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HAY RIVER - An old oak lifeboat has taken an unusual journey from the dump in Enterprise to being recently put on display in Hay River.

The restored vessel was placed on permanent display at Porritt Landing in late May by the Hay River Beautification Committee.

A family rescued it from the Enterprise dump about 17 or 18 years ago.

Bonnie Kimble, a resident of Enterprise at the time, said her children spotted the boat at the dump and asked that it be brought home.

"The kids wanted it to play in," she recalled.

Her husband, Clifford Kimble, brought it home in a half-ton truck.

Bonnie Kimble said her children enjoyed many years of playing in the boat while young, including pretending to be pirates.

However, she doesn't know anything else about the history of the boat.

"We don't have a clue whose it was," she said.

Marilyn Barnes, president of the Hay River Beautification Committee, said the boat is believed to date from the 1970s.

"You can see by the paint job that it belonged to NTCL," she added, referring to Northern Transportation Company Ltd.

Linda Carter, at the time a member of the beautification committee, found out about the boat while looking for vessels the committee might use as flower planters.

However, she said, "I fell in love with that boat and I still am."

Barnes said the vessel's owners donated it to the committee and it was brought to Hay River last year.

"As soon as we saw it, we decided that it should be treated as an historical piece," she said. "It was like love at first sight."

The first step in restoration was to remove the paint by hand. The South Mackenzie Correctional Centre agreed to take on the task as a work project for inmates.

"What was found underneath the paint was a beautiful oak body," Barnes said. "It was just magnificent."

Some repairs were made and the boat was repainted.

Barnes said she initially wanted the whole boat left unpainted to show the oak. Instead, a small square was not painted to highlight the wood.

A cradle for the boat was provided by the Canadian Coast Guard.

After repainting and repairs, the boat was donated to the Town of Hay River.

Barnes explained Porritt Landing was chosen to display the boat because it is a public landing and it is a quiet, dignified area.

"I've had lots of comments on that boat being there, on the beauty of it and how nice it is," she said.

Kimble and her family are happy the boat is on display at Porritt Landing.

"We think it's great to see it there," she said.

It is hoped background on the boat will eventually be added to the display, Barnes said. "We would be most interested in finding out more information."

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