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The Yacht

History

Built by the US Army near the end of the World War II, the Pacific Yellowfin was originally christened as JMP64 in 1943 when she slid down the ways at Billings Shipyard in Deer Isle, Maine. As a Junior Mine Planter, she was to be used in protecting harbours off of the East Coast of the USA.

As a freight/passenger (FP) design, the ship was versatile and could carry considerable tonnage. Many boats of the Pacific Yellowfin’s type played an integral role in recapturing the Aleutian Islands off of Alaska.

Following her active service, Pacific Yellowfin was sold to Clint Pelletier, a man of mystery who appears to have been involved in operations in Cuban waters during the time of the Bay of Pigs invasion. After this time of intrigue, the ship was brought back to the United States and sold, becoming a static houseboat on the Sacramento River for approximately 20 years.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that she was brought back into active service, after being bought by the Tacoma Tow Boat Company to carry out research for the US Navy. After several years of this, she was purchased by millionaire oilman Pete Whittier who started the process of bringing her back into top-notch shape.

Whittier eventually sold Pacific Yellowfin to Colin Griffinson after years of discussions. Ironically, Whittier was looking for a smaller vessel while Griffinson, the owner of a refurbished 22m salmon seiner, was looking for a larger one. The two men happily traded boats, each getting what he needed out of the deal.

Several years after acquiring Pacific Yellowfin, Griffinson undertook an ambitious refitting that included upgraded wiring, a custom-designed interior by Robert Ledingham and safety upgrades to convert her to a certified passenger vessel. The result is what you see today.

Engine Room

A vessel like the Pacific Yellowfin doesn’t survive for 60 years without a reliable power source. Chief Engineer Jack Dixon makes the twin 300-hp Atlas Imperial engines hum along with their distinctive “pocketa-pocketa” sound at practically the same pace as when they were new, producing a stately 10 knots for the ship.

The immaculate engine room and the carefully restored engines are testament to the depth of knowledge and love of tradition that Jack and Captain Colin Griffinson share about the boat. The two men are always willing to share their stories of restoring the ship and their knowledge of the mechanical systems on board, helping guests gain a good sense of how things worked back in the 1940s.

All applicable safety and certification standards have been exceeded in the painstaking and thoughtful restoration of this coastal yacht. All crew members are fully trained in first aid and emergency procedures and the Pacific Yellowfin is certified by Transport Canada as an approved passenger-carrying vessel, complying with all Coast Guard safety regulations.

Specifications
Length :	34.75m (114ft)	Hull Construction :	Wood
Beam :	9.14m (30ft)	Engines :	2 X Atlas Imperial (Direct reversing) - 325hp each
Draft :	3.66m (12ft)	Cruising Speed :	10.5 knots
Year Built :	1943	Fuel Capacity :	18,000 gal
Year Refit :	2003 (Complete historic refit)	Water Capacity :	4,500 gal
Builder :	Army Corps of Engineers	Water maker :	1,000 gal
Naval Architect :	H.C. Hanson	Guests :	8 - 12 overnight & 49 day
Interior Designer :	Robert Ledingham	Crew :	5 - 6