Tacoma Boat Building. A view of the water and waterfront immediately adjacent to the Tacoma Boat Building Company facility along City Waterway. TPL-6536

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Waterfronts;

Launching at Western Boat. Ordered by Seattle Times by Mr. R.H. Calkins. The John N. Cobb is afloat near the 11th Street Bridge just after launching from the Western Boat ways building. The vessel would be equiped for exploratory navigation as well as for experimental fishing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.. Snow is on the ground as seen on the opposite shore of City Waterway. The tall buildings of the business district of Tacoma are seen in the background. (Pacific Fisherman, March 1950, p.29) TPL-9652

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Ships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cityscapes;

Newly launched "New Georgia" is being tied to the dock at Pacific Boat Building. The new salmon seiner, 56 feet by 16 feet, was to join the fleet of Tony and Johy Kuljis of Tacoma. She was designed by James J. Petrich and had quarters for a crew of eight. With a 120 hp Caterpillar engine she could attain a speed of 10 knots. A baby flat-top is seen in the background. (TNT, 4/19/1950, p.13)

Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960; Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation's officers were: Joseph M. Martinac, President, Joseph S. Martinac, Vice-President, Reuben C. Carlson, Secretary, and Fred C. Borovich, Treasurer. The company designs and builds fishing, commercial and pleasure vessels; their plant was located at 1501 Railroad Avenue. Progress photograph and interior view of J. M. Martinac ship building plant, ship builders are working on a boat. TPL-8987

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, sea trials of the Mary S. Three men stand beside the new tuna clipper, the Mary S. TPL-9007

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Ordered by Charles F.A. Mann. This is believed to be the "Yolande Bertin," newly launched fishing boat that has entered the water outside the Tacoma Boat Building ways building on June 9, 1949. The boat would be docked at the boat building company for the completion of the interior work and a new boat would be started in the ways building. The $300,000 tuna clipper was purchased by the Carqueros Panamenos Company. TPL-9009 (TNT 6-10-1949, p. 22-alt. photo)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. Sea trials of the Acania show her on Commencement Bay. She was recently restored and refurbished at J.M.Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. The 126 foot motor vessel was built in 1929 by Pusey and Jones in Wilmington, Delaware, and designed by John H. Wells, an internationally known yacht designer. She operated on the east coat for years. When World War II began the Navy took the yacht over and made her into a fire boat on San Francisco Bay. (TNT, 7/3/1949, p.A-16)

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pacific Boat was owned by John B. and Robert J. Breskovich and Joseph S. Rosin. Pacific Boat was one of the leading boat builders in Tacoma during the 1940s; they had been actively involved in the war time production and post-war building era. Pacific Boat could custom built any type of boat, whether they were fishing and government vessels or pleasure crafts. View of "Pacific," a fishing boat built by Pacific Boat Building Company.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Fire at Western Boat. Blacken timbers are all that are left of a one fourth completed new tuna clipper boat being built for a San Diego fisherman. The total destruction of the tuna boat is just part of the $2,000,000 fire that damaged the Western Boat Building Company, plant #2, and the Marine Iron Works on the east side of the city waterway on August 15, 1950. The cause of the three alarm blaze, which also badly scorched the wooden underpinnings of the 11th Street Bridge, remains a mystery. Eleven land companies and the city fireboat responded to the massive Tideflats industrial fire. (TNT 8-16-50, p. 1) TPL-9032

Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A large crowd attended the blessing of a new fishing boat, the Mary E. Petrich, held at the Old Tacoma Dock on July 5, 1949. More than 150 guests, including Tacoma Mayor C. Val Fawcett, crowded the deck of the ship as the Rev. W. Costello and the Rev. Leo T. Eckstein blessed the vessel and crew from the upper deck. The 150 individuals were the guests of Western Boat Building owner Martin Petrich on the vessel's seven hour test cruise under sunny skies. The 150-foot tuna clipper was the largest vessel ever built specifically for tuna fishing. She had space for a crew of 35, including Capt. Joe Alves. On completion, the vessel would sail on her maiden voyage to Panama. The boat was named in honor of Martin Petrich's recently deceased wife. (TNT 7/6/1949, pg. 24) TPL-9010

Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Benedictions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Priests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Western Boat. A view of the upper deck, part of the engine venting system and controls at the rear of the helm on the Mary E. Petrich. TPL-9013

Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In this photograph from July, 1949, the newly completed tuna clipper, Mary E. Petrich, is shown leaving Tacoma, where she was built by the Western Boat Building Company, for her sea trials. She was powered by a 1,600 hp. Fairbamnks-Moorse diesel engine and was capable of 13 1/2 knots. Built at an estimated cost of $500,000, she was named for the wife of Martin Petrich. TPL-8999

Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Western Boat. A view of the chapel inside the Mary E. Petrich. TPL-9012

Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Chapels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The launching of the USS Pledge, MSO 492, at J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. The minesweeper was the ninth of its class to be launched. M.S. Erdahl, Port Commissioner, was the Master of Ceremonies. Mrs. Theodore Ultsch did the christening assisted by Miss Janet Bruder, as the flower girl. The featured speaker was Rear Admiral Smoot, commander of the mineforce of the US Pacific Fleet. The launching was held in conjunction with the commissioning of the USS Conquest, Hull #488. (TNT 7/21/1955, pg. D-10

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

The A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) 117 is shown as she was after she slid down the ways at Pacific Boat Building Company. She has no rigging yet. That would be added after she was brought to the yard's outfitting dock.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Winifred (Mrs. Melvin M.) Larsen is proudly displaying the commemorative silver platter she received as sponsor at the launching of the AMS minesweeper #115 built by Tacoma Boat Building Company. The tray had an engraving of the vessel and an inscription telling of the occasion. Navy rules permitted a woman only one Navy vessel sponsorship. This was Winnie's second time "at bat", however, since she had been sponsor of and christened the tuna clipper Saratoga in 1951. (TNT, 10/12/1952, p.B-8)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Larsen, Winifred;

Dignitaries gather for a group portriat prior to the launching of the AMS 115, a 144-foot minesweeper, at Tacoma Boat Building Company. Owners of Tacoma Boat, Arne Strom and Harold Dahl are seen near the right. The sponsor, Winifred (Mrs. Melvin M.) Larsen, secretary to Charles Bevis, Tacoma Boat's manager, is holding a bouquet of roses. Captain Chester J. Chastek, state director of the selective service addressed those attending the launching. Others on the program were Lt. Cmdr. S.E. Anderson, chaplain of the Sand Point Naval Air station, Arne Strom and Capt. Linton Herndon, Navy supervisor of shipbuilding in the Tacoma area. (TNT, 10/5/1952, p.B-3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Larsen, Winifred; Dahl, Haldor; Strom, Arne;

ca. 1955. J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. The photograph is labelled 9-1-1955, but has a series number that belongs in 1956. Nestled between the 15th Street bridge and the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge on the City Waterway is Martinac shipbuilding. Four large vessels are docked at the company for work. To the right of 15th Street is the Union Pacific Freight Station; to the right of Union Pacific is West Coast Grocery. To the left of the railroad bridge is the J.D. English Steel Co. and behind them is the A.J. Johnson Co.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) #97 in 1953. The last Naval minesweeper would be sliding off the ways at Tacoma Boatbuilding as the fifth one was launched. Mrs. Henry F. Agnew, wife of the Commandant of the Tacoma Naval Station, was sponsor (holding bouquet of roses), Nicola Tollefson, daughter of the Mayor Harold Tollefson, was flower girl and Capt. J.R. Topper was the speaker. Arne Strom, in suit, owner of the company, was the master of ceremonies. (TNT 9/27/1953, pg. C-12)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Strom, Arne; Agnew, Henry F.--Family;

AMS #118 prepares to be launched on April 14, 1953. The minesweeper was built by Pacific Boat Building Co. Several boat building firms in Tacoma had received contracts to build minesweepers for the Navy, including Pacific Boat Building and J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. AMS #436, the USS Energy, had been launched just two months before by Martinac. The 118 was the third of the 144 foot minesweepers built locally. Mrs. Charles M. Bevis sponsored the AMS #118; Rear Admiral Arthur D. Ayrault, USN (Ret.) was the principal speaker. (TNT 4-15-53, p. 6)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Interiors of A.M.S. #113 (minesweeper) built at Tacoma Boat Building. Forward crew quarters, with bunks folded up. Space was at a premium on the 144 ft vessel and was utilized carefully, fitting as much into a small space as possible. The 113 was scheduled to be delivered in November to the French Navy as part of the mutual aid program. (TNT 10/25/1953, pg. B-3)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Crew quarters; Warships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Children perched high on a ladder get a good bird's eye view on May 15, 1953, of the launching of two vessels built by the Tacoma Boat Building Co. for the Navy. They, and the large group of spectators, listen intently to a guest speaker at the podium. The two 57-foot minesweepers, MSB-16 and MSB-17, were launched within minutes of each other. (TNT 5-17-53, B-7)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Two 57-foot minesweepers are side-by-side shortly after being launched on May 15, 1953. Built by Tacoma Boat Building under a Navy contract, the vessels were launched minutes apart. The MSB-17 is accompanied by the tug, Drew Foss, while the MSB-16 is escorted by the Peter Foss. Tacoma Boat Building also was awarded contracts to build several 144-foot mindsweepers during the early 1950's. (TNT 5-17-53, B-7) TPL-9620

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

With a mighty swing, Jeanne Martin Soares christens the new "Blue Pacific" on March 29, 1967. The vessel was launched at Tacoma Boat Building. She was a 176-foot steel tuna seiner built for Capt. Roger Soares of San Diego who placed her in operation for White Star- Van Camp Seafoods. The "Blue Pacific" was the largest tuna fishing boat built from the keel up at the time. She was constructed in the Port Industrial Yard (the former Tacoma Naval Station) by Tacoma Boat Building. Moments after the christening, the "Blue Pacific" eased down the ways and came to a standstill before she finally floated free. Five Foss tugs assisted when the boat was hung up. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building. (TNT 3-12-67, A-23, TNT 3-29-67, A-1) TPL-9061 (Corrected identification provided by a reader)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Soares, Jeanne Martin;

Ship's sponsor. The U.S. Navy patrol gunboat, the "Tacoma," is ready for launching into Commencement Bay on April 13, 1968. Mrs. Arne Strom, the ship's sponsor, is holding a bouquet of longstem red roses. Her husband, standing next to her, is the chairman of the board of Tacoma Boat Building. Mrs. Strom would have the honor of christening the new vessel with the traditional bottle of champagne. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co. (TNT 4-14-68, A-4)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gunboats--United States; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Strom, Arne; Strom, Arne--Family;

Tacoma Boat Building launched MSC-277, a 145-foot minesweeper built for the Navy, on June 30, 1958, in Sitcum Waterway. During the early 1950's, Tacoma's shipbuilding companies had garnered several contracts to build vessels for the government. This wooden minesweeper, however, was the first to be formally launched in nearly two years by a Tacoma firm. Tacoma Boat Building was awarded a contract to build four minesweepers for the Navy at a cost of approximately $7 million. Since then, the firm had received contracts totaling $4.25 million for six more Navy craft. The ship's sponsor was Mrs. Guy Garland, wife of the commander of the Tacoma Naval Station. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (TNT 6-27-58, A-1, TNT 6-29-58, B-2, TNT 7-1-58, A-6))

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Boat under construction. Tacoma Boat Building was under contract to build U.S. Navy aluminum gunboats in 1964. Four gunboats were under construction under two separate contracts. Tacoma Boat would win a $6,731,046 contract to build three more motor gunboats in January, 1965. The lightweight aluminum hulls on these patrol boats would permit operations in relatively shallow waters. They were designed to operate offensively on patrol blockades and surveillance missions. Constructed of aluminum, the boats would be 165 feet long with 25-foot beams and be equipped with 3" gun and 40 mm gun. View of Tacoma Boat Building employee in mid-October, 1964, working with long pieces of aluminum. Photograph ordered by Reynolds Metals Co., Los Angeles, for company's annual report. (TNT 1-15-65, A-1)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Aluminum;

The Brynn Foss tug gently guides the MSC-290 minesweeper, Gannet II, after its launching on May 26, 1960, at Tacoma Boat Building. It would be commissioned in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard a year later, on July 11, 1961, and eventually be sent to monitor the waters of Japan and Vietnam. The MSC-290 was the sixth of seven coastal mindsweepers built by Tacoma Boat Building under contract with the Navy. It was christened by Mrs. F.P. Luongo. (TNT 5-27-60, p. 3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The minesweeper MSC-298 was successfully launched at Tacoma Boat Building on the evening of September 14, 1962. The 145-foot minesweeper was the 26th of its kind built for the Navy by Tacoma Boat since 1951. The ship weighed 372 tons when fully outfitted and had a 27-foot beam. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co. (TNT 9-15-62, p. 3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Broadside view of Boeing's PCH-1 hydrofoil, High Point, at Martinac Shipbuilding. The High Point was launched on August 17, 1962, in the presence of Boeing longtime president William M. Allen. Realizing that water and air present similar challenges in control, stability, electronics, hydraulics and propulsion, the Boeing Co. began to use many of the systems found in jet airplanes, adapted, for hydrofoils. The High Point was the first launched in 1962 at Martinac Shipbuilding in Tacoma; it slid into City Waterway during high tide. (www.boeing.com/history; TNT 8-18-62, A-1)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hydroplanes--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);