Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online:
Patrol Yacht Photo Archive

Sylph (PY-5)

Patrol Yacht: Built by John Roach and Co., Chester, PA; Acquired by the Navy in June 1898; Commissioned USS Sylph 18 August 1989 at the Norfolk Navy Yard for use as a Presidential Yacht; Designated a Patrol Yacht, PY-5, 17 July 1921; Decommissioned, 27 April 1929 at the Norfolk Navy Yard; Struck from the Navy list, 29 April 1929; Sold, 26 November 1929 to Mr. Frank B. Clair of Brooklyn, NY (Mr. Clair was reportedly an ex-bootlegger). Mr. Clair and his partner Captain John Nugent converted her into a party fishing boat and operated her from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. The Sylph fished from Sheepshead Bay until April 1939, when she changed her business and ran a ferry service from Sea Gate, Brooklyn to the Battery in Manhattan. In 1941, her owners defaulted on the mortgage held by the Worthington Diesel Company and they took possession of the vessel.. Fate unknown.

Specifications: Displacement, 152 t.; Length, 123' 8"; Beam, 20 ft.; Draft, 7' 6"; Speed, 15 kts.; Steam engine (replaced in 1935 by a 400hp Worthington diesel engine), one shaft.

Click On Image
For Full Size Image		 Size Image Description Source
USS Sylph (PY 5)
Sylph 36k . Gunter Krebs
Sylph 45k . Robert Hurst
Fishing Boat Sylph
Sylph 95k c. 1935 Mel's Place
Ferry Boat Sylph
Sylph 72k c. 1938 Mel's Place
View the Sylph (PY 5) DANFS History
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Patrol Craft/Gunboat/Submarine Chaser Ship Type Index Back to the Patrol Yacht (PY) Photo Index
Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster
This page created and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan
© 2006 Joseph M. Radigan © 1996 - 2006 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.