What is it, and where did it come from?
This is a question that has been asked many a time the past few days in the community of Barriere as folks traveling along Barriere Town Road spot a huge propeller sitting on a lot next to the building that houses the BC Liquor Store.
Building owner Shane Baykey says the massive device is off a submarine. It weighs in at 3500 pounds and it is definitely an attention getter in Barriere’s downtown core
“Maybe it came off the Beatle’s Yellow Submarine?” joked Baykey, “Or perhaps it was bought out off a ‘Naval” scrapyard in Saskatoon?”
He admits he is one of a growing group of people around the world who enjoy looking at these giant devices that can move humongous marine vessels through the Earth’s oceans and waterways.
According to Wikipedia, “A propeller is a device with a rotating hub and radiating blades that are set at a pitch to form a helical spiral, that when rotated performs an action which is similar to Archimedes’ screw. It transforms rotational power into linear thrust by acting upon a working fluid such as water or air. The rotational motion of the blades is converted into thrust by creating a pressure difference between the two surfaces. A given mass of working fluid is accelerated in one direction and the craft moves in the opposite direction. Most marine propellers are screw propellers with helical blades rotating around an approximately horizontal axis or propeller shaft.”
But why is this particular giant propeller now sitting in Barriere?
“I’ve had it for better than two years now,” tells Bakey, “I think just the size of it alone is amazing.”
Baykey tells when he originally purchased the decommissioned submarine propeller he wasn’t sure what he would do with it, but says he always seems to want to “have one of everything” and then figure out what to do with it.
“So I bought this propeller which had been decommissioned. It was decommissioned because it had some big chunks out of the blades, which otherwise looked brand new,” told Baykey, “Looks to me like someone hit the reverse button by mistake and backed the sub into a dock and wrecked the propeller.”
Baykey says he knows how much the Barriere Chamber have been working to draw travelers to Barriere, and especially into the downtown core where so many of the businesses are situated.
“I figure people will stop here to see this giant propeller just because it is here. There is a whole bunch of people in the world who travel around just to take selfies with these big propellers,” said Baykey, “So if they are going to travel why not have them stop here in Barriere.”
He tells there are sites on the internet dedicated to propellers around the World, and that amazing as it may seem to some “a lot of people are really into taking selfies with this stuff. I get people emailing me from all across Canada about this one.”
Why are people so interested in this one?
“I think just the size of it,” answered Baykey.
He’s had the propeller repaired so that the chunks that were missing are now all filled in, and he also had the blades polished and a stand made to hold it.
Baykey says the plan is to landscape the area around the propeller, “put up some kind of rope or chain around it and add some flower boxes as well.”
He does ask that folks practice social distancing and “stay off the propeller because it is not playground equipment”.
What is the value of the propeller, plus the cost of repair and polishing, and also transporting to Barriere from the Lower Mainland?
“A lot! But it’s a tourist thing!,” said Baykey.
He also notes there are plans in the works to “put some kind of plaque on the base, and to also start a social media site about the propeller to promote it and get people involved and wanting to come and see it.
“I also like the fact that a submarine propeller is just down the road from the Barriere Legion,” said Baykey, “Maybe when November 11 comes around the Legion might start their Remembrance Day parade from where the propeller is displayed.”
As this interview was concluding Baykey added, “You never know, maybe this propeller came off a sub that got caught going up the Detroit River full of marijuana!”
If anyone would like more information Baykey can be contacted at: sjbltd1@gmail.com
