Some calls for C-Tow’s Canada-wide fleet of captains are routine, others, well, not so much. Regardless, its expert team has a solid track record of completing many forms of on-water assistance. It’s a service not to leave port without.

Based in Madeira Park along BC’s Sunshine Coast, I receive several calls throughout the season. I cover an area from Sechelt to Nelson Island and from eastern Texada Island to Princess Louisa Inlet.

Last August, I was dispatched to a 30-foot Beneteau docked at a resort along the shores of Pender Harbour in Madeira. When I arrived at the location, the boat owner explained he hit a deadhead on the Strait of Georgia, causing damage to the drive shaft and hull. As a result, he hand-bailed water out of his boat throughout the night.

Among the many types of salvage services offered by C-Tow, diving and hull patch repairs are available on-site as needed. As I am also a commercial diver, I dove beneath the surface to assess the hull damage as per the owner’s request. I quickly determined the damaged drive shaft punched a hole through the hull. After explaining the problem, I sealed the gap, thus preventing any further water intrusion.

Without his boat having propulsion, the owner reserved a tow with us the next day to Lynnwood Marina & Boatyard in North Vancouver for repairs. My deckhand and I met him along the docks mid-morning to prepare for the 10.5-hour run. With my 20-foot RIB – modified with a Volvo Penta 400 hp I/O – we secured his boat off our hip and safely brought it out into Pender Harbour.

Once in the open water, we switched to a long towline off our stern to the Beneteau’s bow, explaining he could steer and control his boat manually with the rudder – as needed. From Pender Harbour, we navigated around Beaver Island and then headed south on the Strait of Georgia, passing such scenic Sunshine Coast regions as Half Moon Bay, Sechelt, and Roberts Creek. Although there was a strong headwind, we managed the conditions without any issues.

At various points, we ensured the owner was comfortable and verified there weren’t any further issues with his hull. We also closely monitored the weather, looked out for deadheads (that commonly drift off certain areas of the shore) and gave the right-of-way to commercial marine traffic.

Once we passed Roberts Creek at the south end of the Sunshine Coast, the strong headwinds subsided. Under clear skies, we all admired a school of porpoises just offshore from Gibsons. A few hours later, we were in North Vancouver at our anticipated time.

As the sun was setting against the city skyline, we admired more marine life; a pod of orcas made their presence in Burrard Inlet near the Lions Gate Bridge. A little more than ten hours after we left Pender Harbour, we arrived just offshore of Lynnwood Marina & Boatyard in Vancouver Harbour. My deckhand and I once again tied the owner’s Beneteau off the hip of our RIB and brought him effortlessly into a slip.

Several things can arise at any time during a lengthy tow. Yet, by being prepared and prioritizing safety, C-Tow ensured a safe journey down the expansive Sunshine Coast.

Most of all, the owner was happy and grateful for the services we provided. We successfully landed his boat at the designated location safely and securely without any incidents. We were later told his Beneteau was repaired and back on the water to enjoy more boating experiences along the BC Coast.

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