1940 Custom Launch

Queenie is an original 26 Ft. Navy whaleboat converted to a harbor touring launch in the style of the steam river boat "African Queen" made famous in the 1951 film starring Humphry Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. She was originally built in about 1940 as a 12 man open whaleboat, carvel planked and bronze fastened, for use as a lifeboat on naval vessels in World War II, probably at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard in Washington State. Sometime later (unknown) she was modified to her present configuration for sevice as a harbor touring launch, complete with enclosed wooden deck house, full rigid canopy, large windows, false smoke stack, and stem head figure of a blonde mermaid. "Queenie" is in excellent condition throughout and ready to enjoy touring (to the sound track of the film "African Queen") with your friends inside the harbor and along inland and near coastal waters.

30 Ft. mooring in Balboa Basin of Newport Harbor available with purchase of boat. (additional $24,000)

Total Power: 70

Chain locker and storage forward. Small galley sink and head enclosure (refrigerator presently fitted) on the portside forward; with passenger seating and the second steering station on starboard side forward; seating for up to 6 passengers amid ship, and primary steering station and additional seating for two persons aft. Comfortable seating for up to 8 persons. Storage locker under port side seating amid ship, two storage lockers forward, and one locker under aft seat. Passenger seating amid ship can be converted to sleeping bunks for two persons. Provisions are made for addion of holding tank and enclosed head (not fitted).

The vessel was originally built as a 12 man open whale boat, carvel planked in 1 1/8 in. cedar, silicon bronze fastened to 1 1/2 in. x 1 1/2 in. steam bent white oak frames (most are doubled) on 8 in. centers. There are white oak stem, horn, and shallow keel timbers, and main deck is 1/2 in. fir ply on 2 in. x 2 in. mahogany beams with fiberglass over along cabin sides and aft deck, and with 1/2 in. teak plank overlay on foredeck. Hull above waterline and deck house and trim are finished in Sterling LP paint, recently done. Hull topsides are in white, house is bright yellow, and trim is green and red. Bottom was recently painted with red copper oil based bottom paint.

Vessel was converted to harbor touring launch configuration with large enclosed cabin, 16 large tempered safety glass windows, full length interior side bench seating, 2 helm control stations each with brass and teak spoke wheels, Morse engine controls, and Vetus hydraulic steering that directs an outboard rudder with bronze keel skeg mount. There is a full length wooden canopy over the cabin and a colorful false smoke stack mounted on cabin top, and a mermaid figure head fixed to the stem.

There is about 600 lbs. of lead ingot ballast in the bilge for increased stability.

The single engine is a Universal Marine gasoline powered Unimite Four, RWC 70 Hp with 300 hours, and 2:1 reduction and reversing gear. Engine cooling is engine driven raw water pump with above water line wet exhaust. Propeller is 17RH16, 3 blade bronze on 1 3/3 in. monel shaft.

Fuel tankage is 30 gals. gasoline in 1 copper tank with copper fuel and vent lines, in line fuel shutoff valve, and an electric fuel pump. Water is 5 gals. in plastic tank in galley area forward. There are 2 new bronze through hull fittings below water line, 1 capped (not used) for holding tank exhaust.

Thee is a 12 VDC blower in the engine compartment, Rule 1500 electrical bilge pump, Xintec M-2 Fume sensor, Firebouy automatic Freon fire suppression system, electic horn, and electric running lights. Side lights, steaming lights, stern light, and addional lantern on the rudder astern are all classic electric/kersene combination lights.

DC power is supplied by two 90 amp-hour batteries controlled by one battery switch. 115VAC is supplied for refrigerator and battery charger through shore power cable connector fitting. There is a Sony radio and cassete player with four speakers.

There is a 10 lb. Danforth anchor mounted in chocks on foredeck, with 100 ft. of 1/2 in. nylon 3 strand anchor line stowed in locker below. There are 6 Type II adult sized, and 1 child size lifejackets, one 24 in. life ring, one Kidde 10ABC and one 5ABC dry chemical portable fire extinguishers, ships bell, flares and horn. A 12 VCDC air compressor, air pressure tank, and steam whistle are mounted in the false smoke stack above the canopy.

Hull was found in good condition for a vessel of her years with few exceptions (which have been corrected). Vessel is a good physical risk for insurance in marinas, in harbors and bays, and upon near coastal waters out to Catalina Island on selected days of good weather, light seas and swell.

This vessel is well maintained with pride of ownership evident throughout. She has been moored in protected waters of Newport Harbor, and the bottom and topsides regularly cleaned. She was recently hauled out and repainted above and below waterline. Vessel is clean and dry below decks, and the bilge is dry. Underwater external areas are structurally sound with a good coat of bottom paint.

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.