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NavSource Online: Army Ship Photo Archive

USED Towboat Putah

Towboat:

Laid down in 1942 at Berkeley Steel Construction Co., Berkeley, CA.

Launched in 1942

Acquired by the US Army Engineers in 1942

Christened, commissioned and placed in service as USED Towboat Putah in 1943

Assigned to the US Army Corps of Engineers District, unknown

Retired from US Army service, date unknown

Sold in 1954 to John Wayne's production company for use in the movie “ Blood Alley “.

Sometime after the film was completed, John Wayne sold Putah to Frank Parisi, a Sacramento businessman

Parisi renamed the sternwheeler Mansion Belle and offered river cruises along the Sacramento River and through the Delta

In 1957 Mansion Belle involved in an accident, she apparently rammed into a cottage and lost 10 blades from the stern wheel

In 1959 Mansion Belle made a voyage to Oregon for the "Oregon Centennial."

In 1961 the sternwheeler was offerings cruises on the Sacramento river down to Walnut Grove an back

In 1964 Mansion Belle made her way down to Southern California, running cruises out of Marina del Ray

In 1966 the sternwheeler operated out of Long Beach providing harbor cruises

In 1991 the boat was purchased by Channel Star Excursions and renamed the Spirit of Sacramento offering dinner cruises

On 3 February 1996 the Spirit of Sacramento suffered a fire while in her moorings at the K Street landing in Sacramento completely destroying the old sternwheeler

In 1997, William Barker purchased the damaged boat with the intentions of restoring it to its glory days and renaming it "The Duke."

Final Disposition, Because of continued vandalism of the boat Baker soon abandoned her. Eventually, the paddlewheeler left abandoned, tied up along the Sacramento River

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement unknown
Length 99'
Beam 25'
Hull Depth unknown
Draft 4'
Speed unknown
Crew unknown

Propulsion

one diesel-electric engine

one propeller

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
303022603	83k	Sacramento Corps of Engineers floating plan model of USED Putah at the California State Fair in 1953. US Army Corps of Engineers Digital Library	John Spivey
303022601	140k	Abandoned river steamboat *Spirit of Sacramento* (Ex-USED Towboat Putah) abandoned on the banks of the Sacramento River, date unknown CalEXPLORnia.com	John Spivey
303022602	128k		John Spivey
303022604	45k	Abandoned river steamboat *Spirit of Sacramento* (Ex-USED Towboat Putah) abandoned on the banks of the Sacramento River, date unknown The Nauticapedia, photo by George Schneider	John Spivey

There is no history available for USED Towboat Putah at NavSource

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 19 May 2023