Looking for info on Ocean Wave

[Ocean Wave 37]

We have recently purchased the Ocean Wave, a 37'Schooner built in 1925 designed by Hugh Angleman and built by Wilmington Boat Works. She is a marconi rigged schooner, Port Orford cedar over oak with douglas fir decks. I have heard many "stories" about her history but have no confirmation yet. She apparantly has been in Newport Beach California since 1926 and was owned by Johnny Weismuller (Tarzan) and by Donald Douglas (Douglas Aircraft). Anyone out there with information or leads to her history? We have begun the restoration. She is in the water in Wilmington and appears to have a sound hull, spars and rigging but all in need of cosmetic work, and lots of it! I will attempt to post pictures if there is interest. Thanks, Rick

[A. Mason]

Hi Rick, congratulations on owning "Ocean Wave." My father used to sail aboard her in 1928-1930 when he worked for Wilbo. I have a number of early photos of her as well as some magazine articles from the 1926-1930 time frame. I'll try to locate the articles and copy them for you.

Anita

[Ocean Wave 37]

Wow! Thanks for the reply. I'm excited to see those early photos. I went to the L.A Maritime Museum in San Pedro and found some info from Pacific Yachting News from around that time. There was mention about race times for the Catalina race and an ad for the purchase of boats made from the Ocean Wave plans but not much else that I could find. We love the Ocean Wave and look forward to this new journey. She has passed through many hands without proper care but we are determined to see that she gets her proper due.
I talked to an old guy at the museum who actually helped build her. He is in his 90's but remembered the Ocean Wave and her sister ship the Ocean Waif. Thanks again.
Rick

[A. Mason]

Hi Rick, I stand corrected - the boat I have photos of is "Ocean Waif," Hugh Angelman's personal boat.

The old magazines I have are" "Pacific Motor Boat," "The Yachtsman," "Yachtsman and Associated Sportsman," "Pacific Coast Yachting," and "Mercury - published by the Los Angeles Athletic Club" or the period mentioned above.

Anita

[A. Mason]

From the June 1931 issue of "Pacific Coast Yachting" page 21:

"A Thirty-six Foor Ketch"

"Hugh Angelman of the Wilmington Boat Works is forever struggling with the problem of producing a small auxiliary that is fast and able, and at the same time roomy enough to accommodate six full-sized persons.

These plans show his third attempt along these lines. She is very similar to his first one, 'Ocean Wave,' which was a fine answer ot the problem, but was a little complicated to handle with her gaff-headed schooner rig.

'Ocean Waif,' which followed her, was 42 ft. overall, with fine space for eight and was temendously fast, but a bit larger than Angelman likes.

So the accompanying plans hark back pretty much to the 'Wave,' but with a jib-headed ketch rig, which is the easiest of all to handle.

You may be surprised to know that this boat is only 36 ft. overall. She is 30 ft. 8 in. on the waterline, 12-1/2 ft. beam and 5 ft. draft.

There are just over 6 ft. headroom under the cabin trunk, and you can see for yourself how roomy she is. Those double berths aft are each 3 ft. 8 in. wide and could easily be made wider. That raised deckhouse aft willbe found very useful in knocking down any spray that tries to work its way aft to the cockpit.

There is a Grey four-thirty that will give real speed, an honest 7-1/2 knots, for the boat will be easily driven, even though she does look a bit tubby.

The key to this design is the broad stern. You see she is really a larger boat chopped off before she gets too long to be really expensive to build.

Another way Angelman steals so much room from 36 ft. overall is by making her very beamy aa the deck. Then he cuts her away at the waterline and below it, and cuts down the displacement to that of a fast cruising boat.

The extra beam above the waterline gives a lot of reserve stability when it blows. As Hugh says, she is no beauty, but no truly roomy small boat can be, and she is certainly there when it comes to performance."

[BTW, my father drew the publication drawings for this design, which is the reason I have a copy of the issue.]

[Ocean Wave 37]

Thanks for your time in reprinting that article. We thought we found the Ocean Waif and were anxious to see her since we were led to believe that she was a copy of the Ocean Wave. The Ocean Waif was on display at the L.A. Maritime Museum but unfortunately, our timing was bad in seeing her. The museum had spent a great deal of money restoring her after she was donated to them but during a historical boat parade she was hit amidship by a tug and destroyed in San Pedro harbor. It sounds like, from the article, Ocean Wave was originally rigged as a gaff schooner. I didn't realize that. I saw some early pictures but they were too dark to tell much. Thanks again for your help.
Rick

[A. Mason]

Hi Rick, if you do not already have it, WoodenBoat did a biographical article on Hugh Angelman in Issue #147, March/April 1999, pg. 78-87.

The article is entitled "The Grand Old Man of Pacific Yachting - The Enduring West Coast Legacy of Hugh Angelman" by Robby Coleman with Thomas G. Skahill.

On page 81: "In 1925, after six years of boatbuilding and many new boats to the yard's credit, Angelman designed and built 'Ocean Wave,' a 36' auxiliary schooner with a clipper bow, a broad elliptical stern, and a hull shape that promised speed. He raced the boat with her owner often, and she became a sensation of the cruising racers during the year she was launched. Angelman loved to play, and racing was one of his favorite pastimes-he even took out advertisments in the 'Los Angeles Times' challenging others to race against him for 'money, dobies, or chalk.' Dobies, to the uninitiated are marbles."

A the end of the article it states that:

Robby Coleman lives in San Diego and cruises aboard "Southern Cross," an Angelman Sea Witch design, with his wife, Lorraine.

Thomas Skahill is a regular contributor to "WoodenBoat." He profiled Nick Potter (WB No. 83), Edson B. Schock (WB No. 113), and Ted Geary (WB Nos. 137-138). An avid sailor, classic powerboat owner, and maritime historian, he lives in Dana Point, CA.

NOTE: a number of the old photographs in the article were courtesy of Thomas Skahill, so he might also have some of "Ocean Wave" during her heyday.

Hope this helps, Anita

[Ocean Wave 37]

Thanks Anita. It looks like Ocean Wave had enough early notariety that there will be good information available. I am most interested in early pictures and physical descriptions so that I can bring her back as close to original condition as possible. Thanks for your contribution towards that effort.

[A. Mason]

Some suggestions in your area:

• The Los Angeles Athletic Club historian [if the organization still exists];

• The California Yacht Club historian [again if they still exist, Wilbo was right next door];

• A library that might have archives of "Pacific Coast Yachting" from 1925-1927 [they extensively reviewed California designed and built boats].

I have a number of original drawings drawn by my father for Wilbo, but they are from 1928-1930. If it were me, I would try to contact Thomas Skahill to find out where Angelman's drawings ended up.

Anita