The "Mary E. Petrich" would be capable of fishing for tuna in Australian waters, these waters have never been fished by American coast-based vessels. The tuna clipper could travel at a speed of 13-1/2 knots. View of the large crowd gathered at Western Boat's main plant, for the launching of the "Mary E. Petrich", the largest tuna clipper ever built (T. Times, 3/16/49, p. 1). TPL-8989

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

The largest tuna clipper ever built, the "Mary E. Petrich" would be capable of carrying 450 tons of tuna under quick freeze refrigeration. This new vessel would be known as the queen of the tuna fleet, named after the late wife of Martin Petrich. View of Helen C. Petrich (right), wife of James F. Petrich Sr. and daughter-in-law to Martin Petrich; Helen was the "Mary E. Petrich" launching sponsor (T. Times, 3/16/49, p. 1). TPL-8990

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

Western Boat Building Company has just completed and launched the "Mary E. Petrich", the largest tuna clipper ever built. The new vessel is 149-1/2 feet long, has a 34 foot beam, 1,600 horsepower submarine type diesel engine, and cost about $500,000 to build. The tuna clipper was named after Martin Petrich's late wife; view of the "Mary E. Petrich" being led out by tugboats, shortly after being christened (T. Times, 3/16/49, p. 1). TPL-8988

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

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;

Welch board was being used in construction of a tuna clipper at Western Boat. Two men are completing the plywood covering over the upper deck of the fishing vessel. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Jack Leik. TPL-9052

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

Marine Iron Works designed and manufactured small tractors known as the"Mighty Man" tractors. The "Mighty Man's" were designed by a top aviation engineer, B. A. Winter, specifically for small suburban farming. The "Mighty Man" tractors had an automatic 5 jaw clutch, 4 cycle air coded Wisconsin engine, which was built in the plant, and could pull up to an 8,000 pound load on a 2% grade. View of 8 blade disc tractor, used for plowing small farms. TPL-9136

Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Tractors--Tacoma; Marine Iron Works, Inc. (Tacoma);

The Western Boat Building Company, long recognized as a leader in commercial boat construction, expanded after World War II to offer its first complete line of stock model yachts. They introduced their Fairliner 26 foot deluxe express cruisers at the January 1947 motorboat show in New York. The Fairliners under construction in this photograph introduced a new name to the world of yachting. (T.Times, 12/7/1946, p.1)

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

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);

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);

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);

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);

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);

Power cranes putting up truss in new shipyard, Petrich Shipbuilding Corp., on former Vermont Marble Company site. 11th Street Bridge, city skyline in background. This was the second of two yards operated by the Petrich family. The other was Western Boatbuilding on the Tideflats. During the war, the original yard (Western) built boats for the Navy, while this new yard focused on wooden Army transport vessels. Note: Negative released to Michigan Power Shovel Company, Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Waterfront--Tacoma;

Power Cranes putting up truss in Petrich Shipbuilding Corp., a new shipyard located on former Vermont Marble Company site, where the 11th Street Bridge crossed the City Waterway. This was the second of two plants operated by the Petrich family, headed by Martin Petrich Sr. The first was Western Boatbuilding on the Tideflats. The new yard had two parallel ways, capable of building ships up to 160 feet long. During the war, this yard would specialize in the mass production of wooden ships for the Army. They were used for Army South Seas and Alaska freight, passenger and supply transport. Note: Negative released to Michigan Power Shovel Company, Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Waterfront--Tacoma;

In July of 1942, a power crane was being used to lift a roof truss into position as a new shipyard, Petrich Shipbuilding Corp., rose from the ground on the former Vermont Marble Company site. (11th Street Bridge, city skyline in background.) The shipyard was a project of Martin Petrich and his four enterprising sons, who also owned Western Boatbuilding. The new company already held a contract for six special wooden ships for the Army. The entire plant would be covered and adjoin the shop of the Western Machine Co. Note: Negative released to Michigan Power Shovel Company, Benton Harbor, Michigan. (TT 8/5/1942, pg. 3)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Waterfront--Tacoma;

A truck-mounted crane was used to lift a huge roof truss into position as a new shipyard building went up on the Tacoma tideflats in July of 1942. The Petrich Shipbuilding Corporation had just signed a number of new contracts with the U.S. government to build ships for the war. The new building, on the former site of the Vermont Marble Company, was 150 feet wide and 400 feet deep, running from the waterfront back to East D St. The 11th Street bridge is visible on the left through the line of roof trusses, and the Tacoma skyline can be seen in the background. (TNT 5/12/1942 p.1) Note: Negative released to Michigan Power Shovel Company, Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Waterfront--Tacoma