That Sinking Feeling

Oh Boy!

So what do you do? Oh seems simple right. BUT. What if you, the dock owner don’t own the boat anymore? This same situation is happening around here. Large boats sitting at docks and some are..well.. not doing so well. Sadly this YP was sold to a guy who would fix it but never moved the boat. And of course, moving it has some serious issues, so its a conundrum.

Looks like the Anchor area gave way

Pumping away.

Does make a cool picture though

Old patches

Moody..

He cant fix it since its not his, and yet the new owner from a year ago, can’t. BTW, Fuel has been removed. And the pumps are doing a good job getting it back so the hole can be repaired. But it still leaves it waiting.
And no, no local Railways will deal with it. Its too far away from mine BTW.

Image from 1941 Courtesy of Yard patrol boat Wikiwand

If you want to know more about YP boats, “YIPPYS” click here. I do understand the emotional bond of Navy folks and these. YP stands for Yard Patrol. and were basically school rooms for young sailors.

11 replies
  1. Bob
    Bob says:

    We had one at St. Michaels this past weekend. They look great when maintained. How sad to see this one.

  2. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    That is an awful sight. It’s a shame what is happening to the old wood cruisers everywhere. So many are sinking or rotting on the hard in marinas, eventually to be the victim of a bonfire or chainsaw. This one is even worse since it’s a retired naval vessel that served our country. So sad!

  3. Matt
    Matt says:

    Abandoned boats here in Virginia has become an issue. I know in Maryland they have a fund to remove them in some sort of way. But leaving a boat loose is a sad way to end it all.

  4. Kelly Wittenauer
    Kelly Wittenauer says:

    Sad to see. Cutting a boat loose, leaving the wind & currents to determine where it goes & what it hits, is dangerous. While I’ve seen far too many rotting on the hard, I’ve seen very few abandoned in the water where I’ve boated. Seems to me the authorities would hold the owner responsible for removal, like with wreck cleanup.

  5. Frank@Falmouth
    Frank@Falmouth says:

    YP- 654 Class Training Craft
    Laid down, 4 January 1957, at Stephens Bros, Inc., Stockton, CA
    Launched, 26 July 1957
    Delivered and placed in service, 14 March 1958
    Reclassified to combatant craft, 1 February 1989
    Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
    Sold, date unknown, to Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Piney Point MD., named M/V Osprey
    Current status, purchased in 2010 by (redacted) a . CAPT. USN Ret., renamed YP-654, homeported at Reedville, VA. States plans to restore the boats exterior to her original look
    Specifications:
    Displacement 66 t.(fl)
    Length 81′
    Beam 18′
    Draft 6′
    Speed 12 kts.
    Armament none
    Complement 2 Officers, 8 Enlisted
    Range 1800 nm
    Propulsion
    two 12V-71N Detroit Diesel engines
    two propellers, 437 SHP 437 shaft horsepower @ 2,100 RPM

    “…the best laid plans of mice and men…”

  6. Frank@Falmouth
    Frank@Falmouth says:

    What an enormous task this would be…and finding a local yard that could haul her, (66 tons , 81 feet and 6 ft draft )if they even would… would be impossible…. So what is the fate of such vessels…? Abandoned boats are a problem, .
    Id like to be there if the hardware is scrapped, loots of cool stuff on those old YP’s..

  7. Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P )
    Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P ) says:

    So sad to see all those derelict boats. Makes you appreciate the restored ones more😃

  8. River Rat
    River Rat says:

    Nobody wants to see a fine craft become a navigational Hazzard. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but wake, unless in a no wake zone.

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