"Chris Croner isn't afraid to get his hands dirty and he is looking for like-minded people interested in preserving a significant part of B.C. s maritime history.

The grandparent of the tow boat industry, the steamship Master is currently moored at Britannia Heritage Shipyard, where it will remain for the month of April, and Croner is looking to recruit local volunteers with a passion for antiques and boats to help him in maintaining it.

The 85-foot Master, with a displacement of 200 tonnes, was built in 1922. Others of its kind have either plunged to the depths, or been converted to diesel. But not the Master, which uses good old-fashioned steam power to ply local waters.

She is one of over 200 vessels that were built here in the 1920s and 30s and she is the last one left in North America with a wooden hull.

During its heyday, the Master towed barges of coal and limestone and rafts of logs and played a crucial part in B.C.'s economy and the development of the coast.

She was responsible for hundreds of jobs, said Croner.

It's by air, land and sea we prosper. It's part of our coat-of-arms...She is to the west coast what the Bluenose is to the east coast.

Croner is looking for deck hands willing to learn about painting and scraping as annual maintenance work is done on the vessel. There is also plenty to learn about it's unique original steam engine, such as oiling, taking fluid levels, and general clean-up duties.

Croner hopes to bring the Master back to Richmond during the summer months, after some engine work is completed later this spring.

I was raised this way. If you're successful in the community, you put something back, not necessarily money, but your own time. That to me is what builds a community, said Croner, who is a Matsqui blueberry farmer who in his spare time spends about 40 to 50 hours a month on Master-related work, as well as providing Meals on Wheels to people living in the Downtown Eastside.

The satisfaction I get is when an old guy comes aboard, and starts almost crying and says you've saved it, you've done a wonderful job. To me that's satisfaction.

Anyone interested in engine tinkering or maritime history, or who wants to arrange a weekend tour of the boat, is asked to call Chris Croner at 604-726-2583 or e-mail him at chris@ssmaster.org.

He is also looking for donations to help with the $65,000 in annual maintenance and operation costs, as well as in-kind gifts such as fuel, rope, chain or fir to replace some of the rotting wood on the ship. The society relies on fundraisers, and sales of t-shirts and hats, and participates in about a dozen or so marine events each year..."