This week on Off The Page, we are featuring a special episode from Today in BC - our sister Black Press podcast.

Host Peter McCully chats with Ken Schley, the former CAO of Quality Foods, who is the co-owner of the SS Minnow - the iconic boat from the 1960s TV show Gilligan鈥檚 Island.

The SS Minnow is now based on Vancouver Island.

Schley talks about renovating the boat, those who came aboard for a 鈥渢hree-hour tour鈥� and his memories of meeting Dawn Wells, who played Mary Anne.

鈥淲hen we actually purchased the boat - it took about two years to renovate it and in those two years鈥� and I was asked if she would come down and do anything with us鈥� and we got her to do our 30th anniversary (of QF) which was in 2013. We advertised the fact that we were going to have Mary Anne there. The lineup went out the store out the door, down (the road) and it stayed there for eight hours,鈥� he noted.

鈥淭here were grown men my age crying and giving her presents鈥� it was extremely heartwarming.鈥�

Schley offered the boat for many fundraisers as his way of giving back to the community. Primarily, he would auction tours with funds going to various charities and offered food and wine onboard.

鈥淭hey came on happy, and had to be helped off, happier.鈥�

The boat itself was appealing to guests, noted Schley, and said many times they would get dressed up in character.

鈥淭he gals got dressed up as Mary Ann and Ginger鈥� and they all had some role that they wanted to play on the boat. So we got engaged with it.鈥�

He explained when he first got the boat, the best part was watching people鈥檚 reactions when he took it to various marinas, including Comox.

鈥淧eople would be crying, they would want us to sit, stand on the boat. People (my) vintage would bring their kids and want us to tell them all about it. They鈥檇 bring their grandkids and take pictures. It was so emotional - so many people were tied to that show, you just couldn鈥檛 believe it.鈥�

To listen to the full episode, download Off The Page on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and everywhere podcasts are heard, or visit omny.fm/shows/off-the-page.

New episodes of Off The Page drop every Wednesday.

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