STEILACOOM

Steilacoom is a jaunty little thing with a stout heart. Always dependable and fast for her size, with a 4′ stainless 5 blade pusher prop from Sound Propellers, and a McNeil Island designed and built, offset rudder, to match her inmate made shaft. Her house and roof were rebuilt at McNeil in 1983 changing her T-boat profile, and her current Cummings NH250 inline six was added in 1989. Steilacoom rescued a lot of men over the decades, and saved several storm tossed vessels to USCG accolades. She is made of Naval Stores longleaf pitch pine in double sawn frames, thanks to being made in Solomons Island, MD. Her builders, M. M. Davis & Son, made JFK’s “Floating White House” Manitou. Steilacoom’s updates are of oak, purple heart, sapele, and yellow cedar. She has her original fir deck, and sexy Chesapeake bay lobster boat lines. She slips through the waves like an orca. Dave Thompson, Alan Katz, Richard Wilmore and Rowan Schatz have all had a hand in her upkeep. She has a friendly resident spirit, a McNeil Captain who knew her well, and she is guided by the ghost of Guard Arnold, who was lost at sea near McNeil in 1891. She has a welcoming ambiance, thanks to all the happy memories aboard, of those heading home, and the pride and love of her many McNeil caretakers. She is still crewed and maintained by McNeil Islanders and one has cruised with her for over five decades. As our floating living history museum, she now goes port to port sharing McNeil’s magic, via signed copies of the 2019 book, “McNeil Island” and her authentic parts and memorabilia, some from her recently demised sister, the McNeil made “Captain Conner.” Since none of us who lived or worked there can ever go home again, Steilacoom brings all the warmth and nostalgia to us and all history lovers.
Steilacoom’s stern and bulwarks were rebuilt in “Dave’s Corner” at PTBY in 2022, and planking and house repairs and paint were done in PTBY in 2025. Her electrical system was just updated in Spring of 2026 by David Sugarman, thanks to Aaron LaPointe of the Historic Maritime Foundation.