Kohala
Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Texas Tech University Libraries
Abstract
Ship Name: Kohala; Sailed: 1901-1941; Type: Wood 4 mast barkentine; Built by: Fairhaven, California by Hans Bendixsen & Co.; Dimensions: 194.8' x 39.9' x 15.8'; Tonnage: 891 tons.
Description
Kohala was a well-known traveler on the west coast for nearly thirty years. Mostly in the lumber and sugar trades, Kohala also hauled coal. Kohala’s career ended in 1927 when the ship was anchored off Southern California as a fishing platform. Kohala met an unfortunate end when the ship was sunk by an American bomber in the hysterical early days of World War II. The plans of this barkentine are in the Historical American Merchant Marine Survey and are easily obtained. Charles Robert Patterson painted Kohala’s portrait the year the ship was sold as a fishing barge. The first photograph shows Kohala as the ship ought to be remembered—with a deck load of lumber.
The second photograph depicts Kohala laid up in the middle 1920s shortly before being sold as a fishing platform. With Kohala are the wood bark McLaurin in the center and Katherine Mackall, another barkentine, to the left. The steamer partially seen at far left is unidentified.
The wood bark in the center, McLaurin was originally a three-masted ship built Newburyport, Massachusetts by F. P. Jones and launched in 1879. Of 1374 tons, and 200.8’ x 39’ x 24’-- McLaurin was burned for its metal in San Francisco Bay in 1927—the same year Kohala became a fishing barge. Thereby we have the upward limit for dating the photograph. The barkentine Katherine Mackall was another Ferris steamer hull converted to a sailing ship. Launched in 1919, the five-masted barkentine Katherine Mackall was 2262 tons, and 256.3’ x 46’ x 24.1’. Katherine Mackall traded across the Pacific to Australia and up and down the coast—even voyaging to Antofagasta. Katherine Mackall was built in Wilmington by Ralph J. Chandler Shipbuilding Co., and scrapped in Puget Sound in 1930. Therefore, this photograph more than likely dates from 1925-1927.
Keywords
Merchant Ships, Ships