Ship details

Ship Details
F.G. Arbutus If you have images associated with this Vessel, please contact us at admin@nauticapedia.ca

Registry #1	150446 (Canada)	Registry #2		Registry #3
IMO#		MMSI#		VRN#

Name 1	1921	F.G. Arbutus	Name 6
Name 2	1955	Elko	Name 7
Name 3	1956	Glioma	Name 8
Name 4			Name 9
Name 5			Name 10

Year Built	1921	Place	Vancouver	Area	BC	Country	Canada

Designer	(nk)	Measurement (imp)	27.1' x 8.1' x 3.7'
Builder	Hoffar Motor Boat Co. (The)	Measurement (metric)	?m x ?m x ?m
Hull	Wood	Displacement
Gross Tonnage	6.91	Type 1	Patrol Vessel
Registered Tonnage	4.7	Type 2	Yacht, power-cruiser
Engine	19bhp diesel engine (1921);	Engine Manufacture	Norris, Henty & Gardners Ltd., Patricroft UK
Repower		Propulsion	Screw
Rebuilds		Call Sign
Pendant #		Masters

Owner(s)
In 1921-1955 she was owned by British Columbia Minister of Lands, Victoria BC Canada. In 1955-1956 she was owned by Howard D. Reid (MO), Vancouver BC Canada. In 1956-1961 she was owned by Patrick L. McGeer (MO), Vancouver BC Canada. In 1961 she was owned by Robert E. Shepherd (MO), Mission City BC Canada.

Fate	Registry closed	Date	1961-00-00

Named Features
Significance of Name

Anecdotes
David Gibson stated (Email to Nauticapedia 18/04/2022) that "My Dad, Dr. William C. Gibson, founded the Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research at UBC in the 1950s in an old Army hut. One of his first steps was to recruit Patrick and Edith McGeer from their American university. Together, they had become leading neurological researchers, and their arrival at the UBC Lab was something of a coup. Patrick, of course, was part of the large Vancouver family, and nephew of the colourful Mayor Gerry McGeer. Pat and Edie bought the old BC Forestry Service patrol boat (FG ARBUTUS 1921). They renamed ARBUTUS as GLIOMA (a type of brain cell) after the sailboat of Dr. Wilder Penfield of the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University in Montreal. I can remember cruising Howe Sound with them in about 1958. In about 1960, they took my parents, Barbara and Dr. William Gibson, on a cruise up the coast, exploring Jervis Inlet and Desolation Sound. They talked about having eaten "oysters the size of dinner plates” from Waddington Channel." In October 1961 this vessel was broken up at New Westminster BC Canada.

Anecdotes

David Gibson stated (Email to Nauticapedia 18/04/2022) that "My Dad, Dr. William C. Gibson, founded the Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research at UBC in the 1950s in an old Army hut. One of his first steps was to recruit Patrick and Edith McGeer from their American university. Together, they had become leading neurological researchers, and their arrival at the UBC Lab was something of a coup. Patrick, of course, was part of the large Vancouver family, and nephew of the colourful Mayor Gerry McGeer. Pat and Edie bought the old BC Forestry Service patrol boat (FG ARBUTUS 1921). They renamed ARBUTUS as GLIOMA (a type of brain cell) after the sailboat of Dr. Wilder Penfield of the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University in Montreal. I can remember cruising Howe Sound with them in about 1958. In about 1960, they took my parents, Barbara and Dr. William Gibson, on a cruise up the coast, exploring Jervis Inlet and Desolation Sound. They talked about having eaten "oysters the size of dinner plates” from Waddington Channel." In October 1961 this vessel was broken up at New Westminster BC Canada.

References
Canada List of Shipping; David Gibson (Email to Nauticapedia 18/04/2022); https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=5537434&q_type_1=q&q_1=ship%20registration%20150446&ecopy=e011446360_175 (website viewed 14/07/2025); https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=5541004&q_type_1=q&q_1=ship%20registration%20150446&ecopy=e011446374_219 (website viewed 14/07/2025);
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Ship Details

F.G. Arbutus