Tacoma Boat Building Company completed the sardine seiner, North American, in 1944. Tacoma Boat Building was owned by H. Dahl and A. Strom, who were dedicated to building quality fishing vessels for North Pacific fishermen. View of North American's helm, compass and engine controls. TPL-8880

Helms; Control rooms; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The Hortensia-Bertin sits in the ways building at Tacoma Boat Building ready for launching into Commencement Bay. The large tuna clipper was designed by Arthur DeFever of San Pedro, and measured 103' x 24'10". O.E. Bertin would be her captain. She would have outstanding communication capabilities with radiophone and code instruments, a Northern Radio sending set and a National receiver. She was capable of carrying a crew of 20 and 185 tons of fish at 10 knots. Her home port was to be Tegucigalpa, Honduras. (TNT, 1/5/1950, p.21; Pacific Fisherman, April 1950, p.26; Pacific Fisherman, October 1950, p.12) TPL-9024

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

Machinists Incorporated was a Seattle based business, owned by Thomas J. Barley and Ralph H. LaBossier, located at 751 Michigan Street in Seattle, Washington. View of sand blasting on boat "Eileen", the fishing boat will be re-painted and refurbished at Tacoma Boat Building facilities in Tacoma. "Eileen" will be a new modernized faster speed engine and will have the power of a new 1948 boat, photo ordered by Machinists Inc. TPL-8955

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boats & boating; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Sand blast; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Machinists, Inc. (Seattle);

View of damaged machinery at Tacoma Boat Building's massive fire of August 24, 1951. The entire construction yard consisting of five connected buildings was leveled in the multi-alarm fire which occurred in the early morning hours of August 24th. Damages were estimated at one million dollars, part of which is probably covered by insurance. Photograph commissioned by the Board of Marine Underwriters of San Francisco. (TNT 8-24-51, p. 1)

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

Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. was working on a contract to build and repair fishing boats for China under the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration program. The boats are intended to rehabilitate China's fishing industry. Tacoma Boat's production line methods are helping get the boats ready for launching. View of laborers lowering a block down into the boat. TPL-8903

Laborers--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. was working on a contract to build and repair fishing boats for China under the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration program. The boats are intended to rehabilitate China's fishing industry. Tacoma Boat's production line methods are helping get the boats ready for launching at a rapid pace. View of small boat at Tacoma Boat facilities.

Boats--Tacoma; Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat launched a Pacific Coast-type purse seiner. The "F. D. Roosevelt" was built under the UNRRA contract for Yugoslavia. It is a modern boat completely refrigerated, powered by a 360 horse power engine, with diesel generators, 85 feet long, 22 foot beam and a 10,000 mile range. Miss Margaret Marinkovich (second from right) was the launching sponsor, Marcus Nalley, second from left. (T. Times, 7/1/46, p. 3).

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Marinkovich, Margaret;

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. was started in 1936 by H. Dahl and A. Strom. The partners wanted to build fishing vessels for North Pacific Fishermen. In 1941 they signed a contract to build government boats and moved to a larger, newly expanded plant at the head of the City Waterway. Interior view of workshop and laborer. TPL-6645

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Interior of Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. plant. Elaborate machinery used for boatbuilding can be seen here. TPL-6648

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Smoke rises from the blackened ruins of the Tacoma Boat Building Company's boatworks area on August 24, 1951. It was the city's sixth major fire of the year. Damages were estimated at one million dollars by Fire Chief Charles Eisenbacher. All five connecting buildings in the construction yard were consumed by flames. Twelve land companies and the city fireboat helped to finally extinguish the fire. Photograph commissioned by Board of Marine Underwriters of San Francisco. (TNT 8-24-51, p. 1) TPL-9120;

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

Clean up goes slowly in the aftermath of the massive Tacoma Boat Building Company boatworks fire of August 24, 1951. Several days after the early morning blaze, photographs of the interior of buildings showed blackened and crumbling fish wells and main engine tanks. No injuries were reported in Tacoma's sixth major fire of the year. Photograph commissioned by Board of Marine Underwriters of San Francisco. (TNT 8-24-51, p. 1) TPL-9054

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

The 165 foot "Scarlet Queen" would have a fishing crew of eighteen men, Tony Dutra was the ship's skipper. Interior view of the crew's quarters, six mahogany trimmed bunks with inner spring mattresses, individual lockers and reading lamps and benches. The room is bright, airy and easy to keep clean (Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog 1954). TPL-8968

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Crew quarters; Bedrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Beds; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The 165 foot "Scarlet Queen" would have a fishing crew of eighteen men, Tony Dutra was the ship's skipper. Interior view of the skipper's quarters, this room has beautiful hardwood built in features, including, drawers and storage compartments. The skipper's quarters has a deluxe bunk, reading lamp, window and pull out desk(Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog 1954). TPL-8967

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Crew quarters; Bedrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Beds; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

View of "Scarlet Queen's" galley, modern oil-fired galley range, stainless steel trim, dual temp, refrigerator, tiles drain board, wood finished cupboards, large table with bench seating and magnesite floors. The kitchen also features a double sink with cold, hot and salt water, water cooler, radio and inter-com (Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog 1954). TPL-8966

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Galleys (Ship kitchens); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat Building. A port-side view of "West Point," the first all-steel tuna clipper built by Tacoma Boat Building Company. Immediately after the launching of "West Point" on August 17, 1946, the company began work on a 104-foot purse seiner for A.K. Anderson of Seattle. One of the largest and busiest boat builders in the area, Tacoma Boat had won a reputation for skilled craftsmanship in the designing and building of all types of fishing boats. The Tacoma skyline can be seen in the distance. (T.Times, 8/21/1946, p.5) TPL-8907

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Waterfronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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;

Tacoma Boat's launching of "Southern Queen", a 100 foot, steel, tuna and sardine purse seiner, built for A. T. Anderson of Seattle and Joe Villicich of San Pedro, California. Side view of "Southern Queen", Tacoma Kenworth Motor Truck Corp., LLoyd Suiter Tire Co., O'Cinelli Co. and Columbia Breweries in background (T. Times, 2/12/47, p. 5). TPL-8919

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

Southern Queen, a 100 foot, steel, sardine and tuna purse seiner, was built and launched by Tacoma Boat. Mrs. Gilbert Van Camp, of the well known Van Camp canneries christened the vessel. Hundreds of guests from California, Oregon and Washington attended the celebration. View of Mrs. Van Camp, her attendants and many other well wishers standing in front of the "Southern Queen" (T. Times, 2/12/47, p. 5). TPL-8918

Van Camp, Gilbert--Family; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Hull #213 was under construction at Martinolich Shipbuilding in February of 1936. The firm was well known for their building of purse seiners. A big fishing fleet of at least 12 purse seiners was under contract in Tacoma's three yards and six more were expected to be started by the end of January, 1936. The Martinolich-Cosulich plant had recently been erected at the south end of City Waterway and had four contracts for fishing craft. G37.1-149 (TNT 1-18-36, p. 1-article)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. was working on a contract to build and repair fishing boats for China under the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration program. The boats are intended to rehabilitate China's fishing industry. Tacoma Boat's production line methods are helping get the boats ready for launching at a rapid pace. View dock area for Tacoma Boat facilities.

Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat was a long time builder of fishing boats, government vessels, UNRRA boats and pleasure boats. They were the exclusive manufactures of the "Northern Line" winches. View of main boat engine, Tacoma Boat is able to utilize this compact space making this equipment easy to access for servicing and maintenance. TPL-8923

Engine rooms--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat engines; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Marine Engine and Machinery Corp. Representatives from Gray Marine Engines Company and Marine Engine and Machinery Corp. complete arrangements for the complete line of Gray Marine Engines to be sold in Pierce and Thurston Counties by Marine Engine and Machinery Corp. Standing, L-R, are Haldor Dahl, Jack Wilson, Lewis E. Boen, and Charles Bevis. Seated, L-R, are Arne Strom and S.O. Jules. Harold Dahl and Arne Strom are co-partners in Tacoma Boatbuilding Company as well as this new distributorship. (T.Times, 6/19/1945, p.3)

Marine Engine & Machinery Corp. (Tacoma); Gray Marine Engines Co.; Dahl, Haldor; Wilson, Jack; Boen, Lewis E.; Bevis, Charles; Strom, Arne; Jules, S.O.; Deals;

Tacoma Boat, fishing boat "Silverland." The "Silverland" sits at dock with the Tacoma waterfront in the background. Tacoma Boat Building Company was widely known for the quality of craftsmanship in their fishing boats. TPL-9107

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

Tacoma Boat, fish boat "Silverland". A view of the starboard side of the "Silverland" while she is tied to the dock. The Tacoma waterfront is in the background. Tacoma Boat Building Company easily returned to building high quality fishing vessels after having built mine sweepers during the war.

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

The partially built wooden hulls of at least four vessels can be seen in the two boat sheds of the Tacoma Boat Building Company in this photograph from October of 1945. Scaffolding is set up around each hull for workers to stand on while easing the timbers of the hull into shape. After the war the smaller boat building companies in Tacoma returned to building fishing boats and pleasure craft. They also found work converting mine sweepers into commercial fishing boats. Successful for many years, Tacoma Boat began to struggle in the 1980s; the Tacoma Boat Building Co. finally closed in the late 1990s. TPL-5547

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Boat yard shots. At least two hulls are under construction in the boat sheds at Tacoma Boat Building Company. As of August 1946 Tacoma Boat had turned out more than 90 hulls since the latter part of 1940. TPL-5547, TPL-8902

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In April of 1946, the USS "Agile" and the "Queen of the Yipees" returned home to Tacoma Boat Building Co. for conversion to fishing boats after Naval service in Dutch Harbor, Ak., as a minesweeper and a patrol boat during the war.Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. was working on a contract to build and repair fishing boats for China under the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) program. The boats were intended to rehabilitate China's fishing industry. View of laborers working on fishing boats. TPL-8323 ( T. Times 4/17/1946, pg. 7)

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

Scarlet Queen was originally a military vessel, ATR-69, a World War II rescue tug. It was converted into the largest tuna clipper in the world by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company. View of a Gyro compass, radar unit, and loran; these highly technical and advanced instruments are located in the navigation and engine room. (Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog 1954). TPL-8965

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Navigation; Compasses; Control rooms--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Interior view of "Scarlet Queen's" navigator's quarters, separate from the steering room. The navigator's quarters was a miniature communications center, through which the vessel maintains frequent checks on its position and contact with other vessels and shore stations (Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog 1954). TPL-8969

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Navigation; Compasses; Control rooms--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Men survey the massive fire damage to the Tacoma Boat Building Company's boatworks on August 24, 1951. Twelve land companies and the city's fireboat were called to battle the extensive blaze; however, due to the large amounts of dry materials present, the firemen were unable to save the construction yard of five connecting buildings. Damages were estimated by Fire Chief Charles Eisenbacher at approximately one million dollars. It was Tacoma's sixth major fire of 1951. Owners Haldor Dahl and Arne Strom shortly after announced plans for a new plant on Sitcum Waterway to replace the City Waterway installation; the main building would be 244 feet by 300 feet plus an additional large machine shop and spacious office building. (TNT 8-24-51, p. 1, TNT 10-7-51, B-2) TPL-9119

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