Bradley “Dan” Danforth James
November 29, 1947 – September 14, 2026
Bradley “Dan” Danforth James was born in Vancouver, B.C. on November 29, 1947. He died peacefully at home September 14, 2026 after a long battle with cancer. He grew up in Surrey, B.C. He met Pat in 1964. They were high school sweethearts for seven years.
In 1970, he worked a summer on a ship supplying dew line sites across the top of Canada. In 1971 Pat and Dan were married and took their honeymoon to Desolation Sound on their first boat “Annalisa,” a Tumlaren 27.
For the next 10 years they bought and sold several boats and sailed the West Coast from Vancouver, B.C. to Panama with a trip around Vancouver Island.
They also sailed from Halifax down the east coast as far as Key West and out to the Bahamas and down to Cuba.
In 1981 their daughter, Jodie, was born. In 1983 they immigrated to the United States. They owned and operated the business California Custom Canvas in Point Richmond, California, where Dan designed and patented the hard top dodger, the “Wavestopper.” They set up 60 dealers across the States. In 1993 they moved to Ferndale, Washington and had the business Seawind Canvas & Sails in Bellingham.
They retired in 2003 after another trip around Vancouver Island. Until present they have lived in Blaine, Washington. They spent most summers boating the San Juan Islands and up the B.C. coast. Dan’s favorite destination was Bute Inlet in his favorite tug boat named “Favorite.”
Dan will rest in peace in the waters of Drayton Harbor in front of their house. Dan is survived by his wife, Pat; daughter Jodie; son-in-law, Calvin, and brothers Brian (Nancy) and Gary (Rita).
A celebration of life will be held October 3, at Dan and Pat’s home from 12 – 4 p.m.
