Casey Haynes is chipping away at restoring the Nanaimo Tillicum, a century-old tug boat with an extensive resume in local waters. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

living history

‘I bit off more than sanity should allow:’ Ladysmith man restoring historic Nanaimo Tillicum tug boat

Sep 11, 2023 | 5:33 AM

LADYSMITH — Casey Haynes admits the project is “pretty much pure insanity”, but one rotten board at a time he’s restoring a piece of history.

The 60-year-old former registered massage therapist is slowly, but surely, repairing the nearly century-old Nanaimo Tillicum tug boat in a Ladysmith harbour.

Haynes purchased the 55-foot long boat in 2014 and has been working on it every since.

“I bit off more than sanity should allow but once you start you just can’t stop but it’s worth it in the long run…not many people would take this on. Once I started taking the decks off, most of the deck beams were rotten so I had to replace every deck beam in the whole boat or fix it.”

A 2008 trip to England and time spent on a pilot cutter sailboat further cemented Haynes’ sea legs, but opted for the tug over a sailboat because they were “too much work”.

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Built in 1924 in North Vancouver, the Nanaimo Tillicum has a rich history in local waters.

Previously christened “Dan King” from launch to 1934, then “Tarzan II” until 1956, the Tillicum has served as a working tug boat for most of its long life.

Covered in tarps in many main areas, restoration of the Nanaimo Tillicum is slowly but surely progressing in a Ladysmith harbour. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

She worked previously with the Nanaimo Towing Company, Straits Towing and others, including Bill and Wilma Thompson who sold the boat to Haynes nine years ago after owning it for nearly a half century.

Haynes said he’s keen to continue on the boat’s legacy in the region by not only making it a home for himself, but a part of the community.

“It became as much a work vessel as it was a family or community vessel. [The Thompson’s] used to take it out at Christmas time with carolers through the whole Pender Harbour area.”

All things going well, Haynes hopes to be on the water in the next few years.

“I have about one-tenth of the deck to finish and the stern timber, which is a big job,” Haynes told NanaimoNewsNOW on board the Tillicum. “I’m actually adding seven feet to the aft cabin just to make a bit more room on the inside. I’ve gone over the port side hull and the bow on the starboard side so I have the rest of the starboard side to do.”

Hayes shows off the engine powering his new passion project. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Haynes gave up his RMT license recently and works with a friend doing custom canvas in the Ladysmith area.

His only past experience restoring pieces was working on pre-Second World War houses.

“I love old, well built stuff. I love old houses, I love old boats, they give back as much as you put into them.”

Haynes is documenting his progress on a YouTube channel and said his progress is down to how much time and money he has to chip away at a lengthy to-do list.

“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time and that’s pretty much all I can do with this right now.”

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