NOOTKA of Lummi Island

The former Mission Boat “Ave Maria"

As many as twenty Mission Boats and one seaplane operated from 1905 to 1969 providing medical, dental, pastoral and social care to remote settlements and communities of British Columbia, Canada. Ave Maria served until 1983 when the Christie Mission school finally closed. This unique vessel was built by the eye and hand of a First Nation shipwright which makes her unique in the history of the Mission Boats.

Built at Meares Island, Clayoquot Sound in 1957 by Barney Williams, a shipwright, fisherman and Chief of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation., assisted by student/residents. “Ave Maria” served the Christie Mission School for almost 30 years along the rough West Coast of Vancouver Island from Barkley Sound to the Brooks Peninsula. The boat was rescued during the early 1980’s in Tofino, transported overland to the Gulf Islands and resurrected in the late 1980’s by Doug Johnston of Tofino. Doug rebuilt the hard working mission boat, turning her into a unique Pacific Northwest cruiser, renamed AVE. This included replacing her running gear. Her original bronze propeller shaft now graces the aft cabin as a compression post under the missed mast.

“Ave Maria” remained in Canadian registry until 2006, when she was purchased by Bill Turner of Bainbridge Island. He returned her to her original name “Ave Maria”, and undertook substantial work in Port Townsend. This included some planking and complete refastening and rudder replacement followed by complete rebuild of her forward deck, cabin and forward steering station. This rebuilding was followed by installation of exquisite bronze and brass railings, and the addition of bronze bitts and chocks from Port Townsend Foundry. The originally installed Dickinson Range was replaced by a huge cast Iron diesel heater made by Refleks and it appears to be the only one imported to the United States.

I found the old Mission Boat in 2016 chained to the dock at a Bainbridge Island Marina- seized by the US Marshals in a Bankruptcy proceeding, and up for auction. At some risk, I prevailed at the auction. Initially intending to keep the name “Ave Maria” I became more familiar with the fraught history of Residential Schools and the treatment of First Nations and Native American children where attendance was compulsory, and speaking in native languages was punished. The name NOOTKA reflects the history of the Pacific Northwest, is the name explorers originally gave to the Nuu-chah-nulth and seeks to honors the heritage of the builder. The vessel also has a unique and continuing connection with her builder, Barney Williams. A photo shows Doug Johnston, who rescued and rebuilt AVE MARIA in the 1980’s with her original builder Barney Williams of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation with AVE (ex. Ave Maria) in the background. Another photo shows Barney Williams at the helm of AVE MARIA  in 2006. During the trip back to British Columbia to visit her builder the vessel was presented the red cedar sea otter plaque carved by Barney’s son, reflecting the families clan which is now mounted in NOOTKA’s wheelhouse.

The old Mission Boat’s well used GM Bedford diesel dating from the 1970’s was removed and replaced with a Luger/John Deere 96hp diesel greatly improving fuel efficiency and reliability.

NOOTKA has many unique features including antique brass and copper running lights all originally oil burning. The side lights are from Spain, the steaming light are English, and the stern light is a great old Perko - all converted to LED lights but retaining their original internal reflectors. Stainless steel hydraulic  anchor winch and Forfjord #6 Anchor, and Kolstrand hydraulic boom winch .

When not out wandering in San Juan and Gulf Islands, or elsewhere on the Salish Sea, NOOTKA can be found on her mooring in Hale Passage off Lummi Island. Winter will find her moored just Inside the Ballard Locks on the ship Canal in Seattle.