Story
This patrol boat was built in 1943 by Wheeler Shipyards Inc. in Brooklyn, NY.
Historical Notes
John Dapper (07/02/2017) states that "The Elfin topsides were in poor shape and I had to rebuild most of the cabin top, flying bridge, all outside decks, and railings. I have replaced wood to match most of the original Monk design. The few things I have changed were to help water drainage the design didn't account for. The lifting booms have been removed and replaced with a folding crane. The stern is no longer enclosed. I carry a 16' Bayliner I/O in place of what is in the photos. The hull is copper plated and in excellent shape. No leaks. There are 2 671 Detroit mains and 2 14kw generators. I burn about 8.5 gallons @ 10kts. The Elfin was 83416 and did coastal patrol up and down the east coast. Prior to D-Day the boat was ordered to NY for loading aboard a freighter and became one of the 60 rescue boats of D-Day. Boat #28. After D-Day the boat was again loaded aboard a ship and sent to the Marshall Islands for ASW patrol. No action, but learned the crew caught lobster and water skied behind the boat. At the wars end, the Elfin and a sister boat plus a tug were put in a drydock and towed to Astoria. The boat was sold to a fisherman and named Hi. In the late 40s it was renamed Elfin. At some point home port was changed to Seattle. A man in the bakery business used the boat and loaned it out to clients. One of these clients took the boat to Canada, anchored in a bay with a large tide range, went ashore. (I can't imagine loaning a boat of this size to some client.) The boat rolled on it's side at low tide and flooded when the tide returned. About 1972 a Canadian yard bought the boat for salvage, and built the current cabin. Later owners used the boat for tours. The below deck cabins have been changed a couple times. Nothing of the original layout exists except for the chain locker to the 1st bulkhead. The boat has 5 WT bulkheads that I'm trying to restore as a safety issue for the places I go. There are 4 double cabins and 2 crew bunks including the masters. The masters has an office that was another double. There are 2 heads w/showers. A 3rd I converted to a utility room. " George Schneider (6May26) writes: At some point the Coast Guard number CG-81 associated with this vessel, but it's been removed from the listing of names because no documentary evidence of it can be found. This vessel sat idle at Goble, Oregon at least from 2017 to 2026. Her documents expired in 2023. On 5 April 2026 a fire engulfed this and another boat and the adjoining floating dock. The Coast Guard shows her as being destroyed the following day.
Owners & Masters
In 1942-46 she was owned by the US Coast Guard.
In 1946-48 she was owned by Arthur Christensen, Astoria OR.
In 1949-58 she was owned by Clyde C. Parlova of Astoria OR.
In 1960-64 she was owned by Robert B Taylor Jr. of Coos Bay OR.
In 1968 she was owned by Florence L. Burke of Seattle WA.
In 1970 she was owned by William J. McAllister of Seattle WA.
In 1975 she was owned by Seaway Charters Inc. of Seattle WA.
In 1976 she was owned by O'Hanlon Tug & Barge Ltd., Vancouver BC Canada.
In 1977-1980 she was owned by Elfin Charters Ltd., Vancouver BC Canada.
In 1982-1990 she was owned by Leslie Holmes, Delta BC Canada.
In 1991-2011 she was owned by Sea Gal Yacht Charters (Inge I. Morris), Vancouver BC Canada.
In 2011-2022 she was owned by John Dapper, St. Helen's OR USA (vessel at Vancouver WA USA).
Rebuilds
In 1959 she was reclassed as a yacht. Over the years she was then substantially rebuilt.
Repower
1949: repowered with 2-165bhp surplus diesel engines (1942)
References
- U. S. Coast Guard Cutters and Craft of WWII (Schiena), Canada List of Shipping
- Email (John Dapper - George Duddy 07/02/2017)
- www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov ↗
- Merchant Vessels of the United States, 1947-1976
- Merchant Vessels of the United States annual data files, 2011-2026, cgmix.uscg.mil ↗ (accessed 6May2026)