Step Aboard 104 Years of BC Maritime History as Historic Argonaut II Opens for Tours in Victoria

The public will have a unique opportunity to step aboard a piece of British Columbia’s maritime history this month, as the 104-year-old wooden vessel Argonaut II opens for two days of guided tours in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Made possible through the generous support of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, the tours will take place Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24, from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Visitors will join captain and owner Nicholas Verrochi for 30-minute guided tours through the vessel’s preserved mission-boat-era interior. Highlights include stained-glass salon cabinets, classic aft and forward staterooms, and a rare look at her historic 1940 air-start, six-cylinder Gardner engine.

Built in Vancouver in 1922, the 73-foot vessel has spent more than a century navigating Pacific Northwest waters. Originally launched as the corporate yacht Greta M, she was acquired by the United Church of Canada in 1934 and renamed Thomas Crosby IV. For more than three decades, she served as a vital link to more than 50 remote Northern BC ports of call, visiting isolated lighthouses, canneries, logging camps and First Nations villages.

During this era, she was skippered by the renowned Haida leader Rev. Dr. Peter Kelly, the first Indigenous person ordained in the United Church of Canada.

Today, Argonaut II is undergoing an active, community-funded restoration led by Verrochi. The project has attracted a growing online following, with more than 39,500 YouTube subscribers and over 3.2 million views as audiences follow the work of bringing this historic vessel back to life. The public tours offer a chance to experience that restoration story firsthand and discover the craftsmanship and history behind the vessel.

Info for the Public

Dates: Friday, October 23 & Saturday, October 24, 2026

Time: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: Inner Harbour, Victoria, BC

Admission: Every ticket directly supports the restoration of Argonaut II and public programming at the Maritime Museum of British Columbia.

Bonus Perk: Tickets also include free same-day admission to the Maritime Museum of BC.

Space is limited for this special two-day event. Tickets and further information are available through the Maritime Museum of British Columbia’s website.