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1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper

Contact Information

Ruth

206-919-7845

1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper
1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper
Boat Name YMS 439, cruising speed 14 knots, maximum speed 20 knots, 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 Owner's Notes This ship or boat (as some call it) is a Yard Mine Sweeper, the YMS439.

Built at City island, New York in 1944 by Robert Jacobs, Inc., it is 136’and 23 ½’ wide with an 8’ draft.

It has two 268A diesel engines for propulsion which need work and there is a spare one for parts.

Used in WWII it is one of only four still afloat in the world out of approximately 500 that were originally built.

John Wayne used the exact same model to build his yacht, the Wild Goose which is still in operation in California.

There are 8 sleeping rooms, 2 heads, one with a urinal as well as 2 sinks and a toilet, both have showers.

There is an exercise room, galley, crew’s mess, officer’s ward room, captain’s sleeping room, 1st mate’s sleeping room, tool room, cook’s pantry, new duplex gas stove top and griddle, line storage room, engine room, generator room, gyro roon, wine room, laundry room with two washer/drier combos and one dryer, pilot house, 1944 clineometer, nice varnish and woven rope helm wheel, new steel mast (of regulation size), a huge yard arm on the stern to hoist up just about anything, a winch at amidships currently used to hoist and lower an 18 ‘ inflatable Seal deployment boat, a windlass and anchor, soda pop/beer machine, chest freezer, three refrigerators, each with their own freezer, a stand-alone automatic ice machine, lots of life preservers, two rescue rings with floating lines, an A-com, two J-bars, one original WWII balsa wood life raft in excellent shape, and a 2 year old hot tub in excellent condition on the bow’s main deck.

The vessel has been rewired and has a generator/welder combination so it works off both shore power as well as a generator with a switch to easily move from one to the other.

It has a new dining hall on the stern, currently being used as a saloon/dining hall.

It truly is a piece of history and a must see.

Many of the original furnishings have been rebuilt and lots of care has been taken to use as much varnish as possible, usually with 12 coats on each item We have enjoyed our stay aboard this vessel over the years.

We have had a crew of up to 10 live-aboard people at one time and have had a great time doing so.

Parting with this vessel comes at a heart breaking, to say the least.

We will part with it only to someone who will love and care for her.

If you love history, you will love her!

Here are two of our favorite memories: In 2006 we invited the only known surviving member of the crew from WWII.

He was Petty Officer Robert Kaiser, living in Oregon.

Not knowing about his story I had previously restored the table in the Officer's Wardroom.

I noted some peculiarities in the table and treated it with 12 coats of varnish.

After greeting him and re-introducing him to every area of the boat, we were sitting in the crew's mess at the original table I had also restored.

He began to tell me about a time when the ship put-in at a port in Japan.

The entire crew and officers went ashore for liberty.

They left him and two other sailors aboard to serve watch.

After everyone left, he had one of the other crewmen standby and watch for him while he took an electric drill and proceeded to drill a cribbage board into the Officer's wardroom table.

He said he finished the work, stowed the drill in the engineer's tool stowage and went about his business. (He embellished a little bit more about the event, but asked me to keep cool about it.) Upon return of the Officers and crew, the Exec erupted in an absolute fit of anger about the damaged table.

He went on to say that for the next 4 or 6 months the Exec was all over everyone trying to find out who the S.O.B. was that drilled the table.

After listening to Robert going on about the event I asked him if he would like to actually lie-down in the Captain's bunk, knowing that probably no one in the crew had actually been allowed into the Captain's quarters.

He went in and observed the Captain's quarters.

He was old, weak and unable to get up into the bunk, but being able to be present in a place he had not before been allowed was sufficient, I'm certain.

And then…in passing through Officer's Country…we stopped at the wardroom.

I asked him if he saw anything familiar.

He looked at the Officer's wardroom table and sighed.

He held the tip of the fly on the aft side of the table and observed the drilled cribbage board he had drilled over 60 years ago.

I saw this very proud and brave man weep before me.

To this day that event creates the same feeling of pride and sorrow within me.

I cry every time I think about our interaction.

This is a boat of history, a link to the past and now she can be used as a floating bed and breakfast, because there is a lot of space to be used towards this endand her engines wiil easily be able to go around the lakes.

Another possibility for this wonderfoal boat would be to use her a a training school for troubled teenagers with drug problems; here they would be able to learn to work together as a team.

There are so many possibilities they are limited only by your imagination.

Call Ruth @ 206-919-7845.



ABOUT THIS BOAT
Basic Information
Type:ClassicPower
Year:1944
Length:136'
Price:$115,000.00
City:Edmonds
State:Washington
More Details
Engine:Cleveland
Engine Count:Twin
Engine Hours:
Drive:IB
Horsepower:0
Fuel:Diesel
Hull Material:Wood
Beam:24' 6"
Draft:8'
Condition:Good

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Best 1944 Custom US Navy Minesweeper