Shep Williams/Mokulele

[2003z06]

Aloha all:

To try to make a long story short, I used to sail with Shep Williams on the Mokulele in the 80s and 90s, I was best friends with his son Scott.  I saw some discussion here and was hoping someone could get the Bob Krauss articles to me somehow.

Get this:  Scott FOUND the Mokulele in Pearl Harbor a few years ago, got permission to tow her out on the morning of December 7 (of all days!) and turned her over to a friend at Kewalo.  I'm trying to find out more on the history of this boat...confirmation that she is technically the last wooden sailing vessel built by the US Navy at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard if not all shipyards.  A bit of humorous trivia perhaps?  Was she really built as sort of a bootleg copy because Nate Hereshoff refused to sell some Navy officers a "real" S-boat? 

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Steve]

Aloha.  I assume you have read the thread that discusses MOKULELE and her history.  If not, you should read this: http://www.herreshoffregistry.org/forum/index.php?topic=386.0.

Charles Barclay, a member and contributor here, is our resident expert on the Hawaii S Boat Fleet and has first-hand knowledge of MOKULELE.  I expect that he will be along shortly.  Charles has a number of old photographs and articles which are referenced in the above thread.  I have copies of the others, but not the Krauss article.  Charles may be able to send it along.

The Navy built two S-Boats.  The other, MOKIANA, was scrapped by the Navy in the early 1990s.  I have not heard the story about Nat refusing to sell an S-Boat to some Navy officers.  Maybe some of our other members know more.

-Steve

[Charles Barclay]

Sunday Mornings can be full of surprises.  Please private message me and I'll send the Bob Krauss article and other information as I can. 

My understanding is that HMCo would sell the boats to the Navy, remember Captain Nat was well into retirement by then and the Haffenreffers had been running the show for 6 or so years, but that the junior grade officers did not have the funds for a $4,000 boat plus shipping.  Six other S-Boats had been sold and shipped between 1929 and 1930-1 for use at Pearl Harbor Yacht Club, the Navy officers wanted to join the fun. 

Shep had put an engine in her and a water tight cockpit, the engine is gone now, but the shaft remains, we have acquired some of the hardware from a friend of the family who lives on the Big Island , and yes, Scott Williams did arrange to have Mokulele removed from Pearl Harbor on December 7, 2009 to escape the crushers.  Kudos to Scott.

Mokulele is afloat as of this morning.  We just did another termite treatment, she is taking on water slowly through a hole in the glassed hull.  She has 33 cracked frames, no mast, and a shortened boom.  I'm working on a cradle to haul the boat out and begin the process of rebuilding. 

--Charles