CGC Sauk Decomm
Yes, this is the former CGC Sauk, converted to the Schooner, "Alison Lake", by her owner and Captain, Norm Rogers of Toronto Ontario, Canada. The Cutback bow (icebreaking bow) can clearly be seen in the photo to the left, where she rides high in the water. Extensive conversion with main drive equipment pulled and replaced, believed to be a Caterpillar 3412, turbocharged and after cooled,  724 hp before supercharging, est 1000 + with 5 hp blower.  Her height above waterline is 117 feet. Bridge and associated superstructure removed and "LOTS" of ballast installed to keep her in the water. The cut back bow was kept but as you can see the prow above waterline was extensively modified.  For a photo story on the conversion of the Alison Lake, click here. She is the sister ship of the Empire Sandy (www.nauticaladventure.com), a 200 foot three masted schooner, converted  from a Salvage tug similar to the CGC Tamoroa. (www.tamaroa.org.)  We are currently in touch with her owner Norm Rogers and are researching her disposition as well as a more extensive narrative about her conversion. Our thanks to Franz VonReidel and Gerry Ouderkirk, for providing leads to this amazing story.  We are saddened to report the Alison Lake fell victim to a mishap at sea in November of 2003, and was lost. She hit a submerged object in the dark (thought to be a container) and breached two of the five watertight compartments, knocked out the power so the bilge pump was inoperable. Her crew abandoned the vessel in a 16 foot aluminum tender and motored for five hours to Key West. Vessel sank in 3000 feet of water about 30 miles south of Key West.  Our condolences to Capt. Rogers and the Alison Lake's crew. We lost one of our own as well. Check back soon for the complete story.