Rescue boat needs rescuing
Donation protected
Our boat, “The Steveston Lifeboat” was in an accident while training volunteers for the Canadian Lifeboat Institution (CLI) in December 2014. She was badly damaged and has been in refit/repair ever since.
It has been an incredibly long journey to get her back to work , but the “Steveston Lifeboat” provides an invaluable service to all vessel operators on the Fraser River/ Strait of Georgia as a guide during busy fishing and boating periods and as a search and rescue assistance boat to those in need.
I have owned her since 1988 and volunteer her into service as a search and rescue vessel with the CLI, during which time my boat and I have been involved in 871 rescues – assisting or saving over 2000 people. Helping mariners and saving lives at sea is a major force in my life.
Because I own the boat, the CLI is having difficulty supporting the rebuild as it may jeopardize their charity status- by giving funds to a private individual – even though the accident happened during a CLI training event. So they have paid for her storage, while under repair, at the marina, for 4 months and will pay for necessary navigation equipment when she is back in the water.
I have been working every day with volunteers on the boat to assist and keep the costs down. But we are appealing for your help now, please. We are currently into our line of credit for $100,000 and need about $50,000 to have professionals finish the work to get her back into the water.
Money spent so far, $320,000 has been covered by insurance, one major donation, and by my wife, Mary, and me – but we have run out of money and there is still work to be done (this includes final installation of the engine, cooling and fuel system, steering gear, final connection of electrical systems and replace all the upholstery) before she can again assist seafarers on the Fraser River, Strait of Georgia and elsewhere.
We would be most grateful for any help you can give to GET THE “STEVESTON LIFEBOAT” BACK INTO SERVICE AS A LIFEBOAT AND HELP SAVE LIVES AT SEA.
It has been an incredibly long journey to get her back to work , but the “Steveston Lifeboat” provides an invaluable service to all vessel operators on the Fraser River/ Strait of Georgia as a guide during busy fishing and boating periods and as a search and rescue assistance boat to those in need.
I have owned her since 1988 and volunteer her into service as a search and rescue vessel with the CLI, during which time my boat and I have been involved in 871 rescues – assisting or saving over 2000 people. Helping mariners and saving lives at sea is a major force in my life.
Because I own the boat, the CLI is having difficulty supporting the rebuild as it may jeopardize their charity status- by giving funds to a private individual – even though the accident happened during a CLI training event. So they have paid for her storage, while under repair, at the marina, for 4 months and will pay for necessary navigation equipment when she is back in the water.
I have been working every day with volunteers on the boat to assist and keep the costs down. But we are appealing for your help now, please. We are currently into our line of credit for $100,000 and need about $50,000 to have professionals finish the work to get her back into the water.
Money spent so far, $320,000 has been covered by insurance, one major donation, and by my wife, Mary, and me – but we have run out of money and there is still work to be done (this includes final installation of the engine, cooling and fuel system, steering gear, final connection of electrical systems and replace all the upholstery) before she can again assist seafarers on the Fraser River, Strait of Georgia and elsewhere.
We would be most grateful for any help you can give to GET THE “STEVESTON LIFEBOAT” BACK INTO SERVICE AS A LIFEBOAT AND HELP SAVE LIVES AT SEA.
Organizer
John Horton
Organizer
Delta, BC