Shipbuilding History

Home
> U.S. Builders of Large Yachts

Palmer Johnson Yachts

Sturgeon Bay WI

Most recent update: June 7, 2019.

The Palmer Johnson yard was established in 1918 as Johnson and Gmack, to build fishing vessels. Hans Johnson bought out Herman Gmack after World War One and changed the name to Sturgeon Bay Boat Works. Johnson's son Palmer bought control in 1932 and later renamed the company Palmer Johnson Yachts. Palmer Johnson retired in 1959 and sold the company to a group of local businessmen, who sold it in 1961 to Pat Haggerty, of Texas Instruments, who died in 1980, leaving it under the management of Mike Kelsey, Sr. Then, in 2000, it was sold to Andrew McKelvey, of monster.com, who sold it in 2003 to Timur Mohamed, the famous cricketer. Finally, in 2015, it was announced that the Sturgeon Bay shipyard would be closed and sold after delivery of its last boat, which happened in 2017: all production operations have now been moved to Europe. Visit the company at palmerjohnson.com, although this is a great example of a really useless web site. The Sturgeon Bay operation was located at 128 Kentucky Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenues: you can see it from the air on Google here.

If you have an addition or correction for this page, please send it in.

O/N Name Customer Type GT LOA Built Notes
Built by Sturgeon Bay Boat Works
221943 King Victor Johnson fish tugboat 16 36 1920 abandoned 1974
224148 Golden Girl Alfred Weborg fish tugboat 22 40 1921 abandoned 1966
225407 Majestic Harry Hagen fish tugboat 17 39 1925 abandoned 1976
225887 Silver Spray Earl Killoran fish tugboat 15 39 1925 scuttled 1940s
227024 Palmer Alfred Shellswick fish tugboat 26 44 1926
226980 Fred Roy Richter fish tugboat 23 44 1927 abandoned 1969
227019 Velox Leon Cornell fish tugboat 18 41 1927
229906 Lady Jane Ray S. Smith ketch 28 49 1927 later Minel III, Heather
286769 Pitt Melvin Shenwether schooner 15 38 1927 later Blue Moon, Tombill, Asahi, Heather
Leila C Leslie Cornell fish tugboat 40 1928 collision and sank 1928
230410 Lafond George Lafond fish tugboat 24 38 1929
229221 Jane Nels Sorenson fish tugboat 20 37 1929 laid up
229246 Ramona Gills Rock Fish Co. fish tugboat 27 42 1929
230408 Hope Stanley Voight fish tugboat 26 42 1930 in Door County Marine Museum
231279 Pitt George W. Pittenger sloop 25 43 1931 later Marjela, Promise, Sally Jo, Apropos, Palmer J
230409 John V. Allie John V. Allie Sons fish tugboat 21 40 1934
233694 Faith Lawrence Voight fish tugboat 20 36 1934
234497 F. G. Wilke Fred Wilke fish tugboat 24 38 1935 later Sunbeam, Sherry Lynn
236290 Buddy O Ole Olson fish tugboat 17 36 1935 later at Rogers Street Museum
235714 Lone Eagle Clyde Olson fish tugboat 23 38 1936
234923 Roamer Johnson Voight fish tugboat 23 38 1936 burned 1975
233681 Ranger Adolph Ruzek fish tugboat 23 40 1936
233683 Sparta Gus Koulentis fish tugboat 23 40 1936
235843 Viking Earl Wickman fish tugboat 26 40 1936
237857 Aloha Lawrence Voight fish tugboat 26 41 1937 later at Sleeping Bear Dunes
235759 Islander Albert Goodmander fish tugboat 29 41 1937
237012 Victor H Victor Halberg fish tugboat 21 39 1937
234909 Janice A Charles Anderson fish tugboat 23 38 1937
236100 Merleen Felix Pearson fish tugboat 17 37 1937
237401 Gem Glen Weborg fish tugboat 16 34 1938 Abandoned
237935 Allie Roy Nelson fish tugboat 23 38 1938
238763 Rex Ed Bohman fish tugboat 19 35 1938 broken-up late 1980s
239225 Evelyn S William Selman fish tugboat 30 47 1939 later at museum in South Haven MI
239935 Alice Calvin Richard fish tugboat 33 47 1940
240146 Mister John DeYoung fish tugboat 20 36 1940 later Helen W, burned 1986
239411 Last Buccaneer L. A. Ferguson fish tugboat 14 42 1940 later Kuuipo, Buccaneer
287866 Northern Light Charles F. Short ketch 17 41 1941
289228 Copperhead John Doerr sloop 13 41 1941
260680 T-8 US Army passenger cargo 65 Aug 1942 later Hodge
T-9 US Army passenger cargo 65 Sep 1942
T-10 US Army passenger cargo 65 Oct 1942
258956 T-60 US Army passenger cargo 65 May 1943 later Leda I
253907 T-61 US Army passenger cargo 65 June 1943 later Lucky Lady
T-62 US Army passenger cargo 65 July 1943
P-296 US Army rescue boat 42 Aug 1943
262608 P-297 US Army rescue boat 42 Aug 1943
P-298 US Army rescue boat 42 Aug 1943
260926 P-299 US Army rescue boat 42 Sep 1943
259634 P-300 US Army rescue boat 42 Sep 1943
P-301 US Army rescue boat 42 Sep 1943
P-302 US Army rescue boat 42 Oct 1943
P-303 US Army rescue boat 42 Oct 1943
P-304 US Army rescue boat 42 Oct 1943
266595 P-305 US Army rescue boat 42 Nov 1943
P-306 US Army rescue boat 42 Nov 1943
P-307 US Army rescue boat 42 Nov 1943
P-308 US Army rescue boat 42 Dec 1943
P-309 US Army rescue boat 42 Dec 1943
P-310 US Army rescue boat 42 Dec 1943
256546 P-452 US Army rescue boat 45 Feb 1944 later Dahlia
P-453 US Army rescue boat 45 Mar 1944
P-454 US Army rescue boat 45 Mar 1944
254853 P-455 US Army rescue boat 45 Apr 1944 later Albatros, Southwind
P-456 US Army rescue boat 45 May 1944
P-457 US Army rescue boat 45 May 1944
P-458 US Army rescue boat 45 June 1944
P-459 US Army rescue boat 45 July 1944
P-460 US Army rescue boat 45 July 1944
P-461 US Army rescue boat 45 Aug 1944
273645 P-462 US Army rescue boat 45 Sep 1944 later Mendota
P-463 US Army rescue boat 45 Sep 1944
P-464 US Army rescue boat 45 Oct 1944
P-465 US Army rescue boat 45 Nov 1944
P-466 US Army rescue boat 45 Nov 1944
P-467 US Army rescue boat 45 Dec 1944
P-468 US Army rescue boat 45 Jan 1945
P-469 US Army rescue boat 45 Jan 1945
P-488 US Army rescue boat 45 Feb 1945
P-489 US Army rescue boat 45 Feb 1945
P-490 US Army rescue boat 45 Mar 1945
275753 P-491 US Army rescue boat 45 Mar 1945
Bess Emily yacht
sloop 27 1946-1947 21+ boats of the Stout Fella 27 design
282350 Arrowhead George Kress yawl 11 37 1946
Flying Swan H. J. Hagemeister yawl 37 1947
548038 Taltohna Edgar B. Tolman yawl 16 45 1947
509008 Gal O'Gallee Angelica Adams yawl 18 45 1950
Built by Palmer Johnson Yachts
Aderyn IV Stephen R. Davis sloop 30 1956
Wind Song Clark R. Taylor sloop 29 1958
Restless Walter Bissell, Jr. sloop 33 1959
623011 Victory C. C. Harrison yawl 14 38 1960
2 ? 1251701 Semira David Bricker yacht 6 38 1961
4 ? 539275 Deb-Al Chris. Guyette yacht 21 41 1961 later Southern Cross
NY3634GC Pique Fred Ford, Jr. yacht 40 1961 later Resurgence
Kuwi R. N. Whitrock yawl 38 1961 later Whisper
501468 Peleia Howard J. Hansen yawl 10 38 1962 later Barbara, Reverie, Theiris
293677 Isanti Richard E. Barton yacht 26 49 1963
296360 Bay Bear Navy Sailing Fdn. yacht 22 33 1964
503169 Missi New Orleans Y.C. passenger 13 31 1966
962442 Marquis Robert A. Miller fishing boat 12 34 1966
506315 Beayondan Pat Haggerty yacht 73 79 1966 later White Eagle
510806 Firebird Ben M. Carter, Jr. passenger 71 74 1967
517307 Nomad Carl Kettler yacht 32 48 1967
512428 Bay Bea II Pat Haggerty yacht 19 49 1968 later Cogg-Nizant, Bay Bea
515711 Marguerite Jerico Towing passenger 82 57 1968 later Hobbit (Canada ON 835465)
514676 Dyna II Clayton Ewing yacht 36 51 1968 later Hope
519500 Falcon Benj. Heineman yacht 35 51 1969
530878 Bandit Albert Van Meter yacht 35 51 1969
526570 Locura Carr McCormack yacht 52 55 1970 later Dora
530089 Yankee Girl David Steere yacht 30 56 1970
Canada Charisma Jesse Philips yacht 27 56 1970 later Sunbird, Charisma of Vancouver (Canada O.N. 368377)
534242 Cygnus Peter J. Lange yacht 15 40 1971
115 Aura III Wallace Stenhouse yacht 19 49 1971 later Tuia
Canada Scaramouche V Chuck Kirsch yacht 19 49 1971 no longer active (Canada O.N. 828080)
540061 Kahili II Axel E. Rosenblad yacht 52 61 1972 later Akka, Kahili II
Dora IV Lynn Williams yacht 62 1972 later Tenacious (Fastnet Race winner), War Baby
109 Fantasia Eve Pearson yacht 36 1974 later Insatiable
Marguerite Joel Martino ketch 59 1973 later Sun Chaser, Whisper
Wa Wa Too III Fernando Nabuco sloop 53 1973 (Brazil)
548711 Anjacaa Anjacaa LLC passenger 41 53 1973
123 552740 Twilight Salem Marine yacht 10 84 1973 later Le Club Tarpon
560668 Kialoa III Trade Wind Nav. yacht 101 78 1974
Tempest Eric Ridder yacht 79 1974 later Jader
Robin Ted Hood yacht 36 1974 later Hubbub
556395 Way Point Marian S. Breslar yacht 24 41 1975
565500 Love Machine John W. Hoskins yacht 23 36 1975 later Intention 2
Marrakesh Express John Bushnell yacht 36 1975 later Talaria II
132 1149443 Hawkeye Orange Coast Coll. passenger 25 53 1974 later Bumble Bee, Congere, Windancer 4, No Quarter, Bumblebee
Silver Apple Hugh Coveney yacht 37 1975 (Ireland)
Mach II J-C LaPort yacht 38 1975 (Brazil)
Peanut Brittle yacht 38 1975
Golliwog Art Wullschlager yacht 41 1975 later Fire One, Maestro
Ricochet Lloyd Ecclestone yacht 41 1975
Barbarian yacht 41 1975
Wizard Lou Kagen yacht 41 1975
140 631398 Damn Yankee Arthur L. Doering yacht 13 35 1975
141 570153 Jabula Bruce A. Ross yacht 17 41 1975
577430 Ocean Star Mark A. Wargelin yacht 34 46 1976 later Ocean Phoenix
Love Machine 2 Richard Hokin yacht 41 1976
144 576796 Susan B Anthony Du-Pol Enterprises yacht 18 41 1976 later Rubicon
145 586522 Encounter Gerald Simonis yacht 48 53 1977
575039 Siren Song Joseph S. Wright yacht 17 41 1976
147 573568 Patriot Steven J. Foley yacht 34 46 1976 later Sentient, Tanuki
148 573966 Destination Russel Hoyt yacht 34 46 1976 later Donnybrook, Carina, Puffin
149 573121 Arieto Albert H. Schofield Jr yacht 34 46 1976 later Eighty Six, Veritas, Belle
150 579548 Falcon II Ben W. Heinemann yacht 40 62 1977 later Balance
151 972048 Zephyr Eugene Sydnor yacht 21 46 1976 later Spitfire
152 Merrythought Jack King yacht 46 1976 later Invader
Rattler John Kirk yacht 46 1976
154 Albatross Walter Fischer yacht 36 1977
155 Tatoosh Robert Hutton yacht 47 1977
Sleeping Bear Midge VerPlanck yacht 42 1977
157 579564 Bay Bea Bay Bea Corp. yacht 18 45 1977 later Woodstock, Bay Bear, Bay Bea
158 1056835 L'Escapade Octopus Inc. yacht 34 56 1977 later Coral Sea
Canada Scaramouche II Chuck Kirsch yacht 19 43 1977 (Canada)
1228821 Caribana Ocean Alliance Inc yacht 39 64 1977 later Martin Sheen
583006 Chiron David A. Porter yacht 39 47 1977 later L Chaim
597700 Albemarle Pippin (40-8) Robert B. Schulz yacht 17 40 1978 later Altair
597663 Resistance (40-9) Robert L. Burr yacht 17 40 1978 later Jubilation, Blixtar
164 589719 Spring Fever (40-1) David W. Bonner yacht 17 40 1977 later Majic
165 Export Fortuna King Juan Carlos mega-yacht 101 100 1979 (Spain)
593979 Finesse (40-2) Richard V. Main yacht 17 40 1978
593479 Kalevipoeg (40-3) Agu Pert yacht 17 40 1978
168 602270 Aries Jimmy Shahinian yacht 20 46 1978
169 669388 Lovesong Bellflower LLC passenger 144 78 1980 later Bellflower, Banyan
597672 Tatiana (40-4) Charles T. Parrott yacht 17 40 1978
171 616236 Merrythought Jack King yacht 19 45 1979 later Lunatic, Hinzite
Canada Tatiana II (40-5) Alan Udale-Clough yacht 8 40 1978 (Canada ON 838463)
175 641895 Bambi Chuck Phelan yacht 41 55 1981
Mamu V George Stephen ketch 67 75 1978
600594 Tantra Taylor Chewing ketch 67 75 1978 later Windsong, Malabar XIV, Amneris (Canada ON 839604)
608068 Indian Summer (40-) Jerome T. Coe yacht 17 40 1978
608063 Daybreak (40-15) James Bendelius yacht 17 40 1979 later Islay
608310 Rage Rage (40-) Paul M. Bloom yacht 17 40 1979 later Quickening
613103 Zephyros (40-) Larry E. Snoddon yacht 17 40 1979
621852 Relentless (40-18) Michael L. Stone yacht 17 40 1980 later Freebird
Canada Blizzard Ernest Juer yacht 28 50 1979 later Toscana, Maro IV (Canada ON 827521)
Canada Dynamo II Gerhard Moog yacht 47 1980 (Canada)
624701 Whiplash (43-6) Allen Peat yacht 19 43 1980 later Conquest, Conch Quest
668703 Ebb Tide H. M. Keller ketch 24 52 1980 later Silhouette, Cabaret, Retriever
Scaramouche Chuck Kirsch yacht 45 1981 later Fury, Scaramouche
639046 Ondine V S. A. Long yacht 79 1981
180 1025645 Xargo IV Assoc. Mar. Inst. yacht 98 77 1981 later Javelin, Shamalee
181 664451 Ondine VI S. A. Long mega-yacht 183 105 1983 later Magic Lady, Sioma II, Toto
182 647970 Nirvana Marvin Green, III yacht 146 72 1982
Fruition yacht 43 1982
Export White Eagle yacht 83 1982 (Cayman I.)
Export Scheherazade Aries ketch 75 1983 later Nazenin II (Cayman I.
185 651144 Evening Star William T. Pascoe ketch 98 83 1982 (Cayman I.)
186 1025688 Centurion John H. Millar mega-yacht 91 121 1983 later Arabella
187 660340 Congere Andrew R. Martin yacht 41 62 1983 later Lybrno, Merrythought
188 903823 Patsea VI Martha R. Ingram yacht 119 72 1986
189 672609 Sassy Sassy Marina LLC yacht 126 78 1984 later Jullianna, Cherry
190 674644 Tina E Andrew Wright yacht 84 76 1984 later Captivator
191 1053700 Sirocco Ray Villanova yacht 82 77 1984
192 686396 Karyatis A.I.M.S. yacht 83 71 1984 later Pua Lani
Pegasus II yacht 92 1985
194 693995 Irishman yacht 92 76 1987 later Mistoffolees, Sunday Morning
195 920400 Time mega-yacht 284 126 1987 (Panama)
196 Queen II passenger 75 1984 later at Iowa Great Lakes Mar. Museum
197 939439 Teamwork U-Haul Leasing yacht 100 73 1988 later Rainmaker
198 1092159 Conquest Global Yachting yacht 107 76 1993 later Prime Time
199 947113 Galileo S/Y Galileo Inc. mega-yacht 183 110 1989
902025 Galatea Don Sher ketch 88 75 1986
202 963493 Astral mega-yacht 138 106 1990 later Sirma III (U.K.)
203
204 Export Maysylph mega-yacht 164 123 1991 later Northern Star, Nazenin IV, Axia (Marshall I. ON 70298)
205 Export Mandalay mega-yacht 228 125 1992 later Kaori (Cayman I. ON 716323)
206 Export Shanakee mega-yacht 109 107 1992 later Nipara, Dance Smartly (St. Vincent)
207 975007 Benjamin F. Bates Alden F. Bates, Jr. yacht 51 60 1991
208 984426 Ma Mu VI Weber-Stephen yacht 139 80 1992 later Hope, Asha
209
210 1085190 Ghost Dancer JD Sailing mega-yacht 159 105 1992 later Knickerbocker
211 1028459 Andale Action Yacht Sales yacht 95 75 1992 later Clueless
212 Export Lady Jenn mega-yacht 349 118 1994 later Syrenka (Marshall I. ON 731302)
213 Export Grand Illusion mega-yacht 349 120 1994 (Jamaica ON 16054)
214 1038796 Carolina mega-yacht 327 121 1995 later Gypsy Girl III, Costa Brava III (Cayman I.)
215 Export Nazenin III Rahmi Koc mega-yacht 114 110 1996 later Keewaydin (Cayman I. ON 726855)
216 Export Paraffin mega-yacht 389 125 1997 later Azure Leisure, Pure Bliss, Lady J (Cayman I. ON 729163)
217
218 1058418 La Baronessa mega-yacht 440 151 1994 later Amorazur II (Malta ON 725633)
219
220 1086538 Grazianna Sol Ventures yacht 144 76 1999 later Nirvana
221 1055806 Excel Grant Enterprises mega-yacht 152 100 1997 later Moon River
222 Export Our Way mega-yacht 350 103 1998 (Cayman I. ON 731121)
Anna J mega-yacht 200 120 2000 later Strega (Malta)
224 1075636 Twisted Pair Henry T. Hillman yacht 154 86 1999 later Madcap
225 Export Mostro mega-yacht 203 115 1999 later Anna J (Marshall I.)
226 1124657 Arson Bell Stanley S. Hubbard mega-yacht 555 139 2002 later Helios 2 (Cayman I.)
227 Export Cover Drive (120-1) mega-yacht 499 120 2003 later Birgitta, Ascari (Cayman I. )
228 Export Beluga mega-yacht 987 195 1998 later Frequency, La Baronessa, Nira, Shubra II, Pearl (Cayman I.)
229 1090502 Alexis First Mgmt. Realty mega-yacht 267 103 2000 later Airwaves, Big City, I See (St. Vincent)
Export Kimberly mega-yacht 321 128 2000 (Marshall I. ON 70427)
230 Export Inevitable mega-yacht 394 131 2000 later Second Chance, Rasa (Cayman I. ON 733938)
231 1181848 My Weigh mega-yacht 319 105 2001 later Mia Elise, Victory Lane
232 Export Dione Sky mega-yacht 490 138 1996 later Putty VI, Turmoil, Pioneer (Cayman I.)
233 1130346 Arrowhead PJ Pacific LLC yacht 193 94 2002
234 Export Regency mega-yacht 448 142 2004 later Incentive (Cayman I. ON 738141)
235 1139288 Unity project Blue, LLC mega-yacht 279 120 2003
236 1235269 Milk and Honey EKS Chartering mega-yacht 282 116 2003
237 Export Four Wishes mega-yacht 444 129 2004 (Jamaica ON 737330)
238 Export Stanley (120-2) mega-yacht 200 120 2005 later Natalia (Malta)
239 Export Khalila (120-3) mega-yacht 200 120 2005 later DB9 (Cayman I. )
240 Export Vanquish (120-4) mega-yacht 200 120 2006 later BW (Cayman I. )
241 Export Hush (120-5) mega-yacht 200 120 2007 (Cayman I. )
242 1239123 Alter Ego (123-1) mega-yacht 272 103 2005 later Finish Line, Temptation
243 Export Skyfall II (150-1) mega-yacht 380 126 2007 later O'Khalila, Grey Matters (Cayman I. )
1190568 Muse (123-2) Muse Yachting mega-yacht 255 101 2006 later BB3 (Jamaica)
246 Hokulani (150-2) mega-yacht 380 150 2007
247 Waverunner (135-1) mega-yacht 309 135 2007
248 Dragon (135-2) mega-yacht 350 135 2007
249 Export Four Jacks (150-3) mega-yacht 395 128 2008 (Cayman I. ON 740706)
250 Export Izumi (120-6) mega-yacht 224 120 2008 (Cayman I. )
251 Export Clifford II (150-4) mega-yacht 380 150 2009 (Cayman I.)
252 Export Ocean Drive (123-3) mega-yacht 160 123 2008 later Blacksheep (Marshall I. ON 70166)
253 Export Plus Too (135-3) mega-yacht 309 135 2008 (Cayman I.)
254 Export Vitamin (120-7) mega-yacht 223 120 2009 (Cayman I. ON 741382)
255 Export Blue Ice (150-5) mega-yacht 380 150 2009 (Cayman I.)
256 Export Oneness (150-6) mega-yacht 380 150 2009 (Cayman I.)
257 Export Cover Drive 2 (135-4) mega-yacht 305 135 2009 later Alpha Sea, Domino (St. Vincent)
258 Export DB9 (170-1) mega-yacht 495 172 2010 (Cayman I. ON 742937)
259 Export Vantage (150-7) mega-yacht 395 124 2010 (Cayman I. ON 742944)
Export Silver Wave (150-8) mega-yacht 380 150 2010 (Cayman I.)
Export Amorazur II (150-9) mega-yacht 380 150 2011 (Cayman I.)
262 Export Bliss (170-2) mega-yacht 485 170 2014 (Cayman I.)
Export Griffin (135-5) mega-yacht 305 116 2012 (Cayman I.)
264 Export Lady M (210-1) mega-yacht 716 210 2013 (Cayman I.)
265 Export Khalila mega-yacht 490 157 2014 (Cayman I.)
Export Sanam (170-3) mega-yacht 485 170 2016 (Cayman I.)

Printed from shipbuildinghistory.njscuba.net