Mystery of the Oregon Coast’s 1693 “Beeswax” Wreck Finally Solved? No one believed Craig Andes when he said he found pieces of a shipwreck that resisted discovery for centuries in sea caves north of Manzanita on the north Oregon coast. But Andes, a commercial fisherman based in Tillamook County and an avid beachcomber, persisted. Samples… Continue reading Untitled
Author: seamarsh
Sinking of Russian WWII Cargo Ship in Portland
There are many books devoted entirely to shipwrecks on the NW coast of the USA, especially at the notorious Columbia River Bar with all the drama of the big waves, sand bars, rocks and loss of life. But 100 miles inland, maritime casualties around Portland typically lacked those hazards and were more likely to be… Continue reading Sinking of Russian WWII Cargo Ship in Portland
The Long Life of the 1896 Battleship USS Oregon
With its incredible World War II production record, any visitor to Portland could be forgiven for thinking the city’s waterfront would be dotted with memorials to the seven World War II shipyards. Sadly, they would find that there is absolutely nothing to mark to the region’s huge contribution to the war effort. In fact, the… Continue reading The Long Life of the 1896 Battleship USS Oregon
Polar Research Schooner Tara Visits Astoria
It was back in July 2018 in the heart of the summer on the lower Columbia River when I spotted a big schooner-rigged sailing vessel at the East Mooring Basin in Astoria. From a distance, I could see it was at least 100 feet long, built of unpainted aluminum, and flying a foreign flag. That… Continue reading Polar Research Schooner Tara Visits Astoria
Solo Canoeist Neal Moore Crosses America
On March 1, 2019– the day after the splendidly rowdy and irreverent Fisher Poets Gathering brought a hundred or so characters to the Hanthorn Cannery Museum in Astoria–another story teller showed up at the museum on Pier 39 at the east end of the waterfront. His name is Neal Moore and he also talks and… Continue reading Solo Canoeist Neal Moore Crosses America
2021–Diversified’s Ninth RApport Tug for Brusco
The Pacific Northwest has been the center for tug construction on the west coast for at least the last 40 years, during which the azimuthing stern drive (ASD) and the use of computer-aided lofting and cutting have revolutionized the way tugs are built and used. This has had the effect of allowing a typical ASD… Continue reading 2021–Diversified’s Ninth RApport Tug for Brusco
When Slo-mo-shun Set the World Record in Seattle!
There’s not a week goes by these days without someone on some kind of a boat trying to set a record for speed or distance. They may using human/wind/motor/solar power, or trying some novelty event like “largest boat tie-up.” That’s an achievement that the public can easily understand! It was set by 1,651 boats on… Continue reading When Slo-mo-shun Set the World Record in Seattle!
Wrecks of the Oregon Coast–Emily Reed to New Carissa
The remains of the sailing ship Peter Iredale at the northwest tip of Oregon are well-known as the most visited wreck on the West Coast. But for hardcore shipwreck fans, the real achievement is to see one of the unpredictable “disappearing” wrecks of the Pacific Northwest. This demands great patience, low tides, and a great… Continue reading Wrecks of the Oregon Coast–Emily Reed to New Carissa
Taki-Tooo, Sydney Mae II Tragedies Still Haunt Oregon’s Charter Fishing Business
2003: Wreck of the Taki Tooo on the Tillamook Bar If you’ve ever visited the NW coast, you must have seen the charter sportfishing boats lined up at the dock surrounded by enticing signs and banners showing happy customers posing with the big tuna, salmon or bottom fish they have caught. If you have been… Continue reading Taki-Tooo, Sydney Mae II Tragedies Still Haunt Oregon’s Charter Fishing Business
Monsieur Fresnel’s Brilliant Invention
At the mouth of the Columbia River and along the coast of Oregon, there are many lighthouses built on prominent headlands in the late 1800s by the former US Lighthouse Board. These historic buildings not only command fabulous views, but also represent a classic period of American architecture. After installing modern automated beacons on steel lattice… Continue reading Monsieur Fresnel’s Brilliant Invention