John Wayne’s yacht getting scrapped, not saved

 


The Norwester is no more.

At least not in the form in which its many admirers throughout Puget Sound are familiar.

That is the word this week from a Friday Harbor social media page that has been following the plight of the historic 76-foot vessel since it ran aground near Stuart Island last month.

Built in 1932 at the height of the Great Depression, the Norwester once belonged to film legend John Wayne, who was fond of cruising the La Conner area and San Juan Islands.

An update posted over the weekend on What’s Up Friday Harbor? and attributed to present Norwester ownership indicates the beloved yacht – formerly a major tourist attraction on the La Conner waterfront – cannot be restored and donors who have contributed to its planned restoration will be reimbursed.

What’s Up Friday Harbor? poster Justin Mosley on Sunday provided a lengthy “update from the Norwester,” now owned by Rich Rutherford of Kirkland.

“After seeing the boat and the toll this last week has taken on her,” the post reads, “we are sorry to say we do not think the boat is capable for restoration. We had a more detailed video footage made of the keel, which looks like it’s no longer intact. For people who are unfamiliar with boat terms, this basically means her spine is broken.

“We’ve always said that the Norwester has a soul,” the post continues, “but when we visited her on April 27, her soul was gone. As hard as that was to see and feel, it has eased the constant pain and distress of trying to get her off the reef.”

The Norwester struck rocks in Prevost Harbor while carrying eight passengers on a weekend excursion in mid-April. The grounding lashed a gaping hole in the keel and the vessel took on water quickly. San Juan and Whatcom County responders successfully rescued all onboard.

But the Norwester apparently cannot be saved.

“Litigation with insurance will determine what salvage will be done,” the “update from the Norwester” post says.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the Norwester has been adrift and partially submerged just northwest off Stuart Island.

Poster Emilie Rankin reported seeing men from a boat anchored near the Norwester removing parts from the disabled vessel on Saturday.

“She was stripped of anchors, doors, mast and wheel,” Rankin said. “We paddled away very, very saddened.”

In recent years, the Norwester had moved from its moorage on the downtown waterfront to Pioneer Point Marina south of Rainbow Bridge.

 

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