Hydrofoil HMCS BRAS D'OR (FHE 400)

I couldn't believe my eyes. There perched high and dry along the shores of the St. Lawrence River stood HMCS BRAS D'OR, the former hydrofoil that served in the Canadian Navy from 1968-1971. Apparently it was built as a project to test anti-submarine warfare technology on an ocean-going hydrofoil and during sea trials in 1969, the vessel exceeded 63 knots (72 mph), making her the fastest unarmed warship in the world.    However, changes in priorities and cost overruns led to the project's cancellation.

HMCS BRAS D'OR (FHE 400) is now situated at the Musee Maritime du Quebec in L'Islet-sur-Mer where I rediscovered her in September 2010. The first time I saw this amazing ship was probably during the summer of 1969 at HMC Docks in Halifax perched then on a barge and also like today, going nowhere fast.

Carlz Boats: The sandsucker CHARLES DICK

Carlz Boats: The sandsucker CHARLES DICK: For over 50 years since being built in 1922, the self unloading sandsucker CHARLES DICK enjoyed what it did best, suck sand from the bottom of Lake Erie.

The Sandsucker CHARLES DICK (Revisited)

Not much was happening on West Street in Port Colborne, Ontario when I took this photo back in 1974. The downbound bulk carrier NORTHERN VENTURE was slowly making her way in off Lake Erie and sitting on the wall was a cluster of Minor Brothers fish tugs, the laid up sandsucker, CHARLES DICK, and an old American laker that was waiting for her time to be towed to a downbound destination to be scrapped. For over 50 years since being built in 1922, the self unloading sandsucker CHARLES DICK enjoyed what it did best, suck sand from the bottom of Lake Erie, a lake known for its shallow depths and abundance of sand. As a kid, I remember seeing the DICK coming in off the lake so low in the water that I was certain it was about to sink right then and there. Later I would see her discarding her valuable cargo at the cement plant dock near Bridge #20, the train lift bridge which has been gone for several years. 

One day in 1973 while working for the Leamington Post and living on the lake, I was happy to see the CHARLES DICK tied up to the Leamington dock, and soon I completed this a pen & ink/watercolour painting of my unexpected visitor. If I recall, due to beach erosion and other issues, Lake Erie sandsucking became prohibited which shortly left the DICK laid up and idle on the West Street wall in Port Colborne. In 1976, the CHARLES DICK was towed through the Welland Canal's Lock 8 in Port Colborne and left at Ramey's Bend where it was scrapped in 1977. Time changes and eras end for us all.

In ballast and the upbound CHARLES DICK approaches the Welland Canal's Lock 2 in St. Catharines on August 2, 1970. Photo by Ron Ruck, from Late Ron Ruck Collection, courtesy of Brad Jolliffe, Cambridge, Ontario

BTW, to view thousands of Great Lakes ship photos both modern and vintage, be sure to checkout http://www.greatlakesships.ca or http://www.oceanships.ca for photos of ships from elsewhere around the world. You'll be Glad You Did!!

Carlz Boats: Bulk Carriers ALGOWOOD & CSL ASSINIBOINE

Carlz Boats: Bulk Carriers ALGOWOOD & CSL ASSINIBOINE: It's been many years since I've seen two ships tied up side by side in Port Colborne harbour...

Bulk Carrier SENNEVILLE

Early on the morning of Wednesday, March 28, 1973, myself and a handful of other people stood on the west bank of the Welland Canal across from Ramey's Bend as the bulk carrier SENNEVILLE approached us from the south heading downbound for Port Cartier, Quebec carrying over a million bushels of barley. Previously at Ramey's Bend ships would turn left or port into the narrow channel that would have ships pass beneath many vehicle and railroad lift bridges through downtown Welland on it way to the flights locks and eventually Lake Ontario.

However on this day the SENNEVILLE kept her course steering dead ahead to become the first commercial ship to enter a new channel that would be known as the Welland Bypass. The new 13.4 km channel was constructed to provide a shorter more direct alignment between Port Robinson and Port Colborne and bypass the city of Welland. Also, to allow vehicles and trains to pass beneath the canal, two tunnels we constructed. The new channel is 330 ft, as compared to the 192 ft width of the old channel.

To commemorate this unique event, later in 1973 I did a pen & ink sketch of the SENNEVILLE, all dressed up in its international maritime signal flags flapping in a light breeze and sailing into the history books and Wikipedia forever. The SENNEVILLE has travelled the channel many times since her first passages almost 40 years ago, but by different names such as ALGOVILLE and more recently known as the TIM S. DOOL.

Carlz Boats: HMCS TORONTO

Carlz Boats: HMCS TORONTO: Here the sleek and slender Canadian frigate HMCS TORONTO (FFH 333) is moored along side a sister ship at HMC Docks in Dartmouth NS. I...

Halifax-class Frigate HMCS TORONTO (FFH 333)

Here the sleek and slender Canadian frigate HMCS TORONTO (FFH 333) is moored along side a sister ship at HMC Docks in Dartmouth NS. In 1996, my son Drew (aka Chief Burkett) spent 6 week on the TORONTO as she sailed from Halifax to Lake Ontario and back, making a number of visits including Port Hope, Port Weller, Hamilton and of course her namesake, Toronto. While passing through the St. Lawrence Seaway, Drew, or rather Chief Burkett (that's him on the Quarterdeck) got permission to allow me to join the ship just below  Iroquois Lock, and travel with the TORONTO as it continued to make her passage through the Lock, the Thousand Islands and into Lake Ontario to Port Hope. Oh YAAA!! c):-D
What an experience that was for me. The Chief gave me a complete tour of his ship, including the engine room and I was on the bridge as the frigate manoeuvred through various narrow channels near Brockville and further up river. And then as we passed Prince Edward County and entered the open waters of Lake Ontario, the Captain opened her up to full speed. What a day that was - spending quality time with my son and fulfilling a dream I always had, sailing on a Canadian navy ship. c):-O

Later in the week, our whole family were guests on the TORONTO this time to view the Toronto International Air Show from out on Lake Ontario. Before we all got to view the main event from an unbelievable sight-line, the Captain and crew demonstrated a variety of manoeuvring features of the frigate including the ability to go from full speed ahead to dead stop in a matter of seconds. COOL!! c):-))
Built at St. John Shipbuilding in St. John, New Brunswick and commissioned into the Canadian Navy in 1993, the 440' Halifax-class TORONTO has a top speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and her armament consists of Mk 46 torpedoes, Sea Sparrow and Harpoon missiles, Phalanx and machine guns for anti-ship defences and as you can see in the snap of me here, her forward gun is a 57mm Bofors. The TORONTO can also carry a helicopter though there wasn't one on board during my son's St. Lawrence and Great Lakes tour. All in all, my time on HMCS TORONTO was the Thrill of a Lifetime for this boatnerd. Go NAVY!!

Passing Boldt Castle