The name Boeing is synonymous with the aircraft industry.
Yet tethered to the end of F Float in John Wayne Marina on Sequim Bay is one of William Boeing’s early creations — a 62-foot wooden boat named Wyrill.
In the early 20th century, Boeing acquired substantial holdings in timberland as well as lumber mills in the Pacific Northwest.
By World War I, Boeing had been bitten by the “flying bug” and had formed the Boeing Airplane Co., which used milled lumber from his holdings to build more than 50 seaplanes for the U.S. Navy.
With the conclusion of the war came the cessation of orders from the federal government.
To keep his fledging business afloat, Boeing’s airplane company began building bedroom furniture, cabinets and boats.
Some of the first boats sold by the Boeing Airplane Co. were 10 square-bowed speedboats known as sea sleds.
These boats were originally designed for use by the Navy and, according to some reports, a number of them found their way into the hands of Prohibition-era liquor smugglers.
Wyrill was built in 1931 as an inspection cruiser for Pacific Mills Ltd of Ocean Falls, B.C., by Boeing Aircraft of Canada in Coal Harbour, B.C.
She is the second vessel of the same name for the company.
The first — a narrow-beamed 50-footer was destroyed by a fire in 1929 and sank.
It had been used to transport Pacific Mills officials from Ocean Falls to the lumber camps and nearby towns on company business.
Bob and Mary Stearns purchased Wyrill in 1999 and lived aboard her for about three years while their current home was under construction.
As many of the previous nine owners before them, Bob and Mary have done much to preserve and maintain the classic wooden boat.
Early in their tenure the Stearnses hauled her out in Port Townsend for, among other things, a major restoration of the stern.
That project entailed replacing nine frames, 28 planks, the aft deck and the aft cabin bulkhead.
Last year, Wyrill was again on the hard in the Port Townsend Boat Haven and was treated to a new coat of paint from the cap rail to the keel.
The Stearnses have cruised extensively throughout the San Juan Islands and the Canadian Gulf Islands.
In 2006 Bob and Mary took a two month cruise celebrating Wyrill’s 75th anniversary visiting Ocean Falls, which was celebrating its centennial year.
Wyrill is now for sale.
According to Bob, it is time for someone else to assume the helm of the old vessel with its modern amenities, electronics and navigation.
If readers would like to know more about Wyrill, Bob is building a website at www.wyrill.net.
The basics
The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock is offering an introductory course in the basics of painting and varnishing.
The weeklong course which begins on Monday, Aug. 22, will be held from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Boat School’s McPherson Shop at 42 Water St., where there is ample parking.
Diane Salguero, who has more than 20 years experience applying finishes, will be the instructor for this hands-on course, which will focus on selecting the correct tools for the job, the right paint or varnish for the task and conditions, and the precise techniques for getting the perfect finish every time.
Students attending the class, Diane says, should dress for spills, splatters and drips.
The school will provide the basic safety equipment and the paint, varnish, thinner and tools.
Although the school will provide two boats upon which students can learn the basics, students may also bring their own projects to the class.
To register for the class which will cost $150, phone the boat school at 360-385-4948 email to enrollment@nwboatschool.org .
Down from Alaska
Ocean Cape, a 91-foot commercial fishing boat with a 36-foot beam, was moored Thursday to the north side of Port Angeles City Pier.
She was built in 1977 at Bender Shipbuilding and Repair Co. in Mobile, Ala., and was launched as Sigried K.
The boat’s owner lives in Sequim.
I understand he would like to find moorage locally to spend a couple of months sprucing her up after fishing her for the last couple of years in Alaska.
Back in Port Angeles
Verna Banks is on the hard at Platypus Marine Inc. in Port Angeles almost a year to the day since her last visit.
She is an Art DeFever-designed 39 foot trawler that was built by Astillero Playa SA in Guaymas, Mexico.
She was launched as Dul-Sea III and was DeFever’s personal boat, which was named after his wife, Dulcie.
Marilyn and Richard Foulkes purchased the full-displacement vessel four years ago and have spent much of their time refurbishing her.
This year found them on the water more than in prior years, and they are considering divesting themselves of their shore-side possessions in favor of living aboard the boat.
According to Capt. Charlie Crane, director of sales and marketing at Platypus Marine, personnel prepared the surfaces of the boat’s propeller for PropSpeed, and the Verna Banks will have a new coat of bottom paint before she leaves Platypus’ facility.
The boat will be under way by Tuesday to make her way to Anacortes, where the Foulkeses will attend the 24th annual Metal Boat Festival at Cap Sante Boat Haven.
Harbor fueling
Last Sunday, Tesoro Petroleum bunkered Century Pearl, a cargo ship that is 450 feet long with a 75 foot beam.
The Panamanian flagged vessel’s next port of call is Port Alfred, Quebec, Canada.
On Thursday, Tesoro refueled Kang Zhong, a 620-foot cargo ship that is bound for the Philippines port of Mariveles.
And Tesoro on Saturday provided bunkers to the articulated tug and barge, Galveston, and to the Overseas Los Angeles, a 576-foot petroleum-products carrier with a 105-foot beam.
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David G. Sellars is a Port Angeles resident and former Navy boatswain’s mate who enjoys boats and strolling the waterfront.
Items involving boating, port activities and the North Olympic Peninsula waterfronts are always welcome.
E-mail dgsellars@hotmail.com or phone him at 360-808-3202.
