59' Hubbard Ketch (1936) - VAGABUNDO

Vagabundo
Historical Overview:

The Louis Cass Family- 1936- 1968:

In Spring of 1936, the keel of the Vagabundo was laid at the yards of South Coast Boat Building Company in Newport Beach California. The vessel was designed by Walton Hubbard Jr Co and Frederick C Brewer for Louis Cass of Cass & Johansing.

The motorsailer, a ketch configuration, was a custom and specific design that would be an ocean going craft in all weather and would be able to stabilize under sail and motor. The designers then put together a design of a 50-50 breakdown, the bow along powerboat lines with a high freeboard and easy entrance, with long easy lines and powerful quarters to keep her from squatting when under power. The after body was to resemble a Gloucester fish boat. All tankage as well as the main power plant and auxiliaries were kept below the waterline to produce a stable vessel.

June 15, 1936, she was launched. This $50,000 venture produced a handsome, successful motorsailer with outstanding characteristics of the wholesome deep sea type. Vagabundo had a skipper named Nels Carlson and a deckhand that would also double as the cook. There were many fishing trips to Catalina or Ensenada for big game fishing. Louis Cass was member of Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Coronado Yacht Club and Balboa Angling Club. Vagabundo was moored off the jetty at Newport Beach. Vagabundo was called into service by the Department of the Navy in 1942 for five weeks as a patrol boa tot silently watching for Japanese Naval vessels one hundred miles offshore, after that she was taken over by the Coast Guard for three and a half years and released back to Mr. Cass in 1946. The Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal wrote a letter of recognition for the valuable and excellent service provided by Vagabundo as well as permission to display seven chevrons one for each six months of service with the Coast Guard.

Harold “Buck” and Helen Ayres- 1968-1976:

Buck Ayres was the President of the Lido Shipyard in Newport Beach California. He acquired Vagabundo from the Louis Cass estate. While attending the Olympics in Mexico Buck Ayres presented his wife Helen an engraved sterling silver Vagabundo tumbler from the Yacht as his way of telling her that the ship she always admired was hers.
A complete renovation and modernization program was performed on the yacht. This included new galley equipment and the latest electronic equipment. Vagabundo was placed in a ship-shape mint condition. As a result during the 1969 opening day yacht inspection at Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Vagabundo won first place for power boats more than 40 feet.
The Ayres Family enjoyed cruising to San Francisco and up the Sacramento River to TInsley Island, as well as many trips to Catalina Island and Christmas Cruises. Helen was a gourmet cook and loved to entertain on the Vagabundo. Patrick Ayres, their son, proposed to his wife, now of nearly 49 years, while in Moonstone Cove at Catalina aboard the Vagabundo. Buck sold the Vagabundo when he found that handling the boat of that size became difficult, but the Vagabundo always held a special place in the Ayres Family heart.
Don Culver- 1976-1993:

Don Culver an airline pilot from Seattle purchased the Vagabundo from Buck Ayres. He brought the boat up from California to Seattle where he and his family lived on the boat at Shilshole Bay Marina.
Steve Platt- 1993-1994:

Jerry and Tonya Hamman- 1994- Present:

Tonya and Jerry first saw the Vagabundo for sale at the south end of Lake Union in 1994. The Vagabundo was near being cut up as it “rained inside” even with tarps covering the roofs where the canvas had been removed. There was rotten houseside planking, leaky covering board and pockets of rot from roof to the waterline. Having met people who had made a commitment to restoring their own old wooden boats the lure of the Vagabundo was strong. It took several trips to view the boat before they decided to put in an offer. After the purchase they found moorage at Bainbridge Island at Eagle Harbor Marina and worked on the restoration there from 1995-2009. They enjoyed many trips to Port Madison, Poulsbo and Gig Harbor and South Sound. In 2009 after losing their moorage they moved to Shilshole Bay Marina just as the new docks had been completed. Vagabundo is currently moored at Shilshole and the Old School restoration continues as the Hamman’s complete all their own work. Just follow the sound of the sander, planer or impact driver to discover the next improvement or project that is underway.

VAGABUNDO is also featured in our WCBS Classifieds, along with scores of other great classic boats for sale. You can find that link in the details on the right.