Bottom End

Eric and his crew take on the responsibility of hauling and launching boats from 20′ to 120′ and up to 150 tons. Each vessel is different, and many require specialized setups to ensure the safety and integrity of the haul out. As we work with the tides, often these events happen outside of our normal working hours, and in all weather.

Much like icebergs, there is a lot below the waterline, and this crew inspects each hull ensuring all maintenance items are assessed and reported. From antifouling — maintenance coatings, or full strip and reapplications — to monitoring anode consumption, they have their eyes on it. The environment can be hard on not only the hull of a vessel, but also the running gear and transducers. Over time, marine growth will reduce fuel efficiency, engine performance, and ultimately hull integrity.

Some of the crew have been trained at Quadrant Marine Institute, a post-secondary institution initiated by the marine industry on Vancouver Island. They in turn pass their knowledge onto the rest of the crew. We believe in the apprenticeship program and encourage our employees to sign up. These are the people who change out that transducer or install a new one; who paint markings on your anchor chain; who caulk seams — tasks that require not only knowledge but experience. Working with the other departments to change out props, shafts, rudders and thru-hull valves makes them familiar with the other systems aboard.

There continue to be new products on the market to better maintain the condition of equipment and hull below the waterline: Propspeed for metals, Lightspeed for lights, Foulfree for transducers, Interprotect, Primacon. There have been huge changes in the types of antifouling available as we all strive to be environmentally friendly. It is vital to ensure compatibility with the existing antifouling, and extremely important that we stay abreast of innovations to determine what works best for each vessel and its use.

The Bottom End also watches over our Service Dock, checking that vessels are secure and, as necessary, moving and towing them. They assist with setting up access to each vessel once hauled, via ladders and scaffolding, to keep not only our crew safe but also our boat owners, who are often aboard.

On a side note: we are looking for a better name for this crew. “Bottom End” just doesn’t quite cut it. If you have one we decide to switch to, a gift certificate for a restaurant in your area will be on its way to you.