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Canadian Tollycruisers

Princess Louisa Inlet…The Tolly Connection

Renowned Yacht builder Robert Merland “Tolly” Tollefson first visited Princess Louisa Inlet in his own 23 foot wooden boat with his brother and a friend in 1938.  He became a great friend of James ‘Mac” MacDonald  and visited Louisa more than 50 times (some  years doing 2 or 3 trips) before retiring  from boating at age 90.
MAJESTIC LOUISA (2)MAJESTIC CHATTERBOX (2)

079 (2)
The painting of Tolly’s Boat in front of the Falls

For Tolly’s 90th Birthday The Canadian Tollycruisers gifted a painting of his boat in front of Chatterbox Falls. Wayne Nelson presented the painting to Tollly at his Birthday Party held at the Seattle Boat show. The painting hung in his Port Ludlow home until his death

Tolly at home

Tolly passed away in 2011 at the fine age of 100.

One of his requests was to have some of his ashes spread in the misty waters at the base of Chatterbox Falls.

The Canadian Tollycruisers Group commissioned a memorial bench  and donated it to the Park.    On May 11, 2012 the Park Rangers installed the commemorative Bench in a prominent spot with a fine view of the falls.


THE BENCH (2)

To celebrate Tolly’s life and his love of the area, a commemorative Cruise was organized by Terry Murphy.
On May 21, 2012, 16 Tollycraft Yachts from Canada and the USA made their way up Jervis Inlet, passed through Malibu Rapids,  and secured on the docks at Chatterbox Falls.

TO THE FALLS (2)PAPAKEA & BRAVO ZULU IN THE RAPIDS (2)

The vessels were BALCORI, BELL ELAFF, BRAVO ZULU, DESTINY, DOUBLE PLAY, NAUTILUS, PAPAKEA, PTAMRGAN, PRECIOUS TIMES, R’ANDIAMO, SURPRISE, SCRUPLES III, TENACIOUS SPIRIT ,VALENTINE,  VIDA BELA, & ZARIA.

Interestingly there was a 26, a 30, 2-34’s, 2-37’s, a 40, a 43, 2-44’s, a 48, a 53, a 57, & a 61 representing most of the models built by Tolly post 1975.

Two days later, as the sun came out, Jay Hartland of Anacortes WA read a brief eulogy noting that Tolly built 6000 boats and each of those has had about 5 owners.  Tolly, therefore, influenced as many as 30,000 Boaters during his amazing career. It was clear that Tolly considered Tollycraft owners as his family.
JAY GIVING THE EULOGY (2)SCOTT FULTZ TALKS ABOUT TOLLY (2)SCOTT & ELAINE FULTZ SPREAD THE ASHES (3)

 

Scott Fultz, a 50 year friend of Tolly’s and a former employee at Tollycraft Yachts, with his wife Elaine, spread Tolly’s ashes from their dingy right where Tolly wanted to be, at the base of CHATTERBOX FALLS.
SCOTT & ELAINE FULTZ SPREAD THE ASHES (4)

On Shore, 39 Tolly skippers and crew surrounded the Bench and with Tolly’s favouite drink, Single Malt Whisky, saluted Tolly in a toast.
TOAST TO TOLLY (2)

Tolly Tollefson has made his final voyage to Princess Louisa Inlet but his spirit will live on in the mist of the falls for eternity.
ON THE DOCK (2)AROUND THE FIRE (4)CHATTERBOX FALLS (2)PAPAKEA

Click this link for more information on Princess Louisa Marine Park

Click this link for more information on Princess Louisa International Society

If you visit Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls be sure to visit the bench and send us a picture of you, the bench and your Tolly at the falls and we’ll post it here.

Here is Terry Murphy and his well cared for 40′ Tolly “PAPAKEA”
Papakea Terry & Susan Murphy (1)

 

 

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Canadian Tollycruisers

4 days ago

Canadian Tollycruisers
There once was a man from Nantucket...or maybe not 😉But here is a Tollycraft poem to celebrate National Limerick Day and remind you that registration is open for the 34th Tollycruisers Rendezvous September 2-5 in Telegraph Harbour.tollycruisers.com/tollycruisers-rendezvous/#tollyrendezvous #tollycruisersevent #tollycraftrendezvous ... See MoreSee Less

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