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Mar-Sue / USS See W. See SP 740

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Mar-Sue / USS See W. See SP 740

This page follows the history of the motor yacht, h) MAR-SUE, a) SEE W. SEE. Built in Bayshore, NY 1915. Converted back into a MY in 1919 and 1944.

She is a veteran of two World Wars, WWI USN SP-740 and WWII USCG CGR 6001. Today she still survives.

03/26/2026

On 3-22-2026 a hour and 15 min trip turned into three and half hours. The lock was operating on a two hour schedule and we arrived an hour early. The wind was blowing as I came into the lock and the lock tender had me pull all the way forward which is normal, however taking the bow line first was a mistake and the stern was moving away from the lock wall, should have a midships line. Tried to get the midships line to him, but he said "I do not catch lines", so I carried the line forward so he could use his boat hook. He used it and said "I do not pull boats in" and I said no problem we will, then he just dropped the line and walked off. He was telling me to get the boat in, She would not come in because of the line forward and the MAR-SUE is single screw with no cheaters. By this time we were 90 degrees to the lock wall about to get against the gate. I did what I did not want to do by noising her into the lock wall and giving her a hard port rudder which in the process I broke one of my anchor retainers that has been there for 97 years. This guy would make a perfect ICE agent. Anyway the rest of the trip was uneventful and the MAR-SUE making it into the back waters of AYB where she has not been since 1959 went she berthed there from 1944.

The wheel picture is what I am making for the St Michaels trip in June which I will hang from the side of the boat, not finished yet. It will also serve as a table top.

09/08/2025

Today at Atlantic Yacht Basin (AYB) I browsing through a photo album and found this picture taken on April 27 1950. I was two years old at the time. My dad kept his boat here and where I grew up on the weekends until I was nine years old. In the shed to the left (Shed 1) where it looks like a roof repair is where my dad kept his 27' Chris-Chris along with his friend Billy Maroulis who had a 25' Chris-Craft. That boat in the second row looks like my dads Chris-Craft. To the right of the shed, the second boat to the right is the JONBOB II, the boat I own today known as the MAR-SUE. What a find 75 years later. Photo courtesy of AYB.

When I was old enough, I used to run from shed 1 around the "L" shape connector dock through Shed 2 and out to the fuel dock to see what was coming through the bridge. Where the connector dock started at the corner of Shed 2 was an old large fire fighting pump wagon that was always interesting. I wonder if it even worked. All the boats then were wood and you always would smell the varnish that boat owners were applying to their freshly sanded area. Kind of miss that today, mahogany adds such a touch of class to a boat. Today instead of varnishing, they are waxing.

08/21/2025

With the help of a recent friendship with Ted, a military historian who knew where to go for some information I have looked for, for many years. Passed down through previous owners, it said that the JONBOB II served in WWII. I have never been able to verify this and organizations I asked never got back to me. Ted knew who to ask and he found her. She served as a Coast Guard Picket Boat CGR-6001 and was in Charleston harbor in 1942. Current info said she served in both the 6th district (NC up VA) and the 7th District (FL, GA, SC). The government like in WWI conscripted private vessel for patrol and other purposes. She was commissioned in July of 1942 and decommissioned in November of 1943. She was auctioned of in November of 1944 to Julius T. Herbst who moved her to Atlantic Yacht Basin in now Chesapeake, VA from Savannah, GA. Attached is what she would have looked like during WWII only painted Battleship gray with big letters painted CGR-6001 painted in white on her bow. Attached picture is the JONBOB II around 1951 under Herbst's ownership.

05/07/2025

A MAR-SUE memory from years ago. This is Colonial Yacht Harbor on the Chickahominy River in the 1980's. The MAR-SUE cruised up with the SMILES there on the right. At the table L to R, SMILES Capt Eddie, Debbie Baxter, Nephew Tom Hudson, Orla Bauer and not sure. Work on the MAR-SUE stopped on November 3rd last when I fell on my right shoulder and tore my rotator cuff. A month to see the doctor, a month of Physical Therapy, another month to get an operation, six weeks in the sling and currently in Physical Therapy hopefully for the last time. I have been in a lot of pain. Anyway hoping to get started again little by little. It is harder when you are old.

10/26/2024

Finally completed aft cabin side repairs and today applying first coat of paint. A morning picture and a afternoon picture. What a difference a coat of paint makes.

09/16/2024

Update of what I have been doing on the MAR-SUE as 9-15-2024. This Summer I completed the hull and Gunnel repair. This ended up taking a year, a big job. Then I started repairing the Port Aft Cabin side. This is still in work as of this post. I was able to get it closed in and an epoxy prime coat applied before today's and the next few days of rain. Pictures: 1. Doubler's for portholes being epoxied in place. 2. Hull side fiber-glassing and fairing complete, ready for paint. 3. Gunnel repair complete with fresh coat of paint. 4. Hull side repair complete, now working on Aft Cabin. 5. Working to beat the rain predicted. Got the cabin side closed in with prime coat of epoxy.

04/21/2024

A MAR-SUE cruise memory from a cruise up the Chickahominy River in 1984/5. Crew L to R Orlga Bauer, Dan Altom, Lynn Altom, Debbie Baxter, Tim Baxter, Sheila Kilmon, Capt BB Butch Baxter and Mike Baxter. Missing George Bauer who must be taking this picture.

03/14/2024

Finally the weather has improved where I can continue on the Portside hull repair. All winter it has been blowing and/or raining every other day where it just was not worth unwrapping and changing lines to work. I finished the planking before Christmas and started back this week body filling and sanding. I was able to glass a partial part of the repair today. Pictures show sanded area, hanging the matt and 10oz cloth and matt & cloth impregnated. Much more to do but progress was made.

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas to all from the sailing ship CATTY SARK.

11/30/2023

Well, it looks like winter is going to get me before I get her closed up. Between having a bad cold, wife sick with same and family in from out of town for Thanksgiving progress has suffered. Now I am going to suffer in the cold. Attached picture shows a couple of planks I have installed. Ensuring the contours are correct, a plank takes considerable to install. This does not count cutting the board down to size and milling. So, progress is one board at a time.

11/14/2023

Attached picture is a peak at MAR-SUE's past. I am currently repairing the Portside gunnel and hull where water intrusion has caused much decay. Cutting planking away in the engine room area shows what she looked when built in 1915. Some of the deck was cut away years ago and what is left is now used as a self. The deck toe board is also seen here and shows what hull would have looked like in 1915-1928. On this deck is where US Navy sailor Dennis Shehan died in route to a hospital in Babylon, NY in 1918 after a boiler incident on another USN patrol craft.

09/14/2023

A MAR-SUE memory from a trip to Lenexa, VA via the James River. Taken in early 1990's, shy Shella Wida with her mom Dee Wida. Capt. BB at the helm, not sure who the little boy and I guess his mom are. Chippokes Plantation is on the left and Jamestown Island on the right as we cruise down the James River.

Address

1146 Inland Road
Chesapeake, VA
23322

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