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| Old Pilot Boat Looks Proud as a Peacock |
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 | | | Peacock was built in Germany in '66 and has had a storied life since then. |
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By Jolene Coats
The Columbia Bar Pilots 44-year old pilot boat Peacock, which worked the mouth of the Columbia River from 1967 to 1999, is now on permanent display outside the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon. The boat's final berth is about 100' from the river's edge, beside Marine Drive (Highway 30)--the main road from Portland.
The lift of the 80-ton 90' steel vessel was watched by hundreds of people and required two of the largest machines from Campbell Cranes with a combined lifting capacity of over 800 tons, plus several trucks to carry the counter-weights etc.
The Peacock was built in Germany in 1966, based on the design of the North Sea rescue boat, which had pioneered the use of "daughter boat" launched from a stern ramp. This concept revolutionized pilotage on the Columbia Bar, enabling the the pilots to continue working in bad weather.
During its 33-year career, the Peacock delivered bar pilots to over 120,000 ships, using the 23' tender in all conditions except calms. "No single vessel has had a more profound impact on the economy of the Columbia River basin than the Pilot Boat Peacock". Commented bar pilot Captain Thron Riggs |
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