Eureka California Unique Boat - What Is It?

[David Cockey]

Last week we saw a unique boat in Eureka, California at the Woodley Island Marina. It's a steel double-ender "motor sailor", length perhaps somewhere around 80 feet. Topsides are faded green, decks and masts are buff and the house is white. Two companionways but no hatches in the main deck. The main deck does have small prisim lights set into it. The aft house has a number of large windows. There is a hydraulic "picker" in the middle of the main deck. Two masts on tabernackles which may be light poles. The aft mast has what appears to be a furled balanced lug sail.

Anyone know what the boat is and its history? No sign of a name. My guess is it was intended to be a sail assisted research/school vessel but that is only a guess.

[donald branscom]

Photo?

[purri]

Run away, run away, it's a Steve Irwin replica!

[Thorne]

That would be the large ship on the southern slip, next to the Coral Sea, a Humboldt State University research vessel.

Not much good info on her otherwise, sorry.

[David Cockey]

That would be the large ship on the southern slip, next to the Coral Sea, a Humboldt State University research vessel.

Not much good info on her otherwise, sorry.

That's the vessel. The Coral Sea wasn't in when we were there.

[Thorne]

Per one of my local contacts -

"Well I don't know the name but I do know some of the history. As I understand it the ship was built for Humboldt State University but the ship builder thought he knew better than the naval architect that designed it and made some modifications. The end result being that the ship is not seaworthy and HSU did not take possession of from the ship builder."

Gosh - we've never heard of anything like **that** happening before on this Forum, right boys? ;0 )

[donald branscom]

Per one of my local contacts -

"Well I don't know the name but I do know some of the history. As I understand it the ship was built for Humboldt State University but the ship builder thought he knew better than the naval architect that designed it and made some modifications. The end result being that the ship is not seaworthy and HSU did not take possession of from the ship builder."

Gosh - we've never heard of anything like **that** happening before on this Forum, right boys? ;0 )

This is like when you go to the zoo to see an exotic animal and
there is a sign that says the exotic animal is asleep and out of view.

[Thorne]

Sorry, looked through my pics but couldn't find any of said ship. If anyone knew her name, we'd be able to find pics on Flickr, Picassa or online somewhere.

[donald branscom]

Sorry, looked through my pics but couldn't find any of said ship. If anyone knew her name, we'd be able to find pics on Flickr, Picassa or online somewhere.

Thanks Thorne.

[David Cockey]

No evidence of a name anywhere on her that I could see. I've tried posting a photo without success. I'll be happy to email it to someone to post.

[Thorne]

Sure, David, email it to me if you'd like. Got my gmail address?

[Thorne]

Pics of said ship from David C -

[cape5]

I saw this boat as a series of steel bulkheads on the ground in 1984 or so. At that point he (HSU prof, anticipating retirement) was excited to be building a research boat to his specs. Glad to see it afloat, but that's sad if true about the build.

Fast-foreward to last week: Was in the area and stopped by with camera- got similar fotos to David C's:




I did notice some painted-over letters & numbers on the side, name confirmed by fender-label:

[David Cockey]

Thanks!

I found the documentation listing for Phuma at http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/Coas...selByName.html with a construction date of 1991 and builder as J Gast. Documentation expired in 2001. Another list shows the construction location as Samoa which is across the bay from Eureka. Wonder if it is the same boat or if the fender came off another boat?

[cape5]

ah, yes Dr Gast was the professor, so looks like the build took some time...

[Chris-on-the-Boat]

It looks alot like the old wood R/V Hero which used to be moored in Newport. I wonder if the professor had sailed aboard her at one time or another.

[David Cockey]

ah, yes Dr Gast was the professor, so looks like the build took some time...

That explains why a list of boatbuilders in California showed only one boat as having been built by J Gast.

[Thorne]

I asked a local sailor and store-owner about this boat, and he confirmed the story of it supposedly being built for HSU research purposes, but somehow not meeting either the design specs (builder alterations?) or Fed/State regs, so it couldn't be used. It does look extremely narrow for a sailing vessel of that length...

[Mrleft8]

It'd be interesting to see her lines/offsets..... As she sits, I'd think she'd be pretty top heavy/rolly..... But with a massive, deep, heavy bilge..... But that wouldn't make much sense, would it?

[brucehallman]

It does look extremely narrow for a sailing vessel of that length...

Knowing Bolger, he had no problem with long narrow sailboats, as long as they were designed watertight at extreme angles of heel. My bet is that it has some significant ballast longwise in a very shallow keel, and is intended to be sailed on its ear, deeply heeled.