Design 709 Excursion Vessel Mohican Conversion

In 1907, a new excursion vessel was commissioned and built of riveted steel to a design by naval architect J. W. Millard of New York for the Lake George Steamboat Company. She was built by the T.S. Marvel Company of Newburgh, New York, and named Mohican (II), in honor of the boat that preceded her.

Power was provided by two inverted, direct-acting, Fletcher-built compound steam engines which generated approximately 550 horsepower to her twin screws, giving her a cruising speed of 13 knots while burning four tons of coal a day. She was built at a cost of $65,000.

In 1945, the company was sold to a New York City Admiralty lawyer named Wilbur E. Dow Jr. for $35,000. After he purchased the company, Mr. Dow decided that the Mohican should be converted from steam power to diesel propulsion.

At the end of the 1946 season, the Mohican was laid up. Under the supervision of Sparkman & Stephens, the boilers and engines were taken out, four General Motors 671 diesel engines were installed, and a new superstructure was built to take advantage of the more compact power plant. The cost of the refit was $210,000.

She is still in operation today.

Principal Dimensions
LOA 117-0"
Beam 26-6"
Draft 6-0"

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Design 438 YP 180 Conversion

In 1942 the U.S. Navy commissioned us prepare the plans to convert a number of World War I subchasers (SC designation) to yard patrol boats (YP designation). YP 180 was originally built by Elco (Electric Launch Company) in 1918. She was one of 442 SC-1s, the 110-foot subchasers built during WWI, with designation SC-101 and named Fidus.

The conversion was done at Fyfes Shipyard, Glenwood Landing, Long Island, New York. YP boats were used for coastal defense and also for naval training purposes. YP 180 operated with a complement of 2 officers and 18 crew.

Looking at the archives the following S&S design numbers were also YP conversions, all done in 1942: #425, #426, #427, #428, #429 and #440.

Here are the plans.

The boat was later converted into a fishing party boat operating out of Hoboken, New Jersey, and named Whitby III. She has since been scrapped (1970).

Principal Dimensions
LOA 110-4"
LWL 106-5"
Beam 14-9"
Draft 6-10"

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