Drumrock (1927)

The Drumrock was built in Scotland as a four-masted steel barque in 1891 – a typical “windjammer” of the era. It was converted into a self-loading log barge in 1925. Drumrock sank in Takush Harbour February 1, 1927. It had inadvertently been moored over an uncharted rock and as the tide dropped, the keel broke and the ship sank.

Although her glory days were spent in foreign waters under foreign flags, the Drumrock has local historical significance as a very early example of a self-loading log barge. It was a prototype for what became a characteristic type of vessel in British Columbia’s coastal fleet.

The wrecksite is essentially contiguous, straddling the unnamed rock that broke it in two. The stern rests in 27 meters of water, while parts of its midships still break the surface on very low tides. The lower masts lie beside it on the bottom on the starboard side. Proudest of all, the shortened bowsprit still points off to the SE in 6 meters of water.

Note: British Columbia’s Heritage Conservation Act automatically protects all heritage wrecks, including the remains of all wrecked vessels and aircraft once two or more years have passed since the date of loss. It is illegal to damage, alter or remove a heritage object from a heritage wreck except under a permit issued by the Archaeology Branch.