136' Custom Navy Minesweeper

 

 
Here's a well loved classic with great liveable spaces and lots of modern upgrades throughout! A sistership of John Wayne's old converted 136' minesweeper, WILD GOOSE, this vessel is chock full of history. Careful and nostalgic new owner now sought to take the torch and see this irreplaceable piece of maritime history into the next century. Check out the excerpts here in her full specs - what a treat!

See her full details and recent color photos online here at our homepage, then CALL for additional details and an appointment to go aboard...

Additional Specs, Equipment and Information:

Builder/Designer
Builder: Custom Designer: U.S. Navy
Dimensions
LOA: 136' Beam: 24'6" Displacement: 320 T (at time of launch)
Draft: 8'
Engines
Engine(s): Twin Diesel Clevelands Engine Model: 268A Cruising Speed: 14 knots
Max Speed: 20+ knots (temp. combat speed)
Tankage
Fuel: U/K Water: U/K

Dockside 1

    

 		  

 		    
 

 		    

 

History
The following was obtained from the General Index or Abstract of Title document maintained by the USCG:

The YMS439 was purchased by the Macco Corp. from the US Maritime Commission in 1947, after being decommissioned for a mere $10. After this it was owned by the Smith-Rice Company, the Richfield Oil Corp. (being used as an oil screw), Global Marine inc., Petrich Marine Charters, Inc., Harvey M Petrich and William Drury, and Arthur Church. It appears that sometime around 1977 a lien was placed on it by the Lake Union Drydock Company for $6,013.33. It appears the lien was satisfied in 1979 and became the property of Arthur Church. In 1987 is was transferred (somehow) to the Imperial Imports, Inc. and later sold to Craig L. Belshe in 1992. All during this time it was named La Ciencia. In November 1992 the name was changed to the Manta Ray, probably by Belshe.

Undocumented history:

There is a gap of time between 1992 and 7 March 2003 when John Moeller purchased it from the Bakketun & Thomas Boat Co., LLC., who previously claimed it by lien for unpaid moorage. During this gap of time, or perhaps a little prior to that, there a family of three living on board, a father and 2 children. The father apparently raised his children and passed it to someone else. There was also a period where the vessel was owned by some unsavory characters who robbed a lot of brass and bronze from the vessel and sold it for scrap.

 

Restorations/Conversions - Below Decks
Since current owner assumed command a number of restorations, conversions and improvements have been made from stem to stern and from bottom to top:

 
  • A new supporting structure was framed and a new deck was installed to make forward ammo room into a stateroom
  • The forward crew's quarters was walled-off from the forward stairway to create a stateroom
  • The aft crew's quarters was enclosed and a stateroom was created (currently being used as a wine and brewing room) on the starboard side
  • A laundry room on the port side was created with two Equator washer/dryer combos, one dryer, one folding table, and one ironing area
  • The starboard gyro room was converted to sewer storage
  • The port cook's stores with full original refer and freezer was left as is; refer and freezer have been evaluated and are both able to function, with an infusion of refrigerant (refer measures approximately 5' wide, 2' deep and 34” high while the freezer is approximately 5' wide, 2' deep and 1 ½' high; condenser is located in forward engineering)
  • The auxiliary engineering was left as is except an electric water heater was installed
  • The main engineering was left as is
  • The port Engineer's stores converted to an exercise room with 25” screen TV with DVD and VHS
  • The starboard power converter room converted to a stateroom
  • The main fuel storage area is currently being renovated
  • The aft lazarette was left as is for 2” and 3” line storage; good line is still in place

Restorations/Conversions - Main Deck
 
  • The port crew's head was completely re-plumbed, including original (2) stainless sinks reconditioned and re-fit, drains and new toilet installed, new urinal installed, shower redone, (4) individual gear stowage installed above the sinks, and floors tiled
  • The starboard bo's'n storage was left as is and currently used as tool, material and paint stowage
  • The port janitorial locker just aft of crew's head converted into chemical locker
  • Center gun turret neddle-gunned, treated, painted and in excellent structural shape for support of almost anything above
  • The crew's mess was basically left as is; a 25” TV with DVD was added plus a stereo system for both inside and out
  • The crew's mess table and seating benches had to be totally restored to original condition and were given a healthy 12 coats of varnish
  • The galley was fitted with a bottled water dispenser, refer, chest freezer, coffee maker and additional coffee urn, ice maker, microwave, electric stove, restaurant grade gas griddle & duplex burners, restored cabinets, sink board and cutting/preparation area
  • The sliding slave door from galley to officer's wardroom was refitted
  • The side rails were replaced on both sides to absorb the shock of docking
  • The rail caps were steamed, twisted, and installed on port and starboard; 12 coats of varnish were applied
  • The original officer's wardroom table was restored and 12 coats of varnish were applied, the officer's seat cushions were redone, and a telephone wired-in
  • The starboard officer's head was refitted with a new toilet (pump-type), varnish was applied where applicable, and the sink was rebuilt to its original state
  • The starboard captain's quarters were restored (the drawers were irreplaceable)
  • The port chief/first officer's quarters were partially restored; top bunk was refitted its original state
  • An exterior auxiliary fuel tank (probably installed by Atlantic Richfield) was left as is for possible future use
  • The exhaust stack is in good shape
  • The dining hall/saloon (John Wayne may have approved) was built in place of where the mine sweep cable spool was, which was already missing (the structure measures approximately 32' X 17' and was designed to be structurally sound enough to place one additional story above it); the deck of this area was removed and rebuilt, along with the superstructure below it for further support considered
  • The area above the dining hall/saloon is rated to accept another story of structure, possibly a few staterooms
  • There is a structure of approximately 8” pipe on the aft extending approximately 4' over the aft to support the winching and lowering of cargo and small vessels (it was originally used to lower oil screw equipment to the sea floor)

Restorations/Conversions - Top Deck
 
  • Whaling rails replaced
  • Bull nose repaired on bow
  • The forecastle deck was removed and replaced, coated with fiberglass, and sealed with the GacoDeck system and painted with original WWII haze-grey paint color
  • Two solid steel “J” Bar hoisting bars were installed on port and starboard for cargo, personnel, and boat lifting
  • New stanchions were installed all around the deck and 3 levels of ¼ inch cable were used to comply with USCG standards
  • An original WWII life raft was recovered (from a yard in Port Townsend, WA) and was hoisted to the top deck where the original one would have been. It is made of solid balsa wood covered with canvas and sealed. It was resealed, painted and now has the Ship's name stenciled on it. It floats and supports a standard compliment of crew, as it was originally designed to do!
  • A new hot tub (2005) installed on deck directly aft of gun turret support
  • The area below pilot house was cleaned-out and resealed - it was originally designed as storage for the pilot house and ventilation circulation
  • The pilot house is currently being used as sitting room and a ladies clothing stowage area; an original 1944 clinometer was installed and new tiller wheel fitted; all windows were rebuilt in a square shape since previous owners or pirates removed original circular portals for scrap value; the original chart table with drawers is still intact and the original battery switch panels are intact
  • The starboard radio room was converted for communications and computer room
  • The port chart room reused for linens and clothing stowage; original ventilated closets are intact
  • The room aft of radio and chart room was created by a prior owner and is currently used as the captain's cabin
  • The area above pilot house, the con, had some side planks replaced and a new name board was installed, facing forward (older salvaged running lights were rebuilt and installed on port and starboard)
  • A new 40 foot steel, 10 inch in diameter mast was installed, complete with yardarms, into the original boot designed for a wooden mast and the supporting lines were installed in all directions per original specifications

Restorations/Conversions - General
 
  • All deck levels are equipped with fire extinguishers to comply with USCG requirements and more
  • Personal flotation devices present to accommodate 20 passengers
  • There are wireless communications established between the captain's quarters, crew's mess, forward crew's quarters, and dining hall/Saloon
  • The Ship has been rewired to prevent fires from old wiring (only the two compartments in the aft area under renovation remain unwired but are not connected to any power source)
  • The Ship has one main electrical panel in main engineering supplying power to sub-panels in the laundry room, the wardroom, and main engineering