EHYC Boat-of-the-Month

October 2007

PLATYPUS

1945 40 Foot Custom Trawler

owned by  David and Lysbeth Gordon

Platypus is not quite the oldest vessel in the EHYC Fleet but she surely has had the most colorful and varied career.  Built in Australia during the waning days of WW II, she was originally registered as US Naval Gunboat.  She fired no shots in anger.  Next, with the name USN Dental Clinic instead of just a number, she became a mobile clinic to the fleet and war-ravaged villages of occupied Japan.  Surplused by the navy in the 60s and brought to San Diego, she was converted to a commercial fishing vessel.  She reached Puget Sound in the 80s for her forth mission - a strong and comfortable pleasure trawler.

 Platypus is a perfect name for this Aussie.   Her hull is Huon (Tasmanian Pine) an extremely prized, rot-resistant wood that has, unfortunately, become quite rare.  Her planking is spotted gum.  She is faithfully propelled by her original engine – a 1943 185 horsepower Graymarine 671 diesel that was rebuilt by the Navy in 1961.  The hour meter has clocked just an additional 2500 hours since.  Her lines are clean, functional and certainly unpretentious.  Note the funnel with a dry stack.  A true trawler, she prefers a stately 7 to 8 knots.

Proud owners Lysbeth and David Gordon bought Platypus in late 2002 and lived aboard full-time for 2 years.  An important fixture on A dock of Winslow Wharf Marina, Platypus has been the focal point for countless dinners and parties.  The Gordons did not have major boating experience before but have found wooden vessel maintenance enjoyable and rewarding.  Since 2004, they have become part-time boaters as David’s directorship of Pacific Environment keeps him in San Francisco much of the time.  Lysbeth worked for many years in the Foreign Service.

The comfortable aft cabin – note the original bronze water pump but also a modern pressurized system.

A final view, resting at buoy.