It seems a used– but not too abused– Cold War-era former Cape class cutter/patrol boat is up for sale– cheap.
One of the nine 95-foot Type B Capes completed in the 1950s (there were 36 of the vessels, which were intended to be coastal subchasers in time of war, constructed between 1953 and 1959), USCGC Cape Jellison (WPB-95317) patrolled first the waters of San Diego (1956-73), and then Seward, Alaska (1973-November 1986), primarily Search and Rescue and Law Enforcement missions.
In her SAR role, she rescued the power craft El Gusto (1969), sailboat Siestar, power craft Cleff, and power craft Dowager Jones (1970), along with the FV Kathy Joanne (1982), while her LE patrols yielded a couple of large pot busts. Hey it was the 80s.
She carried the curious Coast Guard-invented piggyback Mk 2 Mod 0 and Mod 1 .50 BMG/81mm mortar forward, seen above while in Alaskan waters.
Post decommissioning in December 1986, she was transferred to the Navy for use as a range control and dive support boat at San Clemente Island/Naval Base Coronado, then donated in turn to the Boys and Girls Club of South San Francisco as the Cape Hurricane and then later to the Sea Scouts where she operated as SSS Challenger until at least 2020.
She has seen better days but still looks great, and could easily be preserved as a small museum ship.
Spotted in the Redwood City, California Craigslist “boat” section, listed since 15 April and repeated here for posterity:
95’ RETIRED CAPE CLASS USCG CUTTER
FORMERLY USCGC CAPE JELLISON (WPB-95317)Builder: US Coast Guard Yard – Curtis Bay, MD
Year Built: 1955
Length Overall: 95’
Beam: 19’
Draft: 6.5’
Displacement: ~90 tons
Last yard period: 2019HULL, STRUCTURE, INTERIOR
Keel, bottom, topsides & decks: Steel
Superstructure: Aluminum
Deck Hardware: One single boat davit with 110 VAC electric winch, one electric smooth-drum vertical capstan with wildcat for anchor chain, Danforth anchor in hawsepipe with all-chain rode, eight mooring bitts with closed chocks
Berthing: Accommodations for 25 as follows: One Single berth commanding officer’s stateroom, two two-berth staterooms, two forward berthing spaces with six and three berths respectively. One aft berthing space with 11 berths
Heads: Three heads, each with shower and sink. One forward, one amidships, one aft.
Galley: Equipped with four-burner full size electric range with oven, two-basin sink with hot/cold water, full size refrigerator with top freezer, dry goods storage
Mess Deck: Two mess tables with seating for 16
Wheelhouse: Wheel steering with pneumatic engine controls. Furuno radar, Furuno depth sounder, two Uniden VHF radios. Em-Trak AIS Class A with GPS, Nav center with full size chart tableSYSTEMS
Main Engines: Four Cummins VT-12, 12-cylinder Turbo-Diesels, tandem installation (two engines per shaft). Fresh water cooled with sea water heat exchangers. Pneumatic start, pneumatic controls. Three engines operational, one disassembled (many parts on hand). Vessel normally operated on two engines.
Gears: Capitol Gears ~3:1 reduction with selectable engine engagement (enables 1 or 2 engines per side to drive the propeller)
Propellers: Two five-blade bronze construction propellers
Generators: Two Detroit Diesel, model 2-71, 24-volt DC electric start, 20 kw, 440 volts three-phase AC generators
Electrical System: DC System: One 12-volt 8D battery for wheelhouse electronics, two 2-volt 8D batteries series wired for 24 VDC generator starting. AC system: 50 amp 440 volts three phase, 220 volts for galley range, 117 volts three phase house power. Shore power: 50 amp 440 volts three phase primary shore power. Also equipped to accept 110 volts shore power to supply house loads, configurable for 110 or 220 volts input.
Fuel System: Three integral storage tanks, ~3,100 gallon total capacity. One integral day tank, ~150 gallon capacity. Electric transfer pump (storage tanks to day tank) with triplex fuel filter/water separator. Duplex fuel filler/water separator at each main engine, single fuel filter/water separator at each generator.
Fresh Water System: Two integral storage tanks, ~1,100 gallon total capacity, electric water heater.
Pneumatics: Two electric air compressors, two storage tanks for starting air, one storage tank for control and service air.
Steering System: Manual wheel steering, cable-driven with hydraulic assist, two rudders, emergency hand operation
Ventilation: Natural and blowers. Two-speed supply and exhaust fans forward and aft. Two Two-speed supply fans for engine room
Black Water System: ~150-gal steel holding tank with electric discharge pump and hand backup. Thru-hull (locked secure) and main deck discharge
