Dragon Boat West

Fort Langley Canoe Club's dragonboat was stolen from our club dock in Fort Langley Friday night but found whole on Saturday across the Fraser River in Kanaka Creek.  On Sunday we went to retreive it and found it cut in half.  On the side of the creek we could see where the boat was cut in half and where the other half was dragged up to the parking area and looked to be loaded into a vehicle. 

Now what someone wants with half a boat we are not sure.  Perhaps they want the other half and were going to put it back together but could not fit the 40 foot boat on the vehicle in one peice.  Maybe they are planning to put a new transom on it and have an odd looking 20 x 4 foot skiff. It says "Canoe Kayak BC" on it and that's the end that is gone.  If anyone know anything about this incident we would love to learn more.  Or if you see half a dragon boat or a funny looking 20 foot skiff, please contact the Langley Police or the Fort Langley Canoe Club. 

Thanks for your help!!
Fort Langley Canoe Club

http://www.dragonboatwest.net/forum/index.php?topic=3933.0  .........Hmmmmmm.........................very interesting  , what are the chances :lol: j/k



 

holy crap talk about petty thieves...  sorry to hear that your dboat got trashed like that.  hope this incident doesn't stop your club from paddling and racing.

thats messed up.  sorry to hear

does that mean lower mainland has lost a Buk?

 Got a question............if the dragonboat was found on sat across the river ....why didn't anyone go and get it ???

Excellent question....  I'm not sure of the details, I was just asked to post the info.

Yes that means one less BUK in the Fraser Valley.

It was afternoon before we knew where it was so we did go secure it Satruday but it was late to get a crew together to paddle it home.  And REALLY, who would have thought they would cut it in half.  We figured they'd just taken it for a ride!

 :doh: .............. expensive lesson for all . I suggest in future all clubs take better care of their equipment and learn from this .

 Hope there was insurance and maybe someone can look into making the best of this and see if the BUK can be salvaged and modified into a 10 or less seat training boat ....just an idea

(http://www.imagewoof.com/view_thumb/903be1109/Photo_032507_0068.jpg) (http://www.imagewoof.com/view_image/903be1109/Photo_032507_0068.jpg)

(http://www.imagewoof.com/view_thumb/2f5e41102/Photo_032507_0057.jpg) (http://www.imagewoof.com/view_image/2f5e41102/Photo_032507_0057.jpg)

yikes... it still floats?  and such a clean cut too...

 its too bad it wasn't a gemini ............ :(

sigh...well it'll be a good flower pot,

 msn(f) RIP

 :lol:  gemini - absolutely agree....cut them up or out

Yes, the Fort Langley Canoe Club and Canoe Kayak BC have recovered the front half of their BUK dragon boat.  We were hopeful to get the front half back intact and a dragonboat manufacturer in Vancouver called 6/16 had offered to put the boat back together for us at cost.  It would never be in original condition for racing but hopefully be a servicable practice boat.  We want to thank all the newspapers and websites for running articles that spread the information and the police who helped recover the boat.  Also, we want everyone to be aware of the vandalism in the Valley.

On Wednesday evening the Maple Ridge police phoned to say they had located our other half BUK dragon boat.  The guy that had it was in the process of painting it we were told. I understand the police wanted permission to tow it somewhere as they felt it would not be there in the morning.   They took it to the impound yard in Maple Ridge.  On Thursday morning we went to the tow yard with a trailer to pick it up.  They told us they picked it up at the Centennial Motel at 216 Street and Lougheed highway in Maple Ridge.  The half a BUK boat was hard to recognize.  It used to be white with Canoe Kayak BC in big letters on the hull.  Now, it's got a new unfinished fiberglass transom, the resin was still wet when we got it.  The front seat has been cut out to make room for a large square metal gas tank that has that has been installed, complete with gas hose for a motor. A plywood deck has been screwed on from the bow to the 3rd seat, which has been removed as well by cutting the seat base down to the hull. The entire upper deck and sides are painted black.  It has been cut up and modified to such as extent I am not sure it can be repaired.  We will have to have it looked at and make that decision.

It's really sad to see what they have done to our BUK.  The police said the guy that was working on it said he found it.  Seems strange to me he paints a boat all black - maybe to cover the Canoe Kayak BC written in big letters on it. And what better color to sneak around on the river at night - this would be a fast get away boat.  But then what do I know - everyone is innocent until proven guilty, right?
Yes, the Fort Langley Canoe Club and Canoe Kayak BC have recovered the front half of their BUK dragon boat.  We were hopeful to get the front half back intact and a dragonboat manufacturer in Vancouver called 6/16 had offered to put the boat back together for us at cost.  It would never be in original condition for racing but hopefully be a servicable practice boat.  We want to thank all the newspapers and websites for running articles that spread the information and the police who helped recover the boat.  Also, we want everyone to be aware of the vandalism in the Valley.

On Wednesday evening the Maple Ridge police phoned to say they had located our other half BUK dragon boat.  The guy that had it was in the process of painting it we were told. I understand the police wanted permission to tow it somewhere as they felt it would not be there in the morning.   They took it to the impound yard in Maple Ridge.  On Thursday morning we went to the tow yard with a trailer to pick it up.  They told us they picked it up at the Centennial Motel at 216 Street and Lougheed highway in Maple Ridge.  The half a BUK boat was hard to recognize.  It used to be white with Canoe Kayak BC in big letters on the hull.  Now, it's got a new unfinished fiberglass transom, the resin was still wet when we got it.  The front seat has been cut out to make room for a large square metal gas tank that has that has been installed, complete with gas hose for a motor. A plywood deck has been screwed on from the bow to the 3rd seat, which has been removed as well by cutting the seat base down to the hull. The entire upper deck and sides are painted black.  It has been cut up and modified to such as extent I am not sure it can be repaired.  We will have to have it looked at and make that decision.

It's really sad to see what they have done to our BUK.  The police said the guy that was working on it said he found it.  Seems strange to me he paints a boat all black - maybe to cover the Canoe Kayak BC written in big letters on it. And what better color to sneak around on the river at night - this would be a fast get away boat.  But then what do I know - everyone is innocent until proven guilty, right?