[Credit of Video goes to Shaw TV and Jenny Fortin]
Length: 16' Beam:7'8"
Draft: 4'6" Engine: 371 General Motor Diesel
This Boom Boat is the Tatoosh II and is named after a past Hupacasath musician and cultural teacher, Edward "Tat"Tatoosh. The first of her name, the Tatoosh I, was named after William Tatoosh, Edwards Grandfather. William was born in 1896 and became a boom boat skipper. Many of his sons and grandsons followed hi in this trade such as Edward did. The word Tatoosh (Too-Tooch) means "First son of Thunderbird."This name is held with pride by its welders, as it was one of the few Nuu-chah-nulth names that the First Nations were allowed to keep when registering with the Canadian Government.
The Tatoosh II came to Port Alberni in the 1950's and after years of serving on the inlet she ended up in the Albenri City Yard. She was rescued by Port Alberni Maritime Heritage Society member, Paul McDougall, who while walking his dog through the yard, thought it would be a good idea to rescue this boom boat. With the City's permission, the society were able to obtain and restore this vessel.
One of the Tatoosh's past skippers was Geo Monrufet, Captain of the Lady Rose. Monrufet admired the skills of the First Nations boom boat skippers. These skippers had the patience and judgment required to maneuver these vessels. Boom boats like the Tatoosh II were important parts of our forestry industry, and you can still see similar boats working on our waters today.
In Memory of Paul McDougall