❖ 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

Ashes Overboard––100 Years Ago

FLORENCE K. at Eagle Harbor, WA.
Original photo from the archives of the S. P. H. S.©

"When the steamer ATALANTA was built in 1914, there was a hot argument over her fuel. My father held out for diversity but he lost out to his senior brother, Arthur, who built her to use fuel oil only. He had a long-term contract at a favorable price in order to promote the use of fuel oil, which then had some problems.
      The ship got her supply during the war years, but when the contract expired the oil price skyrocketed and we had to raise the rates just when competition again reared it's ugly head in the form of a subsidized county ferry. The ATALANTA was sold in 1919 and father took his share in the sole ownership of the FLORENCE K. She was promptly equipped with a supply of coal grates for the boiler; her hold on either side of the boiler and engine room were lined and equipped for coal and her cargo space was arranged to store wood, if necessary. He played the fuel market very well––coal when the supply and price were right––oil when the supplier listened to reason––and cordwood if that was indicated. The grates came out for oil but went back in for wood and coal.
      The coal was the dirtiest, of course, and it seemed to me we hoisted out as much ash as fuel originally went in. When you dumped ashes on the lee side the soot, etc. went swirling all over the ship, so there had to be a lot of cleaning. The old craft left her night mooring at the People's Dock near the entrance to Gig Harbor at 6 am. The fireman and I devised a scheme of getting aboard somewhat earlier and dumping ashes and clinkers over the side in the quiet of the harbor.
      This went along quite well until one day, with a rather low tide, Captain Fred Sutter, hit bottom while trying to make a landing. Capt. Fred was a very kind man and a great teacher to me. After he got clear of the dock he had a good talk with yours truly about homemade reefs in front of dock space and we promptly went back to dumping ashes on the run.
      Capt. Arda Hunt never would listen to any talk about Diesel engines. He wouldn't consider putting himself in the position of dependence on one source of fuel, and besides, he wanted the warm boiler room for his crew to dry out in wet weather."
Above text by Reed O. Hunt, Gig Harbor, WA. 
Published by The Sea Chest, Puget Sound Maritime Society, Seattle, WA.