Fantail Motoryachts
The Great Fantail Motoryachts of the Pacific Northwest
by Rick Etsell
Fantail: the overhanging part of a ship's stern, a term used particularly in the case of large yachts and passenger liners. Although the correct word for the stern overhang of all ships, it is not often used in this connection except in the U.S.A. It has not quite the same meaning as counter, but comes very close to it. [The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea, Kemp, editor, 1976, Oxford University Press]
Fantail: The aftermost part of a ship, usually of the main deck; at the extreme stern. This word is believed to be purely American, from the early days of elliptical (fan-shaped) sterns, the mid XIX. [Origins of Sea Terms, John G. Rogers, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc., 1985 (2nd ed.)]
These definitions don't do justice to the grand image of the classic fantail motoryacht. A very popular style for yachts built in the Roaring Twenties, the fantail stern evoked images of the grand trans-Atlantic liners and provided a perfect platform for elegant parties or breakfast at anchor on a quiet summer morning.
Of course, it's not just the stern shape that is important. Coupled with a plumb bow, stately cabins and a purposeful wheelhouse, the result was an efficient and comfortable cruiser at home in any marine setting.
Malibu -- Original Configuration
Some Well-Known Fantails:
Click on the thumbnails to view the larger images.
Kiyi
50' 1926
Schertzer Boat & Machine (Seattle)
Arro
The Arro, owned by Frost Snyder in 1933, had all its windows demolished when the Argosy exploded and sank at the Tacoma Yacht Club.
Argosy
65' 1925, E.E. Johnson, builder (Tacoma, WA), J. Murray Watts, designer (Phila. PA)
Argosy was commissioned by a prominent Tacoma doctor and used for regular trips to Alaska, including the first Capitol to Capitol Predicted Log Race (Olympia to Juneau) in 1928. In 1933 the Doctor was killed and the vessel sunk following an explosion of her gasoline tanks, while moored at the Tacoma Yacht Club.
The hull was raised and the vessel rebuilt at Jensen Motorboat Company on Seattle's Portage Bay. The son of the new owner had naval architecture training and redesigned the vessel along the lines of the Ted Geary fantails. Geary inspected the work on at least one occasion.
Length Overall: 65' Breadth: 14'
Main engines: Gray Marine 6-71 diesels
Fuel: 800 g. Fresh water: 600 g.
Cruising speed: 9 knots Top speed: 10 knots.
Catalyst
75' 1932 Lake Union Drydock
Roland & Strickland design
Length Overall: 74'7" Beam: 18'4" Draft: 9'4" Displacement: 110 tons; Cruising Speed: 8 knots
Main Engine: 6 cyclinder 8x10 Washington Estep diesel, 120 h.p. at 450 r.p.m.; Fuel: 3,000 gallons
Fresh Water: 300 gallons with R.O. water maker
Range: 4,000 nautical miles Accommodations: up to 12 passengers
Construction: Oak frames, Alaska yellow cedar planked. Douglas fir keel with a 2-inch heel of Australian iron bark
Built by: Lake Union Dry Dock, Seattle, Washington, 1932
Designed by: Roland & Strickland. Pacific Catalyst Expeditions
Drawings by Tom Henderson
Creole
78' 1930 Lake Washington Shipyard, Houghton, WA. Lee & Britton design.
LOA: 78', LWL: 68', BEAM: 17' 5", DRAFT: 8' 6"
ENGINES: Single Caterpillar D-353 TA 6-cylinder, 4-cycle, 380 hp. Hull: Douglass Fir plank on Oak frame, SPEED: Cruising: 9. 5 knots, Maximum: 11 knots.
Originally built for author Stewart Edward White and later owned by the actress Ruth Roman in the late 50's, this Classic Fantail yacht is a hallmark of yachting's classic era. A single diesel long range cruiser equipped with sleeping accommodations for eight in four separate cabins which are serviced by three heads and two showers, the yacht has been proven by decades of use on numerous voyages from the U.S. to Hawaii, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, and a number of Atlantic crossings. Heavily constructed for all-weather operation and world-wide cruising. Currently employed in the six-pack Alaska charter trade, the yacht is maintained in excellent condition and receives regular inspections.
Deerleap 85' 1929 Hoffar-Beeching (Vancouver)
The Deerleap was built in Vancouver, British Columbia, by the Hoffar-Beeching Shipyards for Colonel McLimont, the president of Winnipeg Power and Light. McLimont wanted exceptional viewing capabilities aboard a comfortable and elegant cruiser, built specifically for excursions to Alaska.
The Deerleap's original design, which remains intact today, included a large combination observation saloon and formal dining room on the main deck, with French doors opening to a spacious covered aft deck. The lower deck encompassed crew quarters forward, a master stateroom amidships, and guest staterooms abaft the owner's cabin. McLimont used the boat extensively to cruise the Inside Passage with private hunting and fishing parties.
However, just five years after she was built, McLimont sold Deerleap to the owners of Vancouver's Spencer Department Stores, who kept the boat through the Great Depression years.
Then, like many Canadian and U.S. yachts of her day, Deerleap was conscripted during World War II, painted gray, and equipped with deck artillery. It was also during those years that the original Hall-Scott gasoline engines were replaced with 120 bhp Vivian diesels, reportedly weighing 7,800 pounds each.
LOA: 85' Beam: 17' Draft: 9'; Power: Twin GM 671's
Builder: Hoffar and Beaching Maritime Designers and Builders, Vancouver, BC
Cruising Speed: 8.5 knots, Top Speed: 10 knots
Westward 86' x 18.75' 1924 Martinolich Shipyard, Ted Geary design
Length Overall: 86' Beam: 18'8" Draft: 9'5" Displacement: 137.5 tons
Cruising Speed: 8 knots Main Engine: 4 cylinder Atlas 9x12 diesel, 110 h.p. at 300 r.p.m.
Fuel: 3,000 gallons Fresh Water: 1000 gallons with R.O. water maker
Range: 4,000 nautical miles Accommodations: up to 11 passengers
Built by: Martinolich Shipyard, Vashon Island, Washington, for Alaska Hunting & Fishing Company, 1924
Discovery 87' 1931
Discovery was originally designed and built as 'Holiday' for William Morris of the William Morris agency in 1931 in San Pedro, California. From her Teak decks and Deckhouse to her fine Mahogany paneling she reflects an era long past when craftsmanship meant pride in artistry. It was said of her shortly after her launch by Pacific Motor Boat, " Designed specifically to obtain just the arrangements specified by Morris, who evidently demanded comfort and convenience in all matters aboard ship as well as a sturdy sea-going vessel inspiring confidence in her abilities by her very appearance."
Her accommodations include 6 nicely appointed private staterooms all with opening portholes, 2 heads and showers below deck. On the main deck she features beautiful Mahogany dining and main salons an on deck head, galley and a fantail lounge. Her spacious teak decks allow unique opportunities for wildlife viewing and fishing.
Length on deck 87', Width 18'6", Draft 8'6", Cruising speed 8-12 Knots, Range 1200 miles, Water 600 gallons with a 600 gallon per day water maker.
Summer Wind 88' 1940 Astoria Shipyard
H.C. Hanson design
Summer Wind was designed for the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey, to be large enough and self sufficient at sea for up to 6 months with a crew of 3 officers and 14 sailors and surveyors, yet small and maneuverable enough to enter small uncharted bays.
Originally christened the E. Lester Jones, she spent her summers from 1940 through 1971, April through October, surveying and charting Alaska waters, and each winter at the NOAA dock on Lake Union.
The engines are still the original Cooper-Bessemer EN-6's. These are air-start, direct-reversing straight 6 diesels. They cruise at 400 RPM and idle at 150. Each engine weighs approximately 12,000 pounds. Fuel consumption is less than 6 gph per engine at 9 knots.
Triton, 88' 1941 Sagstad
TRITON (originally christened "Patton") was built to the highest U.S specifications for the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey (now part of NOAA) to survey the Alaskan Coast and Aleutian Islands in all seasons. TRITON was heavily built (fir over oak) to handle rough sea conditions. One of the highlights of Patton’s service, while under the command of Admiral Charles Pierce in 1944, was the rescue of the crew of a U.S. Army Air Force B-24 Liberator. A thick fog had made landing at all nearby bases impossible. The plane had run out of fuel and a small clearing in the fog allowed a crash landing on the tiny Ilak Island in the Aleutian while returning from a bombing mission over the Japanese held island of Paramushir. The crew was picked up and ferried to NAAF Lash Bay on Tanaga Island and the Patton returned to her working grounds. C&GS ship Patton retired in November 1967.
After retiring from government service, she was converted to a long range cruising yacht. The masts were removed and the salon area was extended to provide much expanded living space. The old, direct-reversing Cooper-Bessemers were replaced with twin Caterpillar 3306’s. Modern electrical, electronics and hydraulic systems added.
Olympus 92' 1929 New York Launch & Engine Co.
Originally christened the Junaluska, she spent the early years of her life cruising the inland waters on the East Coast. Cruising the Potomac River, she carried politicians and Washington VIP’s.
A sizeable yacht, which had proved to be one of the most controversial vessels to cruise the waters of Puget Sound in many years, was disposed of in 1949. The diesel yacht Olympus, purchased shortly after the war by the State of Washington as a fisheries patrol boat had been used by the former governor, Mon C. Wallgren, to entertain visiting dignitaries, including President Harry S. Truman. Gubernatorial aspirant Arthur B. Langlie had made this a major campaign issue, and the luxury vessel was generally referred to as the governor's yacht. During the summer the vessel was disposed of at auction to private owners at about a third of her appraised value. [Gordon Newell, Maritime Events of 1923, H.M. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest, p. 564.]
(Above photo taken from Argosy, August 1997)
Blue Peter 96' x 18.3' 1928 Lake Union Drydock
Ted Geary design
The 96 -foot ocean diesel yacht Blue Peter, built at Seattle in 1928 for John Graham of that city, was sold by him to George L. Machris of Los Angeles, head of the Economy Oil Co., the sale being made and the vessel delivered to the new owner at Los Angeles by L. E. Geary. [Gordon Newell, Maritime Events of 1934, H. W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle Superior Publishing Company, 1966., p. 430.]
Original engines: Twin 175hp Hall-Scott gasoline
Geary-96 Sisters | Another view & lines
Principia 96' x 18.3' 1928 Lake Union Drydock
Ted Geary design
Originally built for L. A. Macomber.
Length overall - 96 Feet; Beam - 18 Feet 6 Inches; Draft - 8 Feet
Gross Tons - 135 Tons; Net Tonnage - 95.3 Tons
Maximum Speed - 12 Knots; Cruising Speed - 10.5 Knots
Crusing Range - 1,200 Nautical Miles
Fuel Capacity - 3,800 Gallons; Water Capacity - 2,000 Gallons
Single Screw 240hp Atlas Imperial
Norwalk Yacht Charters | Geary-96 Sisters | More pics: 1 2
A gorgeous model by Fred P. Smith: 1 2
Canim 96' x 18.3' 1930 Lake Union Drydock
Ted Geary design
Built in 1930, Canim was an immediate head turner. She was one of four 96 footers built by Lake Union Drydock to an L.E. (Ted) Geary design. Geary was already a seasoned Naval Architect when he was commissioned to draw Canim (meaning Big Canoe) for Seattle Times publisher, Col. C. B. Blethen. Blethen wanted to go yachting in style and Geary's design would be the toast of the Seattle Yacht Club.
Original power: twin 150hp Washington diesels.
Geary-96 Sisters www.canim-yacht.com
Electra 96' x 18.3' 1930 Lake Union Drydock
Ted Geary design
Built by A. W. Leonard, the President of Puget Sound Power and Light of Seattle, "Electra" (meaning "shining one" in Greek) was given to Leonard's wife as a Valentine's Day present. Since then, this graceful motorized yacht has led a romantic, colorful life - from sailing the world as a private yacht to making her television debut on Melrose Place.
Original power: twin 150hp Washington diesels
Electra Cruises | Geary-96 Sisters
Valiant A modern classic... 97' 2001 Midship Marine, Harvey, LA
Valiant was launched on May 25, 2001 in Harvey, Louisiana. Her design was inspired by the elegant yachts of the twenties, yachting’s “golden era.” She is similar to the lovely yachts of L.E. ‘Ted’ Geary, a noted west coast naval architect of the period. Her wood paneled salon and bar brings to mind some of the finest club and yacht interiors from those times.
Length Overall: 97' Breadth: 20'; Construction: Aluminum
Coast Guard Certified: 80 passengers
Valiant Charters, Mystic, CT.
Malibu 100' x 19.6' 1926 Blanchard Boat Co.
Ted Geary design
Engines Twin Cummins Diesels
Pacific Motor Boat Feb. 1926 | Pacific Motor Boat Sept. 1926 |
Article about 2002 Repairs
Sobre Las Olas 105' 1929
Designed & built by: Wilmington Boat Works, California
"Sobre Los Olas" was built in Wilmington, California. Built with an unlimited budget, the craftsmanship reflects an era long past. Two of her famous owners were J. Paul Getty and William Randolph Hearst. Over the years she has undergone renovations and was in charter between Seattle, WA and Alaska. At present she is one of the largest antique classics on the West Coast.
Length: 105' LOA. Beam: 22'. Draft: 8'. Speed: 8-10 knots. Range: 5000 miles. Water: 2,700 gallons. Fuel: 5000 gallons. Motors: Atlas diesel air-start, direct drive. Range: 5000 miles.
(Photo taken from Argosy in August 1997, lying in Nanaimo, BC.)
Cora Marie 107' x 22' 1929 Vancouver Shipyard
Ted Geary design
When she was launched, Cora Marie was considered one of the finest vessels built in Coal Harbour (Vancouver, Canada.) Her original owner, William C. Shelley, of Vancouver, sold her to an American, Paul F. Johnson during the Depression, who reportedly sailed her as far as the South Pacific. During WWII she was used by the Navy to patrol the entrance to San Francisco Bay. (Then names Seyelyn.) She returned to Canada in 1951, and for a time served as a passenger and mail carrier on the Kitmat-Kemano run.
Cora Marie is constructed with a solid Burma Teak hull. She is powered with twin 240hp 6-110 Detroit diesels. Accommodations include three double staterooms, two with ensuite heads and cast iron bathtubs, and five single cabins with bunks. The main deck features a full dining room. galley, main saloon with fireplace, and aft deck with wet bas and washroom. The upper deck consists of a large wheelhouse. washroom, large boat deck, and command bridge.
107' x 22' x 9' draft
3200 g. Fuel; 1000 g. freshwater
9 knots max, 8 knots cruise
Displacement: 290,000 lbs.
(Photo by Jeff Wolff <www.photowolff.com in May 2003 on Lake Union)
Thea Foss 120' x 21.5' 1930 Craig Shipbuilding
Long Beach, CA; Ted Geary design
Built as the yacht Infanta for actor John Barrymore (Sr. -- Drew's grandfather.). Yacht designer Ted Geary; designer of some of Puget Sound's most elegant vessels remembered, The Marine Digest. May 31, 1986, p. 11+.
The Thea Foss was built as the yacht Infanta in 1930 by the Craig Shipbuilding Company of Long Beach, California. She was 120 feet in length with a beam of 21 feet and six inches. The Infanta spent World War II serving the U.S. Navy as the patrol vessel Amber. Foss purchased the THEA in 1950 from a group of geological scientists who had bought the boat from the government after World War II and used the vessel for private surveys off the coast of lower California. The group did not change the boat's name, AMBER, nor did they after the boat's appearance or fixtures from when the navy used her as a patrol boat during the war. So it was up to Foss to convert the boat to a yacht. The Foss-Tacoma shipyard made the transformation and brought the boat back to her former quality. [Michael Skalley, The Thea Foss, Foss, ninety years of towboating. Seattle: Superior, 1981, p. 169.]
Engines: Twin 225hp Atlas Diesels; steel construction (originally riveted.)
Mariner III 122' x 19.1' 1926 Winslow Marine Rail & Shipbuilding Co. (Winslow, WA)
Ted Geary design
Mariner III was built in 1926 for Captain James Griffiths of Griffiths Steamship Company. This classic 122' fantail motor yacht, was designed by Ted Geary. Traveling to China to select the lumber for her construction, Captain Griffiths chose 3" teak planking for the hull and very strong wood, called yacal, for framing. Originally named "SueJa III," Captain Griffiths used the yacht to travel up and down the West Coast.
Among his travels on SueJa III Captain Griffiths visited many parts of California. It was in these waters where the actor John Barrymore made his way on board and demanded to see the owner. Barrymore insisted on purchasing the vessel! Captain Griffiths, poking his finger into the tall actor's chest, said, "This yacht is not for sale at any amount!" Barrymore, however, did not leave empty-handed. Captain Griffiths introduced Barrymore to Ted Geary who designed a sister ship for the actor. It was the least Griffiths could do for a man who had exquisite taste in boats! Barrymore named his yacht "Infanta" and gave it to his wife for her birthday. It was 120' in length and cost, in those days, $225,000 to build.
Captain Griffiths used SueJa III for private use up until World War II when the Army commandeered her for wartime service. They ballasted down and set her out on patrol, mainly in the Aleutian Islands. After the war effort, the Army returned SueJa III to her owners. By that time Captain Griffiths had died a natural death. Without her proud owner to command the helm, SueJa III was placed into the custody of Arthur Ayers (Captain Griffiths stepson). Mr. Ayers used the vessel to initiate a charter service. He sent the yacht on many charters in Alaska where she did quite well commercially.
Northwind 122' x 22' 1930
Currently finishing a 2.5 year restoration, Northwind will be available for charter in the Summer of 2005.
Acania 126' x 21.5' 1929 J.H. Wells design
Builder: Pusey & Jones, Wilmington, DE
ACANIA, designed by J.H. Wells as a luxury diesel yacht, was launched in 1929. Her outfitting reflects the opulence of the 1920's. In 1931 ACANIA became the private yacht of movie actress Constance Bennett. The yacht was taken over by the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. After the war, ACANIA was used by the Stanford Research Institute for upper-atmospheric research in the Central Pacific until 1971. She was then transferred to the U.S. Navy and operated as an oceanographic research vessel by the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
Acania is of steel construction
LOA: 126' Beam: 21'6 Draft: 9'3; Displacement: 247 tons Engines: Twin diesel GM 6-110 280-hp
Cruising Speed: 10 knots; Max Speed: 11 knots; Fuel: 12500g Water: 2700g
Some photos from her R.V. days.
Argosy & Summer Wind in Liberty Bay 2001
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