp–designs’ (like Silver Fir) in all. We are all a bit curious where Red Cedar (the first one of 11 in the class) wound up. (Photo from the Chad Giesbrecht collection. )

Silver Fir

Silver Fir sometimes carries crews of British Columbia Forest Service staff. Maple (Photo from the Chad Giesbrecht collection. )

Silver Fir

Silver Fir (Photo from the Chad Giesbrecht collection. )


To quote from this article please cite:

Giesbrecht, Chad (2016) Silver Fir – Forestry Patrol Vessel and Yacht. Nauticapedia.ca 2016. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Silver_Fir.php

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