Bayocean (motor yacht) facts for kids
BayOcean sometime between May 1911 and May 1913, probably on the Willamette River.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name | Bayocean |
| Port of registry | Portland, Oregon |
| Builder | Joseph Supple, Portland, Oregon |
| Cost | $40,000 or $50,000 (reports vary) |
| Launched | May 27, 1911 |
| In service | 1911 |
| Identification | civil: U.S. 208705; naval: 2640 |
| Fate | Sold 1921 |
| Notes | also known as USS Bayocean. |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Coastal passenger, later, naval patrol |
| Tonnage | 148 gross tons; 87 net tons |
| Length | 130.1 ft (39.65 m) |
| Beam | 18.7 ft (5.70 m) |
| Depth | 7.9 ft (2.41 m) depth of hold |
| Decks | one |
| Installed power | triple gasoline engines |
| Propulsion | triple propeller |
| Crew | as yacht: 7 to 10; in naval service: 25 |
The Bayocean was a beautiful yacht built in 1911. It was made to carry passengers to the fancy resort of Bayocean. This resort was located on the coast of Oregon, near the entrance to Tillamook Bay.
The yacht had a special front called a clipper bow. It also had two slanted smokestacks, which made it look very attractive. However, Bayocean was expensive to run. It was also a bit "cranky" (hard to handle) in rough seas. Because of this, it often stayed tied up at the dock.
In 1913, Bayocean moved to San Francisco Bay. There, it worked for a short time giving tours. Later, in 1918, the U.S. Navy bought Bayocean. They turned it into a patrol vessel to help during World War I. After a short time in the Navy, the ship was put away for about two years. The Navy was selling off its extra ships. In 1921, Bayocean was sold at an auction to a company called Crowley Launch and Tug. This company is now known as Crowley Maritime.
Contents
Building the Bayocean
Planning the Yacht
On February 25, 1911, important papers were signed to start building Bayocean. Joseph Supple and the yacht's designer, Fred Ballin, made decisions about special parts. These parts would be made in the eastern United States. The T.B. Potter Realty Company, located in Portland, Oregon, would own the yacht.
Some details about the front and back of the ship still needed to be worked out. But the main shape of the hull (the body of the ship) was ready. The yacht was to be built at Supple's shipyard in Portland, Oregon. This shipyard was on the Willamette River. They even had to tear down a wall in one of the sheds to make space for the yacht. Supple planned to launch the boat stern (back) first. They hoped to launch it before May 15. This was to avoid the river's water rising, which usually happened in June. This rise is called a freshet.
Construction Begins
Work on Bayocean started on Friday, March 10, 1911. The very bottom part of the ship, called the keel, was planned to be laid the next day. The builders hoped to finish the yacht by June 1, 1911. By May 2, 1911, the engines were already installed. Supple put many workers on the job to finish the ship on time.
The Big Launch Day
On May 12, 1911, it was announced that Bayocean would launch the next day. The yacht was going to be completely white. On May 12, the hull was being painted. The upper parts of the ship had already received their first coat of paint. They expected the ship to be finished by June 1, or a few days later.
The launch date was changed to May 27, 1911, at 1:30 pm. The event included speeches by Portland Mayor Simon and Harbormaster Speier. The launch happened on the afternoon of May 27, 1911. A few minutes after 3:00 pm, Bayocean slid into the water. It moved "with the ease and grace of a duck."
A bottle of champagne was tied with blue and white silk ribbons. Five-year-old Elizabeth Potter let go of the ribbons. The bottle smashed right onto the front of Bayocean, breaking into many pieces. Joseph Supple then gave the command, "Cut the line." The yacht smoothly moved into the river.
The Portland Ad Men's club organized the launch event. Tom Richardson was the master of ceremonies. Many people came to watch. A report said it was the "largest crowd to view a launching" in local history. People stood everywhere they could see the launch. This included the Supple yard, nearby rooftops, and the Morrison Bridge. Besides Tom Richardson, other speakers included Harbormaster Speier and Mayor Simon. Judge Van Zant spoke for Oregon Governor Oswald West. David N. Mosessohn, president of the Portland Ad Men's club, also spoke. T. Irving Potter, vice-president of the yacht's owners, gave a speech too.
What Made Bayocean Special?
When finished, Bayocean was about 130.1 ft (39.65 m) long. It had a "beam" (width) of 18.7 ft (5.70 m). Its "depth of hold" (how deep the inside storage area was) was 7.9 ft (2.41 m). The ship's total size was 148 "gross tons" and 87 "net tons." These are ways to measure a ship's volume. Its official registration number was 208705. As an ocean-going ship, Bayocean had special flag signals: L.B.W.D.
Below deck, there were rooms for 44 passengers. There were also rooms for 14 crew members. The cabin above the deck had a lounge for travelers. It also had a kitchen (galley), a bathroom, and the owner's rooms. The T.B. Potter Realty Company said Bayocean cost $50,000 to build. Other reports say it cost "over $40,000" or just $40,000.
Bayocean was designed to carry about 100 passengers. It had sleeping rooms for 40 people. Reports on the crew size were different. One report said there would be ten crew members. Another in 1913 said there were seven. The crew wore uniforms.
Engines and Speed
The yacht was powered by three gasoline engines. These engines turned three propeller shafts. Together, they made either 475 or 500 horsepower. The designer, Ballin, thought the yacht could save fuel. It could run slowly using only one engine. In 1921, Bayocean still had its original engines. These were three 6-cylinder Speedway engines. They produced 500 horsepower.
The middle engine was stronger. It had larger cylinders and made 175 horsepower. The two side engines made 150 horsepower each. These engines were built by the Gas Engine and Power Company. They were guaranteed to make the yacht go 17 miles (15 nautical miles) per hour. Bayocean also had a smaller engine. This engine made electricity for lights. It also powered pumps for the bilge (bottom of the ship) and fire protection.
Getting Ready for Trips
Bayocean was not ready for service right after it launched. For example, the engines were not yet connected to the propellers. Also, Bayocean could not legally carry paying passengers. It needed a certificate from the United States Steamboat Inspection Service. Local inspectors refused to give the certificate. They wanted some "minor" changes made. These changes included adding vents to the engine room. They also wanted an access path (called a "companionway") in front of the pilot house.
Before starting regular trips, the owners did some publicity. On May 31, 1911, they offered a free trip to Tillamook Bay. Anyone who sent in the best photo of the yacht's launch could win. They also had to provide the photo's negative for publicity.
The yacht was part of the 1911 Portland Rose Festival. On June 5, 1911, Bayocean led a parade of motorboats. It acted as the "King's Barge" for "Rex Oregonus." This was the main figure of the Rose Festival.
In June 1911, Bayocean was the flagship for swimming races. These were the Oregon state championship races. They were held in the Willamette River. Bayocean picked up the club's directors and their guests. Then it went to a spot along the race course.
Adventures in Oregon
First Summer Trips (1911)
The plan was for the yacht to leave Portland at night. This way, it could cross the Columbia Bar (a dangerous sandbar at the mouth of the Columbia River) in daylight. The return trip to Portland would also be in daylight. It would stop at Astoria. Passengers could get off there and take a train back to Portland. The goal was to travel from Portland to Tillamook three times a week. At 18 miles per hour, the sea trip from the Columbia River to Bayocean was about four hours.
Bayocean made its first ocean trip in June 1911. It left Portland at dawn on Sunday, June 18, 1911. It reached the Bayocean resort in just over 12 hours. The ship reached speeds of 16 and 17 knots when going full speed. T. Irving Potter, Fred A. Ballin, Joseph Supple, and other guests were on board.
On Friday, June 30, 1911, Bayocean was returning from Tillamook. A "hot bearing" in the main engine forced it to stop. This was blamed on an oiler (a crew member who lubricates machinery) doing something wrong. The yacht had to stop overnight at Rainier, Oregon. It only reached Portland the next morning.
Second Summer (1912)
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After the summer of 1911, Bayocean was out of service. It stayed docked in Tillamook Bay until May 1912. Then, the yacht was taken to Portland for repairs. It went to the same Supple yard where it was built. By June 1912, Bayocean was back in service. It was scheduled for a trip to Garibaldi and the Bayocean resort on June 25, 1912. The trip's price was first $20, then lowered to $12.50.
In March 1912, the resort announced Bayocean would be available. It would offer "deep sea fishing trips and moonlight excursions." Soon, the yacht would not be needed to bring guests from Portland. A train line, called the "Lytle Road," was finished. It was built by the Southern Pacific railroad. This line went from Portland to Tillamook, 85 miles away. The T.B. Potter Realty Company and the railroad planned to work together. They would advertise the resort and train travel.
By early June 1912, train service to Garibaldi began. A special train left Portland at 9:00 am on June 27. It arrived in Garibaldi at 2:30 pm. This was much faster than traveling by water. People arriving by train would take smaller boats to the Bayocean resort. In 1912, Bayocean did not run the Portland-Tillamook Bay route. It had done so in 1911, before the train line. Instead, the yacht was used for deep-sea fishing trips for train passengers.
Bayocean was in Portland on June 11, 1912. It led the Rose Festival Parade of Ships. Just like in 1911, T.B. Potter lent Bayocean. It carried the women officers of the Multnomah Club for the Oregon State Swimming Championship.
By late July 1912, many people took the train to Garibaldi. They were going to the Bayocean resort. To help with the crowds, the resort started a ferry service. This service carried people from Garibaldi across the bay to Bayocean. One report said Bayocean was used as a ferry. However, a more accurate report said the yacht was too big. It couldn't move well in the shallow bay waters. Instead, a smaller yacht, the Henrietta, was used. It was 28 feet long and could carry 30 passengers.
Moving to California
Why Bayocean Moved
Some sailors said Bayocean was "an excellent sea boat." But another source said it was "somewhat cranky for coastwise service." The yacht was also very expensive to operate. By 1913, Bayocean had only carried passengers from Portland to the Bayocean resort for one season (1911). The cost was too high to continue.
One big cost was the yearly tax from Multnomah County. In 1913, this tax was $7,500. To compare, a whole smaller steamboat, the Truant, was built for $6,000 in 1910.
Another idea was to run the yacht from Astoria to Tillamook. But this didn't work out. For some time before January 1913, the yacht was out of service. It was docked at Bayocean.
A New Owner
In January 1913, there were talks about selling Bayocean. A person from southern California was thinking about buying it. They wanted to use it for trips from San Diego to ports in northern Mexico.
On Friday, March 21, 1913, Potter Realty Co. sold Bayocean. The buyer was the Bayocean Excursion Company. This was a California company. Its owners were also shareholders of the North Pacific Steamship Company. The new owners wanted ships for the Panama–Pacific International Exposition. This big fair would be held in San Francisco in 1915. At the time of the sale, Bayocean was at the Bayocean resort dock. It had been there since the summer of 1911. The move to California was expected about a month after the sale. It would happen when the weather was good.
The Potter Realty Company sold Bayocean to a company started by H.J. Cocoran. He lived in San Francisco. Cocoran had worked with North Pacific Steamship Co. before. He was looking for ships to use for the 1915 fair in San Francisco.
The Journey South
On April 3, 1913, Captain James J. Rudden sent a telegram. He was at Bayocean resort. He said the yacht had "plentiful supply" of gasoline. He expected to leave the next day. He would go straight to San Francisco without stopping. Bayocean left a few days later, on April 6, 1913. Captain Rudden was in charge. J. Oligreen was first officer, and Frank Coulter was chief engineer. The weather was stormy, and the sea was rough. But the yacht was moving fast when last seen from Bayocean resort. Bayocean arrived in San Francisco on Tuesday, April 8, 1913, at 10:35 pm. The trip from Tillamook took 60 hours.
Life in San Francisco Bay
In April 1913, Captain Rudden was replaced. Captain Charles McNeill, Jr. became the new master of Bayocean. In May 1913, Bayocean was giving sightseeing tours. It made two trips daily in the San Francisco Bay. However, there are no records of Bayocean doing any civilian work after mid-1913. It might have been put away after that time.
Serving the Country
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After the United States joined World War I in 1917, the U.S. Navy bought many large private yachts. Bayocean was one of them. They used these yachts as patrol vessels. On April 27, 1918, Bayocean was checked. It was found suitable for Navy use. The Navy paid $52,500 for Bayocean. The yacht was given to the Navy in June 1918.
On June 24, 1918, the Navy bought Bayocean from J.T. Bunn of San Diego, California. The Navy gave the yacht identification number 2640. Bayocean then traveled from San Diego to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. There, it officially joined the Navy on August 16, 1918. During its Navy service, Bayocean had a crew of 25. It was armed with two 3-pounder guns.
Bayocean was ordered to San Diego, California. It was to report to the Commander, Division 2, Pacific Fleet. It would do "such duty as may be assigned." On September 12, 1918, after repairs and test runs, the yacht was docked. It was at the Municipal Pier in San Diego. For over a month, Bayocean worked in the San Diego area. It did drills, ran engine tests, and carried mail. On October 19, 1918, the yacht was docked for repairs. It stayed there until November 7, 1918. The yacht was in port when the armistice (agreement to stop fighting) happened on November 11, 1918.
On November 19, 1918, Bayocean was sent to the Pacific coast of Mexico. It reached Pichilinque on November 25, 1918. It delivered mail and supplies to other Navy ships. Bayocean then received orders to "reconnoiter" (explore and observe) the Gulf of California. It was also to talk and work with American and British consuls (officials who represent their country). After that, the yacht visited Mazatlan, Manzanillo, Guaymas, and Acapulco. It returned to Pichilinque on December 8, 1918. American Vice Consul John R. Gamon boarded Bayocean at Acapulco to return to the United States. On January 20, 1919, Bayocean returned to the United States.
On February 1, 1919, at 12:30 pm, Bayocean left for San Francisco Bay. It arrived on February 3, 1919. The yacht was docked next to another ship. Bayocean was officially taken out of service on March 14, 1919. Its name was removed from the Navy list on October 13, 1919.
Sold After the War
In 1921, Bayocean was put up for auction by the Navy. It was sold along with 145 other extra ships. Many of these were yachts that had been used for the war. The former yacht was at the Mare Island Naval District.
The estimated value of Bayocean in the 1921 Navy auction catalog was $30,000. But an earlier report from December 1919 said its value was $20,000. The Navy said it would accept any bid above $6,000.
One source says Bayocean was bought by Mr. L. Parker of Oakland, California. This happened on August 5, 1921. It was delivered to him on September 16, 1921. Another source says Bayocean was bought by Crowley Launch and Tug. This San Francisco company is still in business today as Crowley Maritime.
