TuktoyaktukSA国际影视传媒檚 turbid shoreline may not be the first place you recommend a novice sailor drop a barely-tested boat in the water.

But that wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 deter Alex Gurba, who drove a boat he made himself all the way up from Alberta to see if it would float in the Arctic ocean.

SA国际影视传媒淓verythingSA国际影视传媒檚 hand-made,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e figure if we get it in all the oceans in Canada that would be pretty cool.SA国际影视传媒�

The retired former-northerner said he always wanted to build his own boat, an opportunity that presented itself when he reached retirement.

So he found the blueprints for a SA国际影视传媒榖artender boatSA国际影视传媒� and got to work figuring out how to build it. Four years, dozens of coats of paint and countless hours of sanding later, the replica 1960s U.S. Coast Guard rescue boat was ready for a dip. Gurba and his wife Sheila, a former swamper for Kenn Borek Air, put together a plan to set the vessel to sail.

SA国际影视传媒淓veryone should drive 938 kilometres up the Dempster Highway to put their boat in the ocean,SA国际影视传媒� said Sheila. SA国际影视传媒淲e met a few interesting people that stopped and asked about the boat SA国际影视传媒� that was really neat.SA国际影视传媒�

There was only one problem: the Covid-19 pandemic was in full force and finding an open dock during lockdowns was practically impossible. So Gurba would have to practice patience to find out if his creation was seaworthy.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been in the water maybe a dozen times since it was built,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淓ven all our docks were closed in Alberta, so there wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 much of an opportunity to do anything.

When restrictions were lifted, the pair set off for the coast. First, they christened their toy in the calmer, gentler waters off B.C. before turning their trailer north to Whitehorse and up the Dempster towards Inuvik.

Finally, on Aug. 22 the dream became reality. The Gurbas pulled up to the point in Tuktoyaktuk and launched their prize, with a crowd of curious spectators keeping close watch.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was really, really windy,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he dock area was pretty shallow, which we found out after my motor got stuck in gravel for awhile. Finally I got it out there and did a few circuits in the water.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a cool day, but was worth the effort of everything weSA国际影视传媒檝e done to get it here.SA国际影视传媒�

Having tested their new transport, the Gurbas caught up with old friends from the Delta and have now turned their bow towards the Atlantic to complete the trifecta.

Alex offered some parting advice for anyone with plans to build their own wooden boat from scratch.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 bending wood in two directions at all times,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 no square corners in a boat. I would dry fit everything before I would glue them.

SA国际影视传媒淭he varnishing was the toughest job for me, probably because I donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the experience in it. And tedious hours of sanding so the paint looks smooth. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not just something that you build.SA国际影视传媒�