The 61.9-foot fishing trawler, the "Hustler, " was successfully launched by Western Boat in June of 1945. As the poem written in her honor states, she has just slid down the ways. The Tacoma city skyline can be seen in the background. The ship's owner was R. Tom Muchlinski and she carried a crew of six. After completion, the "Hustler" was bound for Ketchikan, Alaska. Shortly after being placed in service, she was taken over by the U.S. government.

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

This unidentified woman is prepared to christen a new 72-foot Army tug on March 5, 1944. The ship was built by Pacific Boat Building Co. of Tacoma.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tugboats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Sea Boy launching. Puget Sound Boatbuilding Corp. launched the 85- ft. sardine boat, "Sea Boy," into the City Waterway on July 1, 1944. Many gathered to view the impressive sight. View of three unidentified individuals, including an infant, who were present at launching of "Sea Boy." (T. Times, 7/1/44, p. 4)

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Infants--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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);

Sea-Tac (Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation) Indians, Pierce County Inter-League basketball team at Tacoma Boys Club. Native American players from the eight teams representing the shipyard pose for a group picture. #24 is Phil Red Eagle and #32 is Ernie Bighorn. (T. Times)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma;

Traffic scenes at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation near Hooker Chemical Company. Nearly empty street, two automobiles, several pedestrians.Photograph demonstrates the success of the new mass transit system. Ordered by General Insurance Company.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--War work--Tacoma; Automobiles--1940-1950; Traffic congestion--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mass transit--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Traffic scenes at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation near Hooker Chemical Company. Buses, parked automobiles, many people walking. Ordered by General Insurance Company.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--War work--Tacoma; Automobiles--1940-1950; Traffic congestion--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mass transit--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Marvin Marine Repair Co. primarily worked on fishing boat repair jobs, but they did accept some government contracts to help support the war effort. Stern view of Tone Clyde Whirley Crane Barge at Marvin Marine Repair Co.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Barges--Tacoma; Marvin Marine Repair Co. (Tacoma);

Puget Sound Boat. Puget Sound Boatbuilding Corp. was started in 1942 by father and son Charles and John Martinolich and insurance man William Healy. They began building fishing boats, but after receiving an Army contract for four ocean going tugs and eight self propelled barges, they focused on completing the Army vessels. View of Army 127 footer with twin screws on Puget Sound.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Government vessels--Tacoma; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (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);

Bow section being delivered to Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation. Flatbed truck delivering laminated wood bow on March 18, 1952. Ship under construction in building. For Al Shriner.

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

Official visit of 13th District Naval Commandant Supervisor and Admiral Smith at Tacoma Boat Building Company. Officer on platform addressing crowd inside boat building facility.

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

The tuna clipper "Mona Lisa," built by J.M. Martinac, heads out on sea trials. On deck for her maiden trial are the suppliers of the vessel. The ship was skippered by John Correia, Jr. and had a crew of 13. The vessel was renowned for her galley, which featured a big electric stainless steel range, built by local Tacoma Range Co. To make sure the crew was fed well, she had a 500 cu. ft. walk in refrigerator and a 350 cu. ft. walk in freezer. Local Parker paints were used on the ship. The boat would leave shortly after the trial for San Diego, where she would sail out almost immediately for her maiden tuna fishing trip into the waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands. ("Pacific Fisherman" June 1951, pg. 29-31 & TNT 3/25/1951, pg. B-3) TPL-9036

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

Crew's quarters of the tuna clipper "Mona Lisa" for Martinac Shipbuilding. The ship carried Capt. Joe Correia, Jr. and a crew of thirteen. The crew's quarters were compact yet comfortable with berths, sinks and what appears to be a writing desk. The ship was 118 ft, 26 ' in the beam and 13'6" deep. She was built for John Correia and Associates (owners Joseph Correia Sr., Harry and John Carvalho.) Her home port was San Diego, California. ("Pacific Fisherman" June 1951, pg. 29-31) TPL-9038

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

Electrical room of the tuna clipper "Mona Lisa" for Martinac Shipbuilding. This room appears to be aft of the chart room and pilot house and contains various electrical meters and controls. The vessel was equipped with a Sperry magnetic compass pilot and a 500 watt Pacific Electronic radiophone and CW communications set, Intervox direction finder and radar equipment. ("Pacific Fisherman" June 1951, pg 29-31) TPL-9040

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

Galley of the tuna clipper "Mona Lisa" for Martinac Shipbuilding. The galley was the pride of Capt. Joe Correia, Jr. and his crew of 13. The large electric range of stainless steel was built by the Tacoma Range Co. Drainboards and sink were of tile. The galley had a 500 cu. ft. walk-in refrigerator and a 350 cu. ft. walk-in freezer. The galley floor was of magnesite. A cutting board work station occupies the center of the picture. The windows at the rear look as if they can be opened and used as pass throughs. ("Pacific Fisherman" June 1951, pg. 29-31) TPL-9037

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960; Galleys (Ship kitchens);

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;

ca. 1952. J.M. Martinac's "branch office" located in leased space on Baker Dock, where the firm is operating a laminating plant. Martinac became the first Pacific Coast firm to be designated by the Navy as a "qualified laminator." Frames for the minesweepers were completed here, laminated and barged up City waterway to the plant for placement in the new boats. The firm was proud to report that only 1 of 1,000 laminated pieces to be used in the four contracted 171 foot minesweepers failed to pass Navy tests. Approximately 460,000 board feet of lumber was used in the frames. (T. Reporter 8/11/1952, pg. 2)

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baker Dock (Tacoma); Laminated wood; Machinery;

Tacoma Boat Building, the launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) #113 for the Navy, sponsored by Evelyn Langlie, wife of Governor Arthur B. Langlie. Mrs. Langlie holds the ceremonial champagne bottle and and an unidentified young girl holds flowers. The AMS 113 was the first minesweeper to be launched in Tacoma since WWII and on completion would cost upward of $1,000,000. Tacoma Boat Building had received the contract to build the minesweepers prior to the devastating fire of 1951 that destroyed their plant. By December of 1951, their new plant was almost complete and construction begun on 3 of the 144 ft class and 5 of the 57 ft. class. (T. Reporter 7/22/1952, pg. 2)

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

Tacoma Boat Building, the launching of the A.M.S. #113 (motor mine sweeper.) Group of 21 at banquet table on July 19, 1952, including Naval officers. Mayor John Anderson is at the left of the seated row, Governor Arthur B. Langlie fifth from left, owner Arne Strom in the center of the same row with Evelyn Langlie to his right and co-owner Haldor Dahl is third from left in the standing row. The worst fire of 1951 totally destroyed the Tacoma Boat Building plant with the co-owners Strom and Dahl holding contracts for the building of Navy minesweepers. A new plant was quickly built on the strip of land separating the Milwaukee and Sitcum Waterways and production of the sweepers began. (T. Reporter 7/22/1952, pg. 2)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Strom, Arne; Dahl, Haldor; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors; Langlie, Evelyn; Anderson, John H.; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Launching of the USS Endurance (AMS 435) at J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, the largest wooden-hulled vessel to be built in Tacoma since WWI. Martinac had a contract to build four 171 foot minesweepers and was also the first firm on the Pacific coast to be designated by the Navy as a "qualified laminator." When completed in early spring, the ship would represent an expenditure of approximately $3,500,000. The total Navy contract was worth 8 million dollars, a large portion of the 20 million in Navy contracts held by Tacoma boat building firms. (TNT 2-10-1952, pg. B-6, T. Reporter 7/8/1952, pg. 8, T. Reporter 8/11/1952, pg. 2)

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

Launching of the USS Endurance (AMS 435) at J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, sponsored by Gerry Ann Borovich. Gerry Ann, the 16 year old daughter of Fred Borovich vice president-treasurer of Martinac, holds the ceremonial flower bouquet. The vessel was the first of her size to be launched in a Northwest yard under the Navy's minesweeper program. The firm was constructing four 171 foot minesweepers. (T. Reporter, 8/11/1952, pg. 2)

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

Launching of "Miss California" at Peterson Boat Building Company. The crowd attending the ceremony dispersed after the new tuna clipper was launched down the ways.

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

Launching of "Miss California" at Peterson Boat Building Company on May 10, 1951. Nine-year-old Teres Sousa, daughter of "Miss California's" captain, Manuel Sousa, is christening the new fishing boat with a bottle of champagne under watchful eye of her mother, holding a bouquet of roses, and two men. The dignitaries are standing on scaffolding inside the ways building. (TNT, 5/13/1951, p.B-2)

Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sousa, Teres; Sousa, Manuel--Family;

Welch board was being used in construction of a tuna clipper at Western Boat. This view shows the crew's quarters with four sets of bunk beds. In June 1951 Western Boat was building a 98-foot tuna clipper to replace the partially-completed clipper lost in the 1950 fire at the City waterway yard. Launching of the clipper was scheduled for late July. The yard was also building 16- and 18-foot tuna tenders and was bidding on military tugs and other craft. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Jack Leik. (TNT, 6/24/1951) TPL-9051

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Crew quarters; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In June of 1951, the "Crusader," a tuna clipper, was under way. She was built for Capt. John W. Cardosa and was designed by James J. Petrich. Her equipment included: a 600-hp Enterprise diesel, 3 GM diesel auxiliaries, twin 165-hp diesels driving 65 kw. Fairbanks-Morse generators and one 60-hp unit turning a 30-kw dynamo; Baker refrigeration with frozen cargo capacity of 205 tons; Navigation equipment: Photo-Electric Pilot, Fathometer with 1,000 fathom range, Intervox radio direction finder. Intervox "350" radiophone with a National receiver, Flexifone inter-com system, a Weston tachometer. (Pacific Fisherman August 1951, p.16) Ordered by Puget Sound Boat, Jim Petrich. TPL-9047

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An elevated view of the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation facilities, A newly launched tuna clipper is being shoved to the dock by a tug boat where her interior will be finished prior to delivery to her new skipper. TPL-9041

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960; Waterfronts; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1950-1960;

View of "Conqueror's" control and switchboard room; this area has multiple unit system with A. C. control and distribution panels and electrical control systems. Interior view of "Conqueror" a newly built fishing boat; photo ordered by Charles F. A. Mann of Industrial Development Service, an advertising agency; possibly for a company catalog. TPL-8984

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Control rooms--Tacoma; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Advertising--Tacoma; Advertising agencies--Tacoma; Industrial Development Service (Tacoma);

Boat interior. The engine room of a fishing boat newly completed by Tacoma Boat Building Company, most likely the Virginia R who was completed January 29, 1949. She carried a 16 cylinder GM diesel engine and had the capacity to carry up to 250 tons of frozen tuna. TPL-9002

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