Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation hull in progress.

Back of Photo:
First Air-Cushion Cruiser
Photograph By Bob Rudsit

Back of Photo:
Air Cushion Boat Co.
Photograph By Bob Rudsit

Back of Photo:
"BIZ 10/2/87 Gillie
"Suzanne C. Dicks, wife of U.S. congressman Norm Dicks, reacts after letting fly the bottle of champagne to christen the MV Sea-Land Tacoma this morning. The ceremony for the containership took place at the Sea-Land terminal in the Port of Tacoma. Mrs. Dicks is the sponsor of the vessel. Staff Photo by Joe Giron"

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;

Puget Sound Boat Building, "Sun Glow". Starboard view of the "Sun Glow" during water trials. Several men stand on the upper deck of this fishing vessel. Two men are on the middle deck by the smaller life boat and two more are in the stern of the lower deck TPL-8912

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

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;

Group of five men in office at J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp.

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

Tacoma Boat Building Company. "Eileen" water trials. TPL-8928

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

Coverage of twin launching at McNeil. The 65-foot tugboat with a 16-foot beam was one of two tugs launched at McNeil Island on June 17, 1943, under a revived shipbuilding program. The tugs were built of Douglas fir except for the stem, sternposts and trim. They ran on Diesel engines. The ships were built using prison labor and there was much anticipation of the launchings by the 100 guests from the mainland plus the proud builders. No ships locally had been built by prisoners since 1907 when Capt. Neil Henley of Steilacoom directed that last construction. Capt. Henley had founded the shipbuilding industry at McNeil prison in 1883. With America now entered into WWII, the necessity of more ships resulted in the revival of the shipbuilding program. T-88 and T-89 were the second and third built for the Army Transport Service by McNeil with the first ship turned over to the Army in November of 1942. (T.Times 6-18-1943, p. 1, 3)

Launchings--McNeil Island; Boat & ship industry--McNeil Island; Tugboats--McNeil Island;

Coverage of twin launchings at McNeil Island. On June 17, 1943 Mrs. H.W. Algeo served as sponsor of one of the two tugboats launched at McNeil Island. Mrs. L. Delmore, Jr., was the other sponsor. Mrs. Algeo is pictured above in the act of christening the boat with a firm smash against her prow. It was reported that both she and Mrs. Delmore were drenched by the exploding champagne bottles. KMO radio broadcast the event as a twin launching was rare and launchings of any sort of prisoner-built vessels even rarer. As the United States was now at war, a revival of using prison labor in boat construction had commenced. 1907 had been the last time locally that a ship was built by inmates. The two tugs would become the second and third built under the revived shipbuilding program at McNeil. (T.Times 6-18-1943, p. 1, 3)

Launchings--McNeil Island; Boat & ship industry--McNeil Island; Tugboats--McNeil Island; Algeo, H.W.--Family;

Coverage of twin launching at McNeil. James V. Bennett (second from left), Seattle Mayor William F. Devin (second from right) and Warden P.J. Squier of McNeil Island (far right) were identified in this group of men who were attending the twin launching of tugboats for the U.S. Army Transport Service on June 17, 1943. The tugs were built with prison labor during a revival of the shipbuilding industry on McNeil, and were highly praised by military and civilian officials. (T.Times 6-18-1943, p. 1,3- various photographs)

Launchings--McNeil Island; Boat & ship industry--McNeil Island; Tugboats--McNeil Island; Bennett, James V.; Devin, William F.; Squier, P.J.;

Coverage of twin launching at McNeil. Mrs. L. Delmore, Jr., smashed a bottle of champagne against the prow of one of the two tugs launched at McNeil Island on June 17, 1943 during the tradition of christening the vessel. Since she did so before the tug slid down the ways, the force of the bottle exploding drenched her from head to toe. The tug was to be turned over to the Army transport service. She was built with labor from McNeil Island inmates. (T. Times 6-18-1943, p. 1, 3)

Launchings--McNeil Island; Boat & ship industry--McNeil Island; Tugboats--McNeil Island; Delmore, L.--Family;

Coverage of twin launching at McNeil. Two sister tugs, T-88 and T-89, slid down the ways on Thursday, June 17, 1943 to loud cheering from spectators. The two ships launched were the second and third under the revived shipbuilding program during WWII. Both of them were to be turned over to the Army. Present at the event were prison officials and honored guests: (from left) master of ceremonies A.F. Lykke, James V. Bennett, Richard McGee, LTC D.M. Jacques of the Army Transport Corp, Seattle Mayor William F. Devin and Warden P.J. Squier of McNeil Island Penitentiary. The point was heavily emphasized that both vessels were built by McNeil Island prisoners. (T.Times 6-18-1943, p. 1, 3)

Launchings--McNeil Island; Boat & ship industry--McNeil Island; Tugboats--McNeil Island; Lykke, A.F.; Bennett, James V.; McGee, Richard; Jacques, D.M.; Devin, William F.; Squier, P.J.;

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);

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Interior of Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. plant. Laborer working in plant. TPL-6653

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

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. boat interior. TPL-8863

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

By 1943, Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. was building more carriers than any other U. S. shipyard. They also had the only shipyard instruction classes. The yard induction school was the first of its kind in the Northwest, and several Tacoma-area women were enrolled in the classes. View of seven unidentified women who were students at Seattle Tacoma Yard Induction School. TPL-9954

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Education--Tacoma; Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

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);

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;

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);

Tacoma Boat Facilities. A view of the exterior of Tacoma Boat Building Company situated along City Waterway. TPL-6646

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

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);

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 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);

Sun Traveler is 121 feet long, 18 feet deep, has a 27 foot beam, 600 horsepower Washington Diesel engine and 3 General Motors diesel auxiliary engines, full speed is at 12 knots. This wood all-brine super tuna clipper was built by Puget Sound Boat Building. "Sun Traveler" is owned by Captain Ralph McCabe and the Sun Harbor Packing Company, both from San Diego, California. The vessel sets sail for San Diego this week (Pacific Fisherman, 1947 Yearbook Number, 1/25/48, p. 300; T.Times, 2/25/1949, p.16). TPL-8939

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

Tacoma Boat. A view of the interior of the "Defiance" showing the engine room from the engineer's workbench located on a stepped bow tank. Included in the view are the three diesel auxiliaries, fresh water still, two ammonia compressors with control panel and distribution headers, snychronizing switchboard, power panel and motor starters topped off with a 600 h.p. heavy duty diesel propulsion engine weighing 40 tons. To the far left side is a compressor which supplied refrigeration for the freezer sections of the hold. Tacoma Boat announced their 16-year record in February 1948 as: 104 new commercial vessels of wood and steel; and, 1,073 commercial vessels rebuilt, modernized, converted or repaired. (T.Times, 2/26/1948, p.43; Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog, 9/1/1953) TPL-8947

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

Tacoma Boat, the "Defiance". During its water trials the Definace, a 106 foot steel tuna seiner, shows her grace and power with a 600 hp Washington main engine. The Defiance has three decks with the pilot house on the second deck. She was built for Ted Luchich, et al. (Pacific Fisherman Yearbook 1948, p. 197) TPL-8943

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