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Henry C. Grebe & Company

Chicago IL

Most recent update: February 19, 2022.

Henry C. Grebe & Company was the successor to Great Lakes Boat Building, which had started in Milwaukee in 1915 and moved to Chicago in 1921. Grebe was famous for the style and quality of the boats he designed and built and the yard had many famous customers. It was located on the west side of the North Branch of the Chicago River, just north of the West Belmont Avenue Bridge: it built its last boat in 1970 but did not finally close until 1994. The site is now occupied by the Belmont River Club townhouse complex.

O/N Name Customer Type GT LOA Delivered Notes
Built in Milwaukee by Great Lakes Boat Building
Kingfisher E. L. King power cruiser 56 1916
Greyhound Ida W. Seybert motor patrol boat 10d 40 1916 to USN 1917 as SP-437, sold 1919
Terrier Paul Armstrong motor patrol boat 10d 40 1916 to USN 1917 as SP-960, returned 1919
Hazleton G. B. Markle motor patrol boat 10d 40 1917 to USN 1917 as SP-1770, returned 1918
Edith II Carnot M. Ward motor patrol boat 33d 50 1917 to USN 1917 as SP-296, returned 1919
Marguerite II Ralph K. Trix motor patrol boat 50 1917 to USN 1917 as SP-892, returned 1919
Rhebal A.R. Meyer/ W.K. Hill motor patrol boat 157d 52 1917 to USN 1917 as SP-1195, returned 1919
Rose Mary Robert E. Hackett motor patrol boat 60 1917 to USN 1917 as SP-1216, returned 1918
Kumigan Albert Pack motor patrol boat 34d 76 1917 to USN 1917 but no service, returned 1917
Sea Tag US Army power cruiser 13d 51 1917 to USN 1917 as SP-505, returned 1918, Quirl (ON 224915)
SC-328 US Navy subchaser 135 110 20 Oct 2017 sold 1935 as Sea Roamer (ON 235624) 1937, Katherine & Mary 1948, foundered 1955
SC-329 US Navy subchaser 135 110 20 Oct 2017 sold 1922 as Siwash III
SC-419 US Navy subchaser 135 110 1919 to USNR as training vessel, sold 1927
SC-420 US Navy subchaser 135 110 1919 never commissioned, sold 1920
219094 Nereid power cruiser 23 54 1919 later Nancy Ann II, Miss Liberty II
219148 Miss Liberty power cruiser 22 52 1919
219538 Emma Belle III power cruiser 27 62 1919 later Kama, Mary, Wanda, Thunderbird
220525 Miss Liberty II power cruiser 23 54 1919 later Ranora II, Miss Liberty
220433 Frances power cruiser 89 104 1920 later Adroit II, to USN 1942 as YP-188, to MARAD 1947
221234 Apothecariana power cruiser 33 62 1921 later Pam
221261 Zodiac power cruiser 22 54 1921 later Sazerac, Restless
221485 Mate-o-Mine power cruiser 30 63 1921 later Julina II, Bayforth, Far West
The Boss power cruiser 42 1921
222187 Roamer III power cruiser 22 54 1922 later Solace, Hazel III, Amata, Sally Ann II
Bobs power cruiser 36 1923 later Sand Dab, Whiz Fish II, Yankee Doodle
Built in Chicago, at first by Great Lakes Boat Building, by Henry C. Grebe & Company
222978 Wasp Philip D. Wrigley power cruiser 36 65 1923 later Margaret M II, Wasp
225610 Solace power cruiser 53 73 1926 later Alice Mary III, Taneek, Flohema II, Roamer II
225707 Priscilla power cruiser 37 60 1926
226843 Rdream power cruiser 1927
226842 Gadabout II power cruiser 45 62 1929 later Sinbad
228618 Shiawassee II power cruiser 45 63 1929 later The Tatem, Cockleloc, Gaf IV, Caroline, Diandra II
229093 Phantom III power cruiser 48 70 1929 later Stella Polaris, Polaris, Aquaria III, Landfall III
229575 Marbo power cruiser 52 75 1930 later Deltra, Rhojan II, Fan-Tan. Ermahol, Jamara
229849 Se-Tag power cruiser 41 65 1930 later Nautilus
229927 Wewintoo power cruiser 24 46 1930 later Madray II, Romany, Halame
264408 Juanita aux. yawl 11 35 1930 later Southern Cross
Sunbeam power cruiser 46 1931
230766 Freedom aux. schooner 72 88 1931 to the USNA 1940, sold 1968
231713 Ardys H III power cruiser 29 51 1932 later Nagerac, Alma F, Glori-Bee II, Jo-Ho-So III
233526 Blanche II power cruiser 17 46 1934
Venture power cruiser 35 1934
273279 Helen M II power cruiser 14 40 1935 later Poseidon
234932 Water Nymph power cruiser 28 50 1936 later Saderoy, Water Nymph
234964 Devshir aux. ketch 41 60 1936
235030 Vagabond Lady power cruiser 41 58 1936
Duchess power cruiser 16 40 1936 later Sunny Gene III, Scottie II, Robert Allan
Rhea III power cruiser 103 to NOAA 1941 as George D. Cowie, sold 1962
236279 Evelyn J power cruiser 49 63 1937 later Visitor III, Colonial Princess, Princess II
236281 Gemini Craig B. Ketcham power cruiser 24 48 1937 later Loraymo, Senator, Forty Niner
236295 Jimsea power cruiser 28 54 1937 later Sally III, Emmay II, Progress
236305 Nancy Ann III power cruiser 49 67 1937 later Mirimad, Laurie IV, Greta, Colonel Alabama
246078 My Yen power cruiser 20 42 1937 later Luzelle
Franjobill V power cruiser 54 1937
237300 Anjac power cruiser 36 57 1938 later Mojo, Anjolin
238494 Rusty II Arnold Horween power cruiser 32 53 1939 later Courier
239009 Wanigan power cruiser 45 60 1939 later Sunbeam, Ardic III, Dunsinane IV
239015 Sohio S. O. of Ohio tugboat 77 66 1939 later Kestrel
239548 Awab power ketch 27 55 1940 later Flying Gull
240422 High Tide power cruiser 64 71 1941 later Miss Laura
YMS-84 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 23 May 1942 mined off Borneo and lost 1945
YMS-85 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 30 Jun 1942 to the USSR as T-604 1945, scuttled 1956
YMS-171/BYMS-2171 US Navy/ Royal Navy minesweeper 320 136 29 Mar 1943 to Greece 1946 as Kefallinia (M-207), struck 1966
YMS-172/BYMS-2172 US Navy/ Royal Navy minesweeper 320 136 17 Apr 1943 to Greece 1946 as Kerkyra (M-208), struck 1960
YMS-173/BYMS-2173 US Navy/ Royal Navy minesweeper 320 136 1 May 1943 to Italy 1947 as Begonia, to Finland 1848, sold as mission ship Ebeneser 1954, sank 1983
YMS-174/BYMS-2174 US Navy/ Royal Navy minesweeper 320 136 22 May 1943 sold 1947
YMS-175/BYMS-2175 US Navy/ Royal Navy minesweeper 320 136 5 Jun 1943 to Egypt 1949 as Gaza (or Tor?), to Algeria 1962 as Djebel Aures, wrecked 1963
YMS-176 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 10 Jul 1943 scrapped 1947
YMS-177 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 18 Jul 1943 struck 1946
YMS-178 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 27 Jul 1943 to the USSR 1945 as T-588, scuttled 1956
YMS-179 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 14 Aug 1943 reclassified 1947 as Cardinal (AMS-4), to Brazil 1960 as Javari (M-11), scrapped 1970
YMS-180 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 28 Aug 1943 to the USSR 1945 as T-609, scrapped 1956
YMS-181/BYMS-2181 US Navy/ Royal Navy minesweeper 320 136 12 Sep 1943 struck 1946
YMS-182/BYMS-2182 US Navy/ Royal Navy minesweeper 320 136 25 Sep 1943 to Greece 1959 as Lambadias, struck 1968
YMS-279/BYMS-2279 US Navy/ Royal Navy minesweeper 320 136 2 Oct 1943 sold 1946 as Rudolf Diesel, to Germany as Y-289, in the Netherlands
YMS-280/BYMS-2280 US Navy/ Royal Navy minesweeper 320 136 16 Oct 1943 to Italy 1947 as Verbena, struck 1966
254840 YMS-405 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 8 Nov 1943 struck 1946, sold 1947, Leo Huff II, Silver Beach
YMS-406 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 20 Nov 1943 to Norway 1945 as NYMS-406, Rana (M-330) 1948, struck 1962
YMS-407 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 8 Dec 1943 sold 1947
256002 YMS-408 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 18 Dec 1943 sold 1947 as Eva, burned and lost in the 1980s
YMS-409 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 1 Jan 1944 foundered in the North Atlantic and lost 1944
YMS-418 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 21 Sep 1944 sold 1947
YMS-419 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 28 Oct 1944 reclassified 1947 as Mockingbird (AMS-27), to Korea 1956 as Ko Chang (MSC-521)
YMS-420 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 5 Feb 1945 to RCC 1951 as Cordova (MCA-158), sold 1970 as Harbour Queen No. 1, Nakaya, reefed 1992
YMS-421 US Navy minesweeper 320 136 3 Mar 1945 foundered off Okinawa 1946
YTL-199 US Navy tugboat 54 61 1942 sunk 1946
YTL-200 US Navy tugboat 54 61 1942 to France 1951 as Goeland, to Vietnam 1956 as HQ-9503
YTL-201 US Navy tugboat 54 61 1942
YTL-202 US Navy tugboat 54 61 1942 sold 1947
YTL-203 US Navy tugboat 54 61 1942 to France 1951 as Heron, to Vietnam 1956
YTL-230 US Navy tugboat 54 61 1943
YTL-231 US Navy tugboat 54 61 1943 to Colombia 1963 as Teniente Ricardo Sorzano (RM 73)
YTL-232 US Navy tugboat 54 61 1943 to Britain 1943, to WSA 1947, sold 1968 as SES Lion, abandoned 1980s, scrapped 2012
YTL-233 US Navy tugboat 54 61 1943 sold 1946
YTL-234 US Navy tugboat 54 61 1943
500341 YTL-235 US Navy tugboat 54 61 1943 sold 1946, S. T. S.
YTL-445 US Navy tugboat 50 61 1944 to Argentina 1969 as Calchaqui (R-6)
578032 YTL-446 US Navy tugboat 50 61 1944 to Vietnam 1963, Samish, S-Husky, Sea Guardian (Panama)
299058 YTL-447 US Navy tugboat 50 61 1944 sold 1965 as Eastwind, Champion, Big Chief, Champion II, Tugugly
YTL-448 US Navy tugboat 50 61 1945 to Argentina 1965 as Morcoyan (R-19)
YTL-449 US Navy tugboat 50 61 1945 to Philippines 1963 as Aeta (YQ-224)
506848 YTL-450 US Navy tugboat 50 61 1945 later Goblin, Vancouver
YTL-451 US Navy tugboat 50 61 1944 to Vietnam 1963
536854 John Ackerman tugboat 42 61 1945 ex-YTL-?
YW-117 US Navy water tanker 440 174 1945 sold 1985, Nooh 4
YW-118 US Navy water tanker 440 174 1945 scrapped 1974
YW-119 US Navy water tanker 440 174 1945 scrapped 1982
YW-122 US Navy water tanker 440 174 1945 to Peru 1980
250274 Comet John P. Wilson aux. yawl 24 53 1946 later Cometa (Mexico)
251747 Salador power cruiser 56 65 1947 later El Kay, Double Schott II, Igo II, A-T'er, Sybarita
252323 Car Al II power cruiser 56 65 1947 later Loaf-A-Long, Betty Gay I, Patrician Lady V, Newmar, Shawnlacesan
254163 Miss Carol Ann Merritt & Sons Inc power cruiser 58 66 1947
256058 Privateer III power cruiser 56 65 1948
152 256636 Marileen I. O'Shaughnessy power cruiser 56 65 1948 later Harvest Moon, being restored in Isnas (Finland)
258197 Wanigan III G. C. Gaudin power cruiser 88 76 1949 later Veritas
259627 Ilys Frederick J. Roos power cruiser 30 53 1950 later Patriot Seal
259724 Full Moon Bates Chevrolet Co power cruiser 56 65 1950 to Classic Harbor Line 2018
260483 Evelyn J II power cruiser 56 65 1950 later Naoma
157 260671 Water Nymph John Blair power cruiser 29 55 1950
261929 Mojo power cruiser 45 57 1951 later Zenda, Zarson, Reflecta
158 AMS-74 US Navy minesweeper 405 144 6 Jul 1953 to Italy as Castagno (M-5504), to Greece 1995 as Erato (M-60)
159 AMS-75 US Navy minesweeper 405 144 2 Feb 1954 to Italy as Gelso (M-5509), to Greece 1995 as Euniki (M-62), struck 2007
160 AMS-76 US Navy minesweeper 405 144 26 Oct 1954 to Italy as Ontano (M-5513), struck 1993
264599 Lark power cruiser 32 54 1953
268581 Gallant Lady V power cruiser 57 67 1954 later Gon-Waki III
161 269267 Wedac II W. Fondren Jr. power cruiser 30 51 1955
162 270159 Neval O. A. Sutton power cruiser 69 74 1955 later Magna Mar, O'Keefe
164 Estella M II C. E. Wetherald power cruiser 47 1956
165 272072 Isan III H. W. Jackson power cruiser 25 47 1956
166 272572 Viobi II W. T. Hales Jr. power cruiser 38 53 1956 later Si-Go VI
167 Sunny K K. K. Knickerbocker power cruiser 26 47 1956 later Seafarer (Bahamas)
289746 Christiana power cruiser 17 44 1956 later My Island
168 274675 Late Tape G. M. Copp power cruiser 26 47 1957 later Luripat
169 274041 Bonte H. A. Gray Jr. power cruiser 52 65 1957 later Aldamac, Sprau III, Nauti Dolphin (Canada)
170 275477 Hummel Hummel II R. O. Schultz power cruiser 48 57 1957
171 280259 Conleeda G. W. Deeb Jr. 36 47 1958
172 1030052 Rushmere Mercury Sightseeing power cruiser 41 48 1961 later Lady Grebe
173 276578 Amalia D Antonio Desiderio power cruiser 42 54 1958 later Sea Breeze II, Leona Mae, Amalia
174 278033 Congress Queen G. Martin passenger 45 66 1959 later Skyline Queen
175 278403 Awab J. A. Simpson motor sailer 53 56 1959 later Sequoia
176 279851 Millie Jean J. Robbins power cruiser 48 65 1959 later Vagabond d'Azur
177 280286 Florencia Florence Schick power cruiser 54 65 1960 later Jalencia, Sam's Place (owned by Jerry Lewis)
178 282354 Mercedes III H. Kresge passenger 83 68 1959 later Misty, Ellen Ruth, Mercedes III again, destroyed in a fire 2011
179 284341 Seawalker V M. Walker power cruiser 43 54 1960 later Sans Souci, wrecked in Hurricane Hugo 1989
180 285002 Florencia II Florence Schick power cruiser 68 72 1961
181 Shelly K VII J. M. Rich 54 1961
182 Maruja G. W. Thompson 55 1962
183 Chicago Police Dept. patrol boat 20 1962
184 Chicago Police Dept. patrol boat 20 1962
185 Chicago Police Dept. patrol boat 20 1962
186 289670 Sequoia II J. N. Spear motor sailer 38 50 1963
187 291543 Jewel L. Garlick passenger 50 57 1963 later Lady Hornblower
188 603461 Goblin III J. N. Gamble motor sailer 42 42 1963 later Sundu, Nepenthe
189 293024 Elda Maria J. R. Perini power cruiser 58 60 1963 later Capri V, Traviata
190 295124 Westlake II L. Norton power cruiser 47 55 1964 later Pusseaphut, Elegante
191 297112 Maruja II G. W. Thompson 62 65 1964
192 297278 Maurine III D. Weir 48 57 1964
193 298987 Princess Marina J. W. Cox power cruiser 50 55 1965 later Lucky Six, inactive
194 500214 Iroquois J. B. Poole power cruiser 46 55 1965 later Box Office
195 501695 Sundancer F. A. Sunderland power cruiser 46 53 1965 later Amanda Blaire, Daddy's Money
196 503441 Arrowhead E. Flint power cruiser 46 55 1966 later Life of Riley, Northstar, Scarlet Sophia
197 SPR(L) IV H. Joy 60 1967
198 665796 36SR681 US Navy LCSR 14 36 1969 later Leanna Katherine
199 60 not built
200 524070 Karen J S. Spitzer power cruiser 64 65 1971 later Santee

Printed from shipbuildinghistory.njscuba.net