A professional wildlife photographer by trade, Souders dreamed of an excursion that would take him all the way to the Canadian Arctic to capture images of the elusive polar bear in its natural habitat. At this point, Souders had been to over 65 countries shooting the fauna of the area including penguins, lions, walruses, dolphins — all things large and small, on land and sea. For most, this dream would be permanently housed in the section of the brain that stores one day I’ll do this thoughts that never come to fruition. For Souders, this dream was completely within reach and all he needed was a plan.
The course was anything but simple; navigate thousands of miles of isolated and dangerous water along Hudson Bay’s western coast, by way of boat. Not a journey for the novice boatsman or weary, seasick traveler. We’re talking icebergs, unforgiving terrain, and unpredictable weather. But also crystal clear water, breathtaking views, majestic wildlife, and bragging rights for years to come. So now the question was, how?
Enter C-Sick, a 22’ C-Dory Cruiser Souders bought from a private owner who babied her and kept her in pristine condition. It was a case of love at first test drive. Admittedly, Souders didn’t even negotiate and paid full asking price. The heart wants what the heart wants. Perhaps it was an unexplainable cosmic connection between man and vessel — although more likely it was the safety features and durability of the C-Dory that attracted him. Outfitted with two Honda 40hp outboard engines, a two-burner stove and heater, an eighteen-gallon freshwater tank, a sleeping berth, and the structure of a sea tank, C-Sick was just the companion Souders needed to survive the rugged arctic waters and frigid temps. Special note: C-Sick did come with a portable commode that Souders quickly replaced with a five-gallon bucket. This man’s bravery and ruggedness knows no bounds. Read more:
