❖ SKANSIE BROTHERS SHIPYARD ❖ LAUNCHING 1927 (updated)

SKANSIE BROTHERS SHIPYARD
GIG HARBOR, WA.
Original 1927 photo from the archives of
the Saltwater People Historical Society©
Click image to enlarge.

"The Skansie Bros. Shipyard was established at Gig Harbor, WA, specializing in the construction of the heavy-duty gasoline vessels which were fast replacing other types in the fishing industry of the Northwest.
      The first craft built by the Skansie brothers, Peter, Andrew, Mitchell, and Joseph, at their new shipyard was the 65-ft fishing vessel OCEANIA, launched in May 1912, and designed for their own fishing fleet. The brothers were said to have built the first gasoline launch for seine fishing on Puget Sound while other fishermen were still using oar-powered skiffs. The brothers learned the shipbuilding trade in Europe. 

L-R: Mitchell Skansie, President
I. C. Rowland, Vice-President
with Mr. Rowland's free pass for
Washington Navigation Company, hardly needed 
for this day of sea-trials,  2 April 1927.
Launching photographs of M.V. DEFIANCE are below.
 original photo from the archives of
the Saltwater People Historical Society©

      Mitchell Skansie was the major owner of the young shipyard and the upcoming ferry company. In 1921 he established the Steilacoom-Long Branch ferry, adding the Fox Island ferry in 1924. In 1926 he organized the Washington Navigation Company of which he was 93% owner, taking over the county ferries operating between Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and Vashon Island, thus gaining control of the entire ferry system then operating in Pierce County." H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the PNW. Newell, Gordon, editor. 
1927: The launching of the M.V. DEFIANCE, Gig Harbor, WA. 

Flags flying for the launching of DEFIANCE
226366
444 G.t. 295 N.t.
156' x 49.2' x 13.6'
Original photo inscribed, 16 January 1927 
from the archives of the Saltwater People Historical Society©

Launching of DEFIANCE 
16 January 1927
Skansie Brothers Shipyard
Gig Harbor, WA.
Dated original photo from the archives of
the Saltwater People Historical Society©

M.V. DEFIANCE 
Getting her two new Fairbanks-Morse engines 
three months after launching in 1927.
Mitchell Skansie standing by on the right
Dated original photo from the archives of the
Saltwater People Historical Society©

Ferry DEFIANCE
Steaming into her old home port of Gig Harbor in 1931.
Not many cars aboard but lots of steam.
Click image to enlarge.
Original photo from the archives of the Saltwater People Historical Society©

1921: Little motor ferry ELK was built by the Skansie Bros. Shipyard for service on the Steilacoom-Longbranch route under contract to Pierce County. Later she was named AIRLINE. She was scrapped in 1938.

ELK
221669
66.8' x 22.8' x 8.9'
77 G.t. / 52 N.t.
Indicated HP 100
Fairbanks-Morse.
In this photo she is leaving Longbranch, WA on the 3:30 trip
18 June 1923.
Original photo from the archives of the Saltwater People Historical Society©

1930: By this year, Mitchell Skansie owned 7 ferries operating on 4 routes.
1940: "The spectacular collapse of the Washington State Highway Department's first suspension bridge across the Puget Sound Narrows at Tacoma early in the year, resulted in the resumption of the ferry service that had been discontinued there following the completion of the bridge. Bids were submitted to the highway department by William Skansie of Gig Harbor (WA. Navigation Co.) and Capt. John L. Anderson. The Anderson bid was the lower of the two, but it was claimed that it did not meet contract specifications and the award was made to Skansie. The ferries SKANSONIA, CITY OF TACOMA, and DEFIANCE maintained this service for the ten years between the collapse of the first ill-fated bridge, and the completion of a new $18,000,000 span to replace it." 
H.W. McCurdy's Marine History of the PNW. Newell, G. editor. 

Thank you, Captain Mike Boyle, for the help with this post.

For more history from this well-known immigrant family's hometown, please see a Harbor History Museum blog post along with other links they have included HERE