The USCG 40-foot Utility Boat

[Zoomer]

 

Oh, Ya.....  I remember that!

Thanks Ron!

[BuoyJumper]

AND...................The story behind the 40455

I think that was the one that was sunk during a hydroplane race in Seattle on Lake Washington years ago.

I don't know what the story was on the 40455, maybe Bill Frost would know.  I do know it was not the one sunk on Lake Washington during the hydroplane race unless that has happened twice.  The 40 boat that sank during the hydroplane race took place in 1958, so no stripes.  What happened is that Bill Muncey at the controls of the Miss Thriftway had some type of catastropic steering failure, lost control of his rudder and crashed into the 40575 portside admidships sinking her.

[MastersMate]

Pre 1976 ???  I believe they moved the moorings from Pier 90 across the harbor to the new Support Center in the fall and winter of 1976. The photo is on the east side of the pier 90/91 complex on the north end of Elliot Bay, Seattle.

[1110]

Pre 1976 ???  I believe they moved the moorings from Pier 90 across the harbor to the new Support Center in the fall and winter of 1976. The photo is on the east side of the pier 90/91 complex on the north end of Elliot Bay, Seattle.

As usual, you are spot-on in your recollections Dana.  

Piers 90/91 were the old Navy piers (there used to still be Navy officer's housing up right above on Magnolia bluff until they condemned most of it in the late '90s). By the early 1970's the Navy presence was all but gone from Seattle proper (with the exception of a few reserve Minesweepers/MSO). Seeing an opportunity of sorts, the Port of Seattle wanted Piers 90/91 to redevelop for commercial/deep draft purposes and offered up (then vacant for almost 20 yrs) Pier 36 and Army warehouse buildings to the CG as a compensation leased for a miniscule amount per year. Old ATON/buoy yard was on Commodore Way (now site of Foss Shipyard) and the old COTP/MSO/REC was on First Ave S...all of that was 'closed' and moved to Pier 36 where everything was gradually consolidated during '74/'75/'76 (Paul Yost was COTP around part of that time too...back in the days when COTP was an "O" function and not an "M" one).

[EX-CG-GM]

AND...................The story behind the 40455

I think that was the one that was sunk during a hydroplane race in Seattle on Lake Washington years ago.

I don't know what the story was on the 40455, maybe Bill Frost would know.  I do know it was not the one sunk on Lake Washington during the hydroplane race unless that has happened twice.  The 40 boat that sank during the hydroplane race took place in 1958, so no stripes.  What happened is that Bill Muncey at the controls of the Miss Thriftway had some type of catastropic steering failure, lost control of his rudder and crashed into the 40575 portside admidships sinking her.  (See video previous page)

So much for my memory.......

[BuoyJumper]

I managed to dig up a photo of the Miss Thriftway - 40575 crash.



Muncey (in the white circle) bailed out and was plucked from the water by a Coast Guard helicopter two minutes after the accident and was lifted to shore. He was found to have only cuts and bruises when examined at a hospital. None of the Coast Guardsmen was injured seriously.

[captjamie]

Ron- your abbility to find pictures and other information is just AWSOME  . When we get the Coast Guard Museum mid-west started in Branson Mo. I going to do all that I can to see that you are appointed as Historian/researcher.

You the Man

  mate

[BuoyJumper]

Thanks Jamie ... I just do what I can to try and keep things interesting.

According to Bill Frost regarding the 40455, "To answer your question about the sinking of 40455. There was a 255 that was backing out of a narrow slip at pier 90 or 91 in Seattle, so they put a line on the 40 boat to pull the stern away from the dock. This would keep the 255 from walking toward the dock. As I heard it, the 255 felt they were going to loose power so kicked it forward to get a line back to the dock before they got too far away. This pulled the 40 backward with the strain on the line and the stern of the 40 went down into the water and down she went. Nobody got seriously hurt but the coxswain hit his arm and went to the hospital. He was BM3 Waymire. I have the original news clipping from the Seattle Times but they didn't state why the 40 sunk. Was the other one you mentioned the one that got hit by the hyro during the races? If so I am familiar with that sinking."

[Zoomer]

Man...that 255 had to have moved pretty far forward to pull a 40 boat under, stern first.  40's had a very low freeboard...hell, I've taken green water from the sides...what the scuppers didn't take care of the bilge pump did....  Guess ya had to have been there....................

[EX-CG-GM]

Its been a few years, but I seem to remember there was alwways a towing watch and a fire ax located aft any time the white ones I was on were towing.  Seems someone fell asleep......

[captjamie]

These forties were gone by the time I got in, but damn they are a fine lookin boat. What the hell is the Guard thinkin with these new harbor patrol boats they are gettin, UGLY UGLY UGLY 

  mates

[Zoomer]

The 40 boats were GREAT!  The 600 series had a little higher freeboard but were still very good for picking up bodies...geeze, we had alot of 'em in San Francisco Bay.  The 600 series also were lighter than the steel boats and had twin V-6's Cummins...faster than the steel boats mostly with 671 two valve heads.  The single screw fiberglass had 671's with a four valve head....I could keep up with the steel 40's....Loved the 40593

I guess they went with more of a comfort for the coxswain with the 41's and more protection for the electronics....dunno, really.....I rode a 41 once....never had the opportunity to drive one.......

[EX-CG-GM]

I was talking to my brother the other day.  He ran 40's out of Alameda back in the 50's.  He said he preferred the wooden 40's because they were faster then the steel ones.

[captjamie]

so what hapened to all the 40's that the Guard had? did they sell'em or scrap'em. Was a crewman on a 41 in Bodega bay those things were like a tank. the funnest I got to work on was the 30' surfboat, those were a blast.

  mates

[Zoomer]

Just like everything Jamie more modern boats took their place.

I know some of the steel 40s were given to local law enforcement and fire departments...there are still a couple around somewhere...maybe not.  If there are any wooden 40s left, I'd be amazed.

Never had a chance to drive a wooden 40....they were all gone in the early 70's