The Can-Am was purchased by a group of businessmen who renamed her the Ruby E, their intentions were to make the former cutter into a salvage vessel. Lack of capital thwarted the plan, and the Ruby E was repossessed by the bank.

Enter San Diego Tug and Barge, an industrial boating company in National City, a suburb of San Diego, California. They bought the poor old lady to use for what she was good for-scrap. Fortunately for divers and the California Fish and Game Commission, they recognized another use for the old girl, as a resident of the FAD (fish aggregating device) known as San Diego's Wreck Alley. After removing salvagable parts, San Diego Tug and Barge sold the wreck to the Fish and Game Commission for $1.00.

Then began the work of preparing the Ruby E for scuttling in the Alley. Al Bruton, former President of the San Diego Council of Divers and retired Lieutenant of the San Diego Lifeguards, was the primary "diving" force behind the Ruby E project. The Ruby E had to be made environmentally safe and over $10,000 had to be raised for the clean-up project. Al began gather ing money and man/woman power to bring the project to fruition. The local diving community rallied to the challenge (see acknowledgement next page). Through Al's efforts the money was raised from donations by local dive clubs, individuals, dive stores, charter vessel operators, and manufacturers of diving equipment. Dedicated volunteers from the diving community assisted in the clean-up and preparation, which consumed over 150 hours.

When she was finally ready, Al and others involved in the project held a farewell barbecue on her stripped decks. Lumber was laid across the holes which had been cut to allow diver access to the lower holds. A brightly colored "Bon Voyage" banner stretched over the companionway. A scrumptious "last meal" was consumed amidst excited chatter of diving adventures. The Ruby E was ready for her final journey.

July 18 the Ruby E was towed 17 miles from National City to Wreck Alley, and readied for her scheduled downing at 10:00 hours that day. Easier said, and planned, than done. Bruton estimated that when the four strategically located sea cocks in the ships fore and aft compartments were opened, the mass of the ship with its two enormous diesel engines still in place would drag the ship down in 20 minutes, tops. It was 10:00 a.m. when the plugs were pulled. And when did the Ruby E settle into infamy as a cornerstone of Wreck Alley? Three-thirty in the after-noon. The five and one half-hours in between saw many intense, and futile, attempts to bring her down. Efforts included Bruton's imitation of Lizzie Borden - hacking holes in the rusty hull with an ax -- and a valiant effort to capsize the Ruby E using a tugboat with its cable attached to the porthole of the captain's quarters to pull her over on her side. Success was realized when the San Diego Lifeguards donated the use of their pump.

The pump was placed aboard the tugboat and used to flood the Ruby E's holds. This tactic worked, and the ship's stern gradually sank below the waterline. The Ruby E sank, stern first, bow pointing almost straight up, into 80 feet of water, serenaded by the cheers of sunburned onlookers. When the stern hit bottom she hesitated for almost half a minute. Groans and murmurs of "Vertical Reef!" were heard, but she wavered and the bow gracefully glided down into the water. Thirty minutes later eight safety divers descended to ensure that San Diego's newest wreck was free of hazards. To their surprise they found thirty feet of visibility and a wreck remarkably free of debris. The divers picked up loose articles on the wreck, while the boats cleaned the area of any floating wreckage. Once the safety divers announced "Okay!" Ruby began her new life as hostess to divers and aquatic life.

On the bottom the divers saw the Ruby E settled in 80 feet of sand-covered bottom with her bow pointing NWN. There she sits upright, listing about 10 degrees to the starboard. Her mast reaches to 40 feet and provides a unique photo silhouette backdrop. The Ruby E's starboard prop is partially buried in the sand. But the port prop leaves enough room for more photo opportunities. Several compartments offer penetration throughout the wreck.

The San Diego diving community, Al Bruton, and the Department of Fish and Game all hope that you enjoy it!