Reel Explorer

I'd like to introduce a friend and his boat the Reel Explorer. John originally introduced us. Now we see Bob quite often up the lake, out quad riding, and around town. That's one thing I love about living in a small city. You see friends just about everywhere.

South of the Shinglemill are several docks that are home to the working boats of Powell Lake. Here's where you'll find Reel Explorer.

Bob has a cabin "up the lake," but is probably best know for his skookum boat. Like many other Powell Riverites, he's very self reliant and able to build just about anything. He started with a sturdy welded aluminum hull and custom made the cabin to create his own classic work boat. He can drive it from the front or back, a handy feature to get a large boat into small spaces.

The Reel Explorer was designed to be a fishing boat, but in Powell Lake she can haul lots of logging equipment, workers, and tree planters. Even at a distance, you can always tell if it's Bob by the prominent red Zodiak perched on top.

To those of us who ride quads, we also picture Bob's mighty boat hauling bikes to the head of Powell Lake for a ride to remote spots few others get to see. Wayne and I were fortunate enough to meet up with Bob and some of his friends on one of those trips.

Bob is one of the great people who live in Powell River. Want to get to know our town and its people a little better? You can read the PEAK online. Go to YouTube and see some local videos. Or get one of the Coastal BC Stories books. I recommend Up the Lake. It's the first in the series and has the most stories about my favourite place in the whole world, Powell Lake. -- Margy