72' Lawley on West Coast

[Bob Cleek]

A "Tami" sent me the following PM through the forum:

Hi Mr. Cleek,
I am hoping you might be able to help me. I saw on one of your threads that you have known of about 3 Lawleys out on the west coast. I am hoping you might know of the Lawley that I am looking for. My dad sold a 1910 72' Lawley back in the 70s to a couple out near Morrow Bay. We were told about 14 years ago that she was being kept near Sausalito somewhere. She was originally a steam built but converted to deisel long ago. This boat had a lot of sentimental value to my dad and I would love to see her if she is still afloat. Any information you might offer I would greatly appreciate!! I have a picture if you want me to email it as well.
Thanks again!
Tami

Unfortunately, Tami is a "guest" and didn't log into the forum, so there's no way for me to respond to her inquiry.

I don't know the boat offhand, but a 72 footer is hard to miss. Maybe if she posted a pic of the boat here and its name, some one of us might know of her.

[tnewlon]

Hi Bob,
Thank you so much for posting my message on the forum. I was waiting for my account to be activated so that I could reply with some more information.

The boats name was "Escapade" when it was sold on the west coast. We live in Virginia and my dad actually delivered it to the west coast himself taking her through the Panama Canal back in the 70s. As I said, she is a 1910 Lawley that is 72'. I have searched what seems to be all of the Lawley's online and I haven't seen one that looked quite as distinctive as this one. I am hoping very much that someone recognizes this boat and can give me any information. I would love very much to just know whether or not she is still afloat. Thanks again!!! Tami

412

[Lew Barrett]

This might be only a lead based on a faulty (and faltering) memory, but I believe I saw this boat in Port Ludlow, where it was permanently moored, about a dozen or so years ago. She (assuming she was/is the same boat) was completely painted out and going downhill at the time, but the forward dining cabin was still spectacular and she caught my eye while I was walking the docks. The boat I saw was a Lawley (she bore a plaque) but as I haven't returned to Ludlow in many years, I can't say if she is still there or has moved on. If the owners have been derelict in their duty to her, then little can remain, as the boat I'm thinking of was parked out in the open. I will check the CYA register tonight to see if there is a 72 foot Lawley in the register in California. There isn't one registered in Washington or Oregon to my knowledge.

She looks terrific in the photo and I can understand why you'd like to find her again.

[tnewlon]

Thank you so much for your lead!! A faulty memory is much better to go on then nothing...which is what I have thus far! Now where is Port Ludlow? Is that CA or WA? I'm sorry, I'm an east coaster! LOL

I have a little more info that I have found today.... She at one time was owned by Donald Coons and moored at Harris Yacht Harbor in Pittsburg, CA and was called "Love Boat" then. This was in the late 70s.

Thanks again!!!

[BrianW]

Certainly a gorgeous boat. Hope it's found and okay.

[Yeadon]

Port Ludlow is here (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=port+ludlow&ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ll=47.933827,-122.684669&spn=0.1088,0.2314&z=12&g=port+ludlow&iwloc=addr).

[BETTY-B]

I was in Ludlow for several hours the other day. I'm certain I would have been all over a beautiful vessel such as that.

There used to be a very similar looking boat down at Lake Union Drydock in Seattle. Painted out as well. It was there as late as 2003 I believe. I want to say the name was Bonanza though.

DAN

[tnewlon]

Thank you guys for all of your help!!!

I believe I am getting very close!!! With the help of snooping through my dads old records today (he doesn't know i'm actively looking for the boat yet) and the help of the 2005-2006 Wooden Boat Register on this website I have found her..... Well I have atleast found recent owners of her anyway. Close enough to taste it, yet I still have no clue!!!

The documentation on this boat was totally hosed as far as length...maybe because it was a canoe stern and was measured different ways. Anyway, all that matters is the ID Number matches in all accounts. Her original name was "Welcome" and she was listed in the 1955 Merchant Vessels of the United States as being 63'3" When my dad bought her in the early 70s she was named Escapade and was listed as being 69'. On the 2005-2006 Wooden Boat Register she is listed as being named "Welcome" and before that named "Jane Ann" and "Jule" and being 65' 10". Her homeport is listed there as Oakland with owners P. Laska and J. Pluth living in San Francisco. From there, I have no clue if she is still moored in Oakland or even still afloat. I'm lost at that point. I have found on Janice Pluth near San Francisco and have left her a voice mail so maybe I will have some luck there.

Does anyone recognize any of these names? Or know of anyone in the Oakland area that might know of her?

PS~to add a bit of history into the mix....She was at one time President Warren G. Hardings boat. There is no documentation to prove that, but as the stories have gone from owner to owner that is what was told. I would beleive it, as she was built for a king (or president in this case!!).

I really appreciate all of your help!!! Thanks again! Tami

[Lew Barrett]

I'll ask around. I know a few people in the old yacht game:)

Probably the same boat, Dan...that is the Lawley at Ludlow and the one at LUDDCO, so to speak!

If you would send me that jpeg (I can't grab it off the forum, as I believe it is privately hosted) I will pass it around as well.

[tnewlon]

Thanks Lew! I really appreciate it!!!

[Ed Harrow]

The last Lawley Org newsletter I have (Winter 2006) lists Jule as 72', hull number 656, indicates she was steam powered, but there is no owner listed, nor home port, just CA.

Perhaps you might be able to find a later edition with, perhaps, more information. I believe the Lawley Owner's Association is defunct as the web site - www.lawley-yachts.com is no longer operational. You could try email: voyage@cove.com, which was the email for the man behind the organization, Albert Hickey.

Good luck!

[tnewlon]

The last Lawley Org newsletter I have (Winter 2006) lists Jule as 72', hull number 656, indicates she was steam powered, but there is no owner listed, nor home port, just CA.

Perhaps you might be able to find a later edition with, perhaps, more information. I believe the Lawley Owner's Association is defunct as the web site - www.lawley-yachts.com (http://www.lawley-yachts.com) is no longer operational. You could try email: voyage@cove.com, which was the email for the man behind the organization, Albert Hickey.

Good luck!

Wow Ed! You have helped me a great deal with your post!! I have done some research on the Lawley Owner's Association as I figured that would be the best place to find her. Unfortunately, as you said...the organization is no longer. I'm not sure if Albert Hickey has passed on or if he is just no longer involved but the email address does not exist now. Mr. Hickey wrote a book "Lawley-Built, The archives of the Lawley Boat Owner's Association". Unfortunately, that book is no longer in print and I have not been able to find a copy in any of the online bookstores. There is a copy that I was able to locate but it is a 2001 edition of the book. He printed a later edition in 2005 I believe. I have been unable to locate that one. I am planning a trip to the National Museum of American History Library to look at the 2001 version. I am hoping that will have some useful information for me.

I would greatly appreciate a copy of that newsletter if you wouldn't mind sending it to me. My direct email address is tami@amnewlon.com.

Thanks a bunch!!! From this I atleast know the hull number which I did not know before.

[SV Papillon]

If you haven't tried them yet

nmfs database (http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.html)

marine title (http://www.marinetitle.com/vessel_documentation_database.htm)


Good luck
Jake

[Todd D]

If the boat was documented and you know the documentation number, you can search the federal documentation data base at:

http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByID.html

That will give you the latest info in the data base including owner's name and address, previous owners, name, hail port, etc.

[tnewlon]

I do know the documentation number and she is listed as "in service" on the coast guards database website with no information listed for owner or anything. But she is not listed on the Fisheries website that you mentioned by either the documentation number or name. Not sure why that is.

I want to thank you guys! All of your suggestions have yielded a lot of tiny bits on information which have helped me! I feel like I'm very close and hopefully all of this research will pay off!! You guys are awesome!!! Thanks so much and keep me in mind if you think of any other suggestions.

[Dave H (MI)]

Keep us in mind too! I am a new person on this forum and I read it every day as I am going to be doing my first boat project in the spring. I check your progress every time I come on the forum and would like to hear how it all comes out!

[tnewlon]

I will most definately let you know how things turn out! Its cool to know that someone is keeping track. :-)

[tnewlon]

Hey Guys! I just wanted to give you a little update... I have still been tracking down P. Laska and J. Pluth in Cali with no luck so far. I have not given up by any means though. With lots of thanks to Ed Harrow, I have been able to find the tender that was built for my dads boat. It is owned by the Mystic Seaport Museum in Ct. I am hoping maybe to get a picture of it to give to my dad for Christmas. I figure if I can't exactly find his old boat, the tender is as close as I can get to it. I have sent an email to the staff at the Mystic Seaport Museum in the hopes that they would be willing to take a picture for me but I'm not sure how much success I will have with that. It is about an 8 hour drive for me and if I absolutely have to I may decide to take the trip up to get a picture for myself. Anyone on here frequent the museum and would be willling to take a picture for me by any chance?? Alright guys, well I just wanted to let you know where I stood so far. I want to thank you all again for all of your helpful information and suggestions!! I'm planning on taking a trip to the National Museum of American History next week sometime to see the "Lawley Built" book by Albert Hickey and see if there is any useful information in there for me.
Thanks again,
Tami

[Paul Denison]

This is a good tool to look at old web sites.

http://www.archive.org/index.php

Here is the site you want. It captures through 12/06.

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.lawley-yachts.com/

As Ed found: http://web.archive.org/web/20050206090756/lawley-yachts.com/list.htm

JULE (steam) 72 1909 #656 BPC --- (CA)

This listing started in 2001 and did not change during the lifetime of the website.

[Ed Harrow]

If worse comes to worse, I could be convinced. ;)

(Just imagine this in the P&P posting about going to Mystic. I dunno how it ended up here. ;) )

[Dave H (MI)]

Keep going Tami! You are getting closer. A boat like that can't stay anonymous for long. As a dad I can tell you that your efforts alone are quite a nice gift.

[tnewlon]

You guys amaze me everyday with the incredible advice and information you give!! Yall are awesome!!!

Thanks Dave! I think you are right...my dad is going to flip out when he finds out how much I have found so far. I am a very determined person, and I feel for sure I'll find her. :-)

[tnewlon]

Thanks Brian! I sure hope you are right and in the near future I might just need some help from you San Francisco Bay Area guys!!

I have good news and bad news to report..... I have finally found the P. Laska I've been looking for who owned "Welcome". Unfortunately though, he owned her from 1991-1994 and since sold her. While he had her she was docked in Oakland. I received an email from him today saying that he has been back to Oakland to visit over time and his last trip back (about 3 years ago) she was still docked there and still afloat ~ barely as he said. I have written him back asking the pertinent questions about who he sold her to, the marina where she was docked, if she was put back into documentation with the Coast Guard, etc. I'm hoping he writes me back with some useful information. If nothing else, I can contact the marina where she was/is and ask if she is still in fact there. The funny part is that as of when he saw her 3 years ago, she hasn't really moved all that far from where she was docked when my dad sold her in the late 70s. She was kept at Harris Yacht Harbor in Pittsburg, CA then which I don't think is all that far from Oakland.

Alright, well that is all I have for now but I wanted to let you guys know that all of your help sure is paying off.

Thanks so much!!!
Tami:o

[pcford]

Terrific...good luck...hope the old girl is still around...your dad is sure to be pleased!