Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-Op Blog

The Whale Boat

September 19, 2012

New Work | Uncategorized

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Dave Grizwold and Pete Rust are restoring a 1930’s Navy Whale boat at Port Townsend Shipwright’s Co-op.  The boat was a service work boat for mine sweeper navy ships.  There were thousands of boats built like this, yet this is one of only two left in it’s original configuration and the last one with the original engine.  The owner, from Bellingham, began restoring the boat twenty years ago and is now putting it into the hands of the Shipwrights Co-op.  The project is a complete reframe, rebuilding the whale boat to it’s original state for use as a pleasure boat.  Martin Mills will restore the engine.  Pete has built and installed the new stem.  The stem, stern post and most of the keel components will be rebuilt.  Eighty percent of the backbone stem, stern stem, and keel baton will be rebuilt close to it’s original form.

The Whale Boat to be restored at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

The Whale Boat to be restored at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

The Whale Boat to be restored at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

The Whale Boat to be restored at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

The Whale Boat to be restored at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

The Whale Boat to be restored at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

Forefoot Stem roughed out for the Whale Boat restoration project at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

Forefoot Stem roughed out for the Whale Boat restoration project at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

Forefoot Stem roughed out for the Whale Boat restoration project at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

Forefoot Stem roughed out for the Whale Boat restoration project at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

Forefoot Stem installed in the Whale Boat restoration project at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

Stem installed in the Whale Boat restoration project at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

Forefoot Stem installed in the Whale Boat restoration project at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

Stem installed in the Whale Boat restoration project at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.

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5 Comments

  1. Joe Sabo
    Joe Sabo on October 18, 2012 at 12:14 am

    Hi Guys. I saw the bit about the old Navy whaleboat being restored at your shop. I own a 1945 US Coast Guard 26 ft whaleboat and I commend you on your project. My Boat Geraldine has been converted to a open Launch and has won many awards at Various Shows here on the east coast. My Name is Joe Sabo and I live in Tupper Lake in the Northern area of New York State in the heart of the Adirondack State Park. I can send you photos as a picture says it all my email addres is josailboat@aol.com if you would like photos. Good luck Regards Joe Sabo

    • debraswan
      debraswan on October 18, 2012 at 9:17 pm

      Thanks for this information Joe. It is great to hear from someone dwelling in the Adirondacks. Geraldine sounds like a beautiful boat. We will forward your email address to the owner of the whale boat here. He may wish to connect with you. Keep in touch!

      • Joe Sabo
        Joe Sabo on November 9, 2012 at 2:01 pm

        Thanks I can send him photos if he wants. Its great to see somebodey else taking on such a project. There were hundreds of these whaleboats built by the Navy and Coast Guard but I have seen very few wooden ones still around. If the owner has any contacts of other wooden whaleboats I would be interested. I have taken Geraldine to boatshows and she always comes home with an award.I am on Facebook under Joe Sabo. I will look forward to hearing from the owner.

  2. Pete Leenhouts
    Pete Leenhouts on September 19, 2012 at 3:32 pm

    Fantastic story and photos – thanks very much! Any idea of what ship the whaleboat was originally aboard? I will pass this on to the Navy Museum in Washington DC, as I am sure they would find it of interest.

    s/Pete

    Pete Leenhouts (personal cell: 703-314-3647) Director, The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding 42 N Water Street, Port Hadlock WA 98339 360-385-4948 http://www.nwboatschool.org (See us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NWBoatSchool)

    2012 – our 31st year teaching and preserving the skills and crafts associated with fine wooden boatbuilding and other traditional maritime arts with emphasis on the development of the individual as a craftsperson.

    • debraswan
      debraswan on October 18, 2012 at 9:19 pm

      Thanks Pete! We will ask the owner and gather that information to you.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Whale Boat Progress Continues « Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op - [...] Rust has built the new purple heart engine bed for the Whale Boat at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.  …
  2. Orion « Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op - [...]  for annual maintenance and woodwork.  The sailing vessel is located in close quarters with the Navy Whale Boat.  Owner,…
  3. Reframing the Navy Whale Boat « Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op - [...] on the Whale Boat continues at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-op.  Last week Shipwrights Pete Rust and Jeff Galey [...]