For the second time in three months, a boat from the Beachcombers TV show has made the call for help.
Beachcombers had an epic run on network television spanning 350 episodes from 1972 to 1990. The show depicted the ongoing drama of Nick Adonidas, a log salvager in who earned a living by traveling the coastline with his partner Jesse Jim on their tugboat Persephone.
Their adventures centered around tracking logs that broke away from barges and logging booms in the Pacific Northwest while dealing with constant pressure from business rival Relic and his boat HiBaller II.
The show was hugely popular among boaters and had a significant cultural impact on boating culture in North America. The show was named after the 'beachcomber' style of boats -- small tugs capable of withstanding extreme weather and pulling heavy weights -- that were a hallmark of boating life in the Northwest. Thanks to the area's soggy climate and unforgiving weather, many of the design features and overall styling from the logging era that were built into 'beachcombers' remain a part of the culture today.
In August, the long lost HiBaller II, resurfaced after being missing for 30 years. A Beachcombers superfan tracked the boat down to a shipyard on Vancouver Island and began a campaign to restore it. Boaters and fans from around North America have since been helping to return HiBaller II to her former glory.
Now it's the show's other tug, the Persephone, that needs a helping hand. The Persephone has been on display in downtown Gibsons, BC, where much of the show was filmed, since production ended in 1990. The iconic boat has been the centrepiece of countless photos and tourist attractions, but has also been exposed to weather and the elements for the last 34 years.
The tug was originally built in 1965 for Harry "Smitty" Smith, of Smith's Marina in Gibsons, by a local boat builder named John F. Gooldrup. Under the name John Henry, the tug was used as a work boat along the Sunshine Coast, where much of the show was eventually filmed. In 1972, she was chartered by CBC Television, renamed Persephone, and put to work on the Beachcombers set. She was a central part of the show until production ceased in 1990.
But much like the area's challenging weather wreaked havoc for Nick, Jesse Jim, and Relic, years of exposure, both during the show's run and in the years after, means the Persephone means needs some upkeep.
A 'Save The Persephone' campaign has been launched by the town of Gibsons to crowdfund her repairs. The plan is not only to restore the boat, but to also build a permanent weather-protected shelter where the famous boat can stay out of the elements.
Since the early 90s, the Persephone had been parked at the Five Corners intersection in Lower Gibsons, which marked a prime spot for tourists to see the boat, take pictures, and read up on Beachcombers history. But because of the accumulated damage she's taken over the last 35 years, the boat has recently been moved a the Town of Gibsons Public Works Yard for safekeeping.
Gibsons mayor Silas White told the Coast Reporter, "The Persephone isn’t just a boat — it’s a symbol of our community’s spirit, history, Indigenous roots, and connection to the sea and environment. Restoring it is about preserving a part of who we are and our shared heritage for the entire country.”
According to the Coast Reporter, the project is set to take place in two phases. Phase one is the restoration of Persephone, while phase two is to build her a permanent home.
The hope is to restore Persephone completely before giving her a permanent home at the Visitor Information Centre at Holland Lands. Construction on a building to house the boat is hoping to start in early 2025.
Some local citizens and businesses have already begun the restoration process, while BC Ferries has pledged $25,000 towards the project.
The total cost for both the Persephone and her new home is estimated to be around $775,000. To reach their goal, the Town of Gibsons is already applying for grants and looking for corporate sponsors to help cover the costs. Donors and sponsors will get their names displayed alongside the Persephone when she's installed at her new home.
"The Persephone is an icon, not just for Gibsons but for anyone who grew up watching The Beachcombers,” Town of Gibsons counsellor David Croal told the Coast Reporter. “By supporting this project, you’re contributing to something future generations will be able to enjoy and learn from."
Anyone looking to get involved in the project can visit the Town of Gibsons website to donate.
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