From the furthest tip of Nova Scotia comes this sketch of a young boat builder with a philosophical turn of mind and an irrepressible love for his native Bras D’Or Lakes. Where his friends and contemporaries have chosen to pack up for lucrative jobs in far off cities, Scoggie stays on, sailing his clunky little sloop and learning what he can learn from the old timers who give Cape Breton its wn eccentric flavor.
. . . sign up to the right to get immediate access to this full post,
plus you'll get 10 of our best videos for free.
Get Free Videos& Learn More Join Now!!for Full Access Members Sign In
Donald Goldring says:
Loved this video. Visited the area a few years ago and found the area beautiful and a dream place to sail. Scoggie looks to have found his paradise,
Dan Goldring – Kingston, Ontario
tim woodford says:
The man aboard Sirius was Bob Carr. I went searching to find out what happened to him. He left Baddeck in 1975. Went to the Azores and then back across passing through the panama canal to hawaii and eventually back to the west coast. He was voyaging to New Zealand in the late 1980’s and was run down by a freighter. Limped into Costa Rica. He was never able to get Sirius repaired and sailing again. He left Costa Rica in 2000 leaving Sirius behind. Bob died shortly thereafter.
Robert Lynn Bruce says:
Would the fellow on the Sirius be Bob Carr? A Spray replica showed up here in B.C. a few years ago ( long gone now) and I’m thimking it was Sirius.
edward crosby says:
I was fortunate to have gotten to know Scoggie very well over the course of a couple decades, as our cabin on the Bras D’ Or faces Scoggie’s property, with a mile or so of lake separating the two. The video depicts his thoughtful, simple, and peaceful existence perfectly. Family and friendships were most important to him, and he had a brilliant sense of humor! I only saw this video after his death, and thus unfortunately never got to talk to him about the boat he built. While I knew him, he had a similar looking fiberglass version of his original boat. During our annual 2 week visit to the lakes, I can’t remember a day when I didn’t see Scoggie on the lake in his boat. The lakes seem a bit empty without him, but his spirit lives on.
Mark Bray says:
Inspirational stuff. Great story.
Chris Noto says:
He was two years older that me. Lovely video. Many thanks, again, OCH!
Curtis Jeffries says:
Thanks for sharing that lovely story. We might all live more fulfilling lives if we learned to listen to our hearts.
Norman Palmer says:
I enjoyed the film and was glad to see the canoe J stroke is still in use. Was on the island during a trip to the Canadian Maritimes. Wonderful people and scenery.
Rick Robinson says:
This needs to be revisited, he’d be in his 70s now. Interesting.
Coleen Mennucci says:
Such a lovely, lovely story that carried me away…..beautiful!
Chris Martin says:
Thanks for sharing, not sure where else I would have found this. Sure makes me think about the rat race.
peter strietmann says:
He may be gone but his memory lives on forever. An awesome dude. And the Spray owner is just as cool.
Robert Brockway says:
right up there with some of the big screen movies I have watched. I loved his outlook on life. 27 in 1975 and passed in 2014. 66 kind of young in some ways, Never the less, this little short will leave a mark on anyone who watches it. Indirectly touching a lot of people. He never left nowhere, and will touch people everywhere. Have always admired people who do not get worked up about I have to have a career, have to make so much, do so much, have to have this or that. Scoggie had that peace that surpasses understanding, content no matter the current circumstances.
William Drake says:
RIP Scoggie… I so enjoyed hearing his story and those he knew. We are in this world for a time and whether we are rich or poor we all leave this life. I take great encouragement from his tale and his wisdom. God bless this gentle soul.
Rafael Paonessa says:
RIP, Scoggie. I wish we knew more about the sailboat he built, and also about the man who built the Spray replica.
William Drake says:
RIP Scoggie… I so enjoyed hearing his story and those he knew. We are in this world for a time and whether we are rich or poor we all leave this life. I take great encouragement from his tale and his wisdom. God bless this gentle soul.
Sandy Mcwilliams says:
What a perfect way to spend some minutes on Mother’s Day before everyone wakes. How nice to see someone excel at a simpler life. Scoggie is happier than most. Hope he is still at it!
Sandy McWilliams
Mark Darley says:
Seems to me there is the schmee and the scogg of life!
David Tew says:
Thanks, Bill! The Bras D’or is much bigger than I thought.
David Tew says:
Scoggie passed away in September of 2014: http://dreambigcapebreton.com/2014/10/07/scoggie/
Joseph McLarney says:
Definitely need an update! 45 years is a long time ago. Is Scoggy even still alive?
rick whitehouse says:
Excellent Video, Just what we needed. Simple Life. Many wouldn’t appreciate but this group dose . Glad to be a member.
Neil Ferguson says:
Wonderful documentary
Drew Waterbury says:
Excellent documentary. Makes me wish for a “where are they today” update (including the boat Sirius).
Richard Dodd says:
Wonderful – a wise soul indeed
Charles Jackson says:
Aye !
Joel Schwalb says:
Scoggie is certainly not your typical millennial. He is to be admired for his certain knowledge that this is where he wants to be and to control his own life. I have been to Nova Scotia and kayaked some of it’s coast in my Pygmy Osprey Tandem. After watching this video I’m sorry that I didn’t make a point of visiting Cape Breton Island.
It’s also impressive that he built his sail boat on his own with no power tools. He is to be congratulated on that,
Ron Badley says:
…filmed in 1975.
Jesse Terry says:
where is scoggie now…
Joseph Wl Haley III says:
Thank you Scoggy (spelled in my Scots Dictionary) for a few moments of of you life. It was a good one !! JW Lindsay Haley III