Although the Marvin Marine Repair Company primarily worked on repairing fishing boats, in 1944 they had a contract with the U.S. government to modify a number of barges for sea duty. Consisting of three properties under the management of George R. Marvin, Marvin Marine Repair's number one plant was at 5620 Marine View Drive.

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

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);

Western Boat. Western Boat Building Co. is about to launch a tuna clipper. They have recently completed two, as well as many other ships for the Navy. The company is owned by Martin Petrich Sr. and his three sons. View of gathering prior to boat launching. TPL-8867

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

Launching party. Acting mayor Val Fawcett (third from left in bow tie) was present for the christening and blessing of the tuna boat, "American Girl," built by Petrich Shipbuilding. The event occurred on Sunday, July 23, 1944, at Old Town dock. Father Henry J. Schultheis of Bellarmine High gave the blessing as requested by the ship's co-owners, Joe Alves and Joe Machado. Mr. Machado at age 23 was one of the youngest skippers in the fishing business. His wife Lucille was the ship's sponsor. Also present were representatives of Petrich Shipbuilding including Harvey Petrich and his father Martin. The fishing boat, "American Girl, " was 106-feet long, completely refrigerated and had a capacity of 180 tons of tuna. ALBUM 14. (TNT 7-24-44, p. 1-article; T.Times 7-24-44, p. 2-article)

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Schultheis, Henry J.; Machado, Joe; Alves, Joe; Machado, Lucille; Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Petrich, Martin;

Exterior view of Western Boat Building Co. plant number two. Martin Petrich, Sr. and others started Western Boat in 1916. By 1944, Petrich's five sons Hervey, Allen, Martin Jr., Jim and Jack were all active in Tacoma's shipbuilding industry. During World War II, many Tacoma shipyards received government contracts to build various vessels for the Army, Navy and Coast Guard which were essential to the war effort. (T. Times, 9/1/44, p. 20).

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

Western Boat Building Co. was owned and operated by the Petrich Family. View of ship equipment on "Dolores M" ship, built in 1944 by Western Boat Building Co.

Decks (Ships); Ship equipment & rigging; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

In September of 1944, Juanita Warnell helped christen a new ship at the Puget Sound Boatbuilding Corporation, 820 East D Street. During WWII Puget Sound Boatbuilding completed a string of ocean going tugs for the U.S. Army. Between government contracts they built purse seiners. They went out of business in the late 1950s.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Warnell, Juanita

Western Boat Building Co. was a well equipped Tacoma shipyard building vessels for the Army, Navy and Coast Guard. Western Boat was about to launch a YP627, self propelled patrol craft, for the navy, in honor of Navy Day. View of unidentified Navy ship crew, their family members and the launching sponsor, Mrs. Kenneth Jones, in center holding roses (T. Times, 10/30/44, p. 7).

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

Martinac Shipbuilding was founded by Joseph M. Martinac, he established himself as an expert boat builder in Tacoma. Martinac has built minesweepers, purse seiners, sardine and tuna boats, pleasure boats and has converted fishing vessels into Navy patrol boats. View of unidentified launching sponsor and her son standing with unidentified ship crew members.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Western Boat Building Co. was owned and operated by the Petrich family. They were working on government and commercial contracts. View of ship's open decks, with rigging equipment visible.

Decks (Ships); Ship equipment & rigging; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Western Boat Building Co. was owned and operated by the Petrich family. They were working on government and commercial contracts. View of ship's covered deck with covered compartments. Ventilation machinery on upper left side. TPL-8891

Decks (Ships); HVAC systems; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Side view of "Hustler"at dock after launching at Western Boat in early June of 1945. Several men are aboard in the stern. The fishing vessel was owned by R. Tom Muchlinski and home port listed as Ketchikan, Alaska. Shortly after being placed in service, the "Hustler" was acquired 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);

Launching of "Hustler." The young sponsor of the new fishing boat stands at the prow of the ship holding a bouquet of roses in June of 1945. U.S. flags drape the upper and lower decks. The 61.9-foot vessel was built by Western Boat Building. After completion, the trawler was destined for Ketchikan, Alaska.

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

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);

Launching of "Hustler." A group of dignitaries are on hand at Western Boat for the launching of the fishing boat, the "Hustler," on June 6, 1945. The sponsors and their families are on a raised stage. Signs for U.S. Navy are on either side of the steps up to the stage. The ship's owner was R. Tom Muchlinski.

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

Tacoma Boat - sea trials of "North American". Tacoma Boat Building Company was started by two fishermen, Arne Strom and Haldor Dahl, who "came home from the sea" in 1936. They began building wooden seiners, halibut boats and trollers, those typical of the Pacific Northwest fishing types. In 1941 the partners decided to go into government work and were awarded the prestigious E Award in 1942. By 1946 they had returned to building fishing boats. TPL-8883

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

Tacoma Boat - water shots of the "Voyager". A look at the starboard side of the vessel. The "Voyager" is an 83 foot purse seiner built for the Ancich Brothers of Gig Harbor. Tacoma Boat Building Company built wooden boats, both fishing and for the government, until 1946 when they built their first all-steel boats. TPL-8884

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

Tacoma Boat - water shots of "The Voyager". A view of the port side of the vessel. Tacoma Boat Building Company returned to building fishing boats after having built minesweepers and patrol craft during the war. TPL-8885

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

A wooden boat under construction at Puget Sound Boatbuilding Company. The vessel's hull is shown. The exterior finishing is being completed from the top-down. A workman is shown standing on the upper deck. TPL-8899

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

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;

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 Building. At the time of this July 27, 1946 photograph, Tacoma Boat Building was nearing completion of "West Point," their first all-steel tuna clipper. She was launched August 17, 1946, and christened by Christine Jangaard. The vessel is 112 feet by 26 1/2 feet, powered by a 675 hp Cooper-Bessemer engine. TPL-8906

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

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;

Pacific Boat Building, the "New Esperia" is newly launched. TPL-8908

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

Pacific Boat Building, the "New Esperia" is newly launched. A young woman is modeling a striped dress standing by an automobile.

Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fashion models--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Washington Steel & Welding Company. A boat is sitting in the ways building surrounded by scaffolding. Wooden walkways take the workmen to all levels of the boat. Washington Steel & Welding advertised they could provide portable welding and steel fabricating using acetylene and electric welding of all kinds. Both Tacoma Boat Building and Pacific Boat had hulls fabricated by Washington Steel and Welding. The ship's sections, up to 30,000 pounds, were fabricated in the shop, and then brought to the ways for assembling and welding. It took approximately 250 tons of steel for each 112 foot hull. (T.Times, 8/30/1946, p.6) TPL-8909

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington Steel & Welding Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Martinac Shipbuilding. An 80 foot yacht, nearly completed, inside the ways building. This view of the rear portion of the boat shows the scaffolding around the boat. This boat building company was founded by Joseph M. Martinac in 1935. He had come to the United States from Yugoslavia in 1900. The yacht, being built for Reuben C. Carlson, is expected to be launched within two weeks.

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

Martinac Shipbuilding. An ariel view of the Martinac Shipbuilding company. Two boats are currently under construction; Hull No. 110, a 100 foot tuna clipper and Hull No. 111, an 80 foot yacht being built for a local attorney. The company now has a crew of 50 regulars and are hoping to expand that number to 100 shortly. (T.Times, 8/30/1946, p.7) TPL-8910

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1940-1950;