50' Retired Halibut Longliner (1971) - PACIFIC

PACIFIC was built to fish for halibut and salmon on the coast of British Columbia. The ability to withstand rugged sea conditions was of paramount importance in her design as were the ability to pack a load of fish and ice safely in all weather. Working space on deck was also important, hence her relatively small cabin. Crew comfort and luxury were down the list.

She has always been regarded by fishermen as one of the best of her type. In the years we fished her I thanked her builders and original owner many times, on the proverbial dark and stormy nights, for their vision and integrity.

Although there are no drawings for PACIFIC, she is typical of some of the good boats designed by Robert Allan, Sr.; Bill Garden; and Frank Fredette; among others in BC; along with Ed Monk, Sr. and H.C. Hanson in Washington State. Builders such as Cyril Thames; the Wahl family; the Barron Bros.; Maurice Gronlund; and Vested, Sather, Matsumoto and Harold Remmem; among many others, built some of the best of them. The very best are, to my mind, Art with a capital A and deserve to be regarded as such.

In one photo you will notice a Christmas tree up the mast. In this part of the world it was fairly common for working boats to put a tree up, especially if they were out on the water during the holiday. That tradition is slowly dying, but Bill Noon and I are doing our best to keep it going.

PACIFIC was featured on the 2019 The Calendar of Wooden Boats. Here’s an edited version of the caption:

“PACIFIC and her owner spent years fishing together, commercially, off Dixon Entrance and the west side of Haida Gwaii. In retirement, they’re still together, but cruise for pleasure now instead of going after fish. A primary change was in putting four berths in the fish hold for guests. She still needs to drop the hook, so the windlass continues to ride the foredeck where it stows as well as dispenses the partly-chain, partly-rope anchor rode; and her approximately 150-pound Forfjord anchor remains ready at the bow. Handsome, husky, and comfortable, PACIFIC will take you anywhere in comfort and bring you back safely—at about 7 knots, her most economical speed.”