To me, that is as good as it gets. Any more information on that would be appreciated.
The
Gikumi was built in Vancouver, BC sometime in the 1940s to be the utility vessel for the lumber mill at Telegraph Cove on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island. In this service it hauled logs and lumber, pulled small barges, transported people and supplies and a million other things.
When the mill closed in (I think) the late 1960s or early 70s, the
Gikumi was sold to an enterprising scuba diver who, with his wife, converted it into what became the first commercial whale watch boat on the west coast of North America. The little cabin aft of the pilothouse was significantly extended and the flying bridge was added. The rather Spartan interior was completely redone with results you see in my photos.
The whale watch business (Stubbs Island) became a big success and a large aluminum whale watch boat was built for them named the
Lukwa. The other year another, smaller aluminum boat was added.
The
Gikumi has been phased out of the whale watch business and is now used for week-long wildlife charters for up to six passengers (minimum four). Two small staterooms and a head were added under the aft deck and a third stateroom was created in the small forward cabin.
I took the interior photos a couple of years ago during a special cruise commemorating the 100th anniversary of Telegraph Cove.