registry
K-50 Owners

Hull# one OFF Custom Hull #1 Boat Name SALUDA
Owner Kelson March Type wood
Address P.O. Box 894 Length 47'
  Tacoma, WA 98401 Launch Date 1959
Email Kelson
History: Two mast's ,in style of a ketch. Original owner's name was DAN GREENLEY, and was built for Standard Brand Paints,1958.
Interested in more information.

Hull# 2 Boat Name CUT TO HEAL
Owner Tom Measles, MD Type wood
Address 2190 Lynn Rd Length 50'
  Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 Launch Date 1962
Phone  805 370 5444 Berthed Channel Island Yacht Harbot
Oxnard, California
Email  [email protected]
History: Formerly owned by Tom Sterling.  Launched as "Wendy", renamed
"Taroa", now christened "Cut to Heal".  This boat is Hull # 2 according to a
metal plaque placed by Kettenburg on the saloon bulkhead; previously listed
as hull # 3 in the registry.

Hull# 3 Boat Name TAROA
Owner Tom Sterling Type wood
Address 624 Maywood Ave. Length 50'
  San Bernardino, CA 92404 Launch Date  
Phone   Berthed Harbor Island
Email  
History: Tom Sterling is affilitated with the Pearl Harbor Yacht Club. He was an employee of Kettenburg Marine and had a hand in constructing K-50s, K-43s, and k-41s. He indicates that his boat, TAROA, was at one time named WINDY.

Hull# 3 Boat Name SEA SMOKE II
Owner Dennis Biallas Type wood
Address
Length 50'
 
Launch Date  
Phone   Berthed Laurel Street anchorage in San Diego
Email  
History: built for James Arness, Marshall Dillon of Gunsmoke fame

Hull# 4 Boat Name AKAMAI
Owner SDCYCC LLC.
 Type wood
Address
Length 50'
  La Mesa, CA 91941
 Launch Date 1962
Phone
Berthed Sun Harbor Marina
San Diego
Email
History:  In 1965 she was "AKAMAI" owned by Bob Alexander of Santa Barbara, and was dismasted in the '65 Transpac. We acquired K50 hull #4 from Gary Petty in early 2009.  At that time, she was named Nordia (previously Bravata II, so we understand), but originally launched as Akamai.  A veteran of two transpac races, K50 hull #4 is currently undergoing a complete restoration at the Koehler Kraft facility in San Diego and is expected to be re-launched sometime in 2010 - rechristened as Akamai.

Hull# 6 Boat Name HAPPY TALK
Owner Charlie DeWeese Type wood
Address 4050 Sunnyhill Lane Length 50
  Lummi Island, WA 98262
 Launch Date 1962
Phone (360) 305-0835
 Berthed Lummi Island, near Bellingham, Washington.

History: 

On February 29, 2008 I began the first of five legs north to Bellingham, Washington.  Exactly thirty days later we arrived safely.  Six gale force winter days, eleven over-nights making way, one morning with two inches of snow on her and eighteen friends and family members joined me throughout the passage.  Happy Talk was put to the test time and time again and sailed through with flying colors.

 

During the summer of 2008, Happy Talk was used as my primary vessel for Sail Away, my custom sailboat charter company.  She was sailed all over the San Juans and Gulf Islands of British Columbia.  The summer highlight was an invitation to show her at the 2008 Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend, Washington. 

Her future is bright, with plans for another year of chartering in the local waters of the San Juans north to Desolation Sound.  She will be attending the 2009 Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend.  Check us out at sailaway.net.  Her full restoration continues to be the focus October through March of each year.  I hope to have a Kettenburg restoration blog going before long. 

I am continuing to seek any type of photos, stories and information about her history.  Do you have a favorite story about her that you can share?
Hull# 7 Boat Name LEGACY
Owner Larry Collins Type wood
Address 6081 Acacia Hill Dr

 Length 50
  Yorba Linda, CA 92886
 Launch Date 1963
Phone (310) 323-0340
 Berthed Newport Beach, Calif
History: Completely redone and customized at Driscoll Boat Works 1974..Presently owned since 1981..5kw Northern Lights generator.all new electronics 2010 w/GPS chartploter,radar,satelitte tv,auto-pilot,sailing instruments, all new standing & running rigging, new Harkin self-furling jib(North) and genakker (North) Teak overlay decking


Hull# 8 Boat Name IRISH MIST
Owner James Hughes Type wood
Address 749 W 11th St. Length 50'
  San Pedro, CA 90731 Launch Date 1962
Phone   Berthed Marina de La Paz, B.C.S. Mexico
Email Jim
History: In her youth she was raced many times to Hawaii, one time being skippered by the late Peggy Slater and an all girl crew. She was a real workhorse in many round-the-buoys and Mexican races, and took her fair share of first place finishes. Only twenty-five K50's were built, and "Irish Mist" is one of the only two versions built with a spade rudder.
Hull# 9 Boat Name MARIONETTE, EX FLARE
Owner Tony Magee Type wood
Address 10688 Ranch Road
Culver City CA 90230		 Length 50' 6"
  Launch Date Dec. 1962
Phone 310 213 3078
 Berthed Port Ludlow, WA.
Email Tony
History: This K50 is the other one with a spade rudder. It has been berthed in San Diego for the last six years, but never used. It is listed in the"Brokerage" section of this site and it's the one that is painted solid white.
The first stop for her is a boatyard where her cabin sides will be wooded and varnished and her hull given a couple coats of Grand Banks Beige.
Before gong to San Diego, it was berthed in Marina Del Ray.
If anyone has any information about it's history, please contact me.
Hull# 9 Boat Name DIRIGO
Owner Gerry Maurer/Don Roose Type wood
Address 720 Olive Way Length 50'
  Seattle WA 98101 Launch Date February 1963
Phone (206) 777-3444 Berthed Pt. Madison, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Email Gerry
History: Originally built for Gene Trepte just after he was Commodore of San Diego Yacht Club. Winner of the Ahmanson Series. Sold to the Bechtel family in San Franciso Bay where the boom was shortened to 19'. Then sold to a Santa Monica physician who made numerous trips to Mexico. We bought her in San Diego from a live aboard couple in 1992. Paul Kettenburg told us she is the only K50 built with teak decks and dorade boxes. Her hull was finished smooth, rather than the traditional Kettenburg "reefed" seams.

We note that another boat says they are Hull #9 but that is what we were told and is on the original invoice.
Hull# 10 Boat Name AMORITA
Owner Joel and Richelle Miller Type wood
Address P.O. Box 704 Length 50'
  Bonita,Ca 91908 Launch Date 1963
Phone (619) 871-9704 Berthed Driscoll Boat yard Mission Bay
Email The Millers Formerly Owned By Fred Pettersen
History: We recently purchased "Amorita" from the Petersons who did a circumnavigation with her. It appears that we are the sixth owner of Amorita. We are working towards extensive cruising this coming fall.
Previous history from Petterson: Only K-50 to circumnavigate the world (1992-1999).
Hull# 12 Boat Name BLUE NYMPH
Owner Dr. Lawrence S. Sterling
 Type wood
Address
Length 50'
  Encino, Ca  Launch Date 1963
Phone
Berthed
Email


History: The Blue Nymph was custom built by Kettenberg in 1963 for my father, Dr. Lawrence Sterling.  The> hull was a beautiful shade of turquoise, the interior completely rosewood and mahogany, the decks,  teak.  It was so beautiful that it was chosen by the producers of the Perry Mason show to appear in one episode of the show entitled "The Case of the Missing Button."  In 1965 my father  realized his fondest dream by sailing the Blue Nympth (with a crew of his friends) to Hawaii. Sadly, the Blue Nymph was sold in 1968 when my father became too ill to sail.
Hull# 15 Boat Name NORWESTER
Owner Charles K. Footh Type wood
Address 2584 40th W. Length 50'
  Seattle, WA 98199 Launch Date 8/15/63
Phone (206) 283-6355 Berthed Seattle Yacht Club
Email Charles
History: Presently in "like new" condition. Still owned by one of the original owners - Bill Hofius.
Hull# 16 Boat Name ?
Owner Kimberly Winkler Type wood
Address 8906 N.E. 179th Street Length 50'
  Battle Ground, WA 98604 Launch Date 1963
Phone 360-901-4603 Berthed Battle Ground, WA
Email
History: Our family has aquired this fine vessel that has fallen into disrepair. We are going to have it hauled to our residence for a 3-4 year refit. this vessel has had a rough life the last 5 years, including being holed on a piling after a rude boater went through the marina (no wake  zone) at a high rate of speed and broke loose from the mooring and parked her on said piling. Will update as we progress.
Hull# 17 Boat Name RENDEZVOUS
Owner Dan Claycamp Type wood
Address 10740 Ancona Lane Length 50'
  San Diego, Ca 92131 Launch Date 1963
Phone (858) 271-1629 Berthed Ca. Yacht Marina
Email Dan
History: Originally owned by Capt.Bowen of Point Loma in 1963.
Hull# 18 Boat Name LIBERATOR
Owner Ernie & Cindy Moquin Type wood
Address 709 w/channel islands blvd #7 Length 50'
  Port Hueneme, CA 93041 Launch Date 1963
Phone (805) 452-5982 Berthed Channel islands harbor, CA.
Email
History: Was Desperado when we purchased her in 01,now liberator,we are 1/2 way through major refit for 2 year missionary voyage to start in early 0/10
to mex,costa rica,south pacific,hawaii then to san juan islands to start a solid rock christian church.  GOD ROCKS,Love to hear from you.(805)452-5982.
GOD Bless and fair seas.
Hull# 19 Boat Name SHILOH (previously Sea Urchin)
Owner Michael and Mary Hibdon Type wood
Address 22424 S. Normandie Ave Length 50'
  Torrance, CA 90502 Launch Date 1964
Email Michael and Mary
History: Purchased boat in Feb 1999 in San Diego. Purchased thru foundation out of Florida for youth sailing. Boat in near original configuration, save spade rudder added before we purchased. Generator added/replaced in 80's. Since purchased, extensive deck work, refastening in '01, Cabin sides refastened and new glass in '00 Old log remnents show Hawaii and Mexico trip(s) in past.
Hull# 20 Boat Name AMBAE PERLAETUS (Formerly Tratiff)
Owner Ron and Sheila Gerrish Type wood
Address P.O. Box 5205 Length 50'
  Bellingham WA 98227 Launch Date 1964
Phone 360-303-5651 Berthed Bellingham, Washington
Email Ron and Sheila
History: Also a spade rudder boat which was added some time in the first ten years. We are the third owners of this great vessel. The previous owner enjoyed several trips to Alaska over 27 years. We are updating Ambae at this time and plan to cruise for many years to come. My wife and I are undecided at this time as to go East or West, but definitely South.
Hull# 21 Boat Name IRISH ROVER
Owner Tom Bucy Type wood
Address P.O. Box 1579 Length 50'
  North Bend, WA 98045 Launch Date 1964
Phone   Berthed Currently Sea of Cortez
Email Tom
History: Designed for Dr. Taylor. Only ketch rig K-50, 19 tons, 40.6 waterline.
Regret to inform you that the Irish Rover was lost in the Cortez in February of 2006.   Ran aground on sand bank and was totally destroyed by locals in the one day I was absent to get assistance.  The damage inflicted was unbelieveable.  All hardware torn off.  Mizzen cut down to obtain radar, all running and standing rigging gone, binnacle cut out....nothing remained of the inside...I expected some pilferage but not the wholesale destruction of the vessel....Ventana Bay....long story may write about it some day.
Hull# Boat Name SERENA
Owner Marylynn & Che' Brown-Bellman Type wood
Address 1306 Pk Western Dr. Length 50'
  Rancho Palos Verdes Launch Date 1941
Phone (310) 831-7114 Berthed LA Harbor-Island Marina
Email The Brown-Bellmans
History: Previously owned by Ex-navel officer who made 5 trips to Hawaii.
Hull# Boat Name AURELIA B.
Owner Fred Baumann Type wood
Address 3454 No. Mills Avenue Length 50'
  Claremont CA 91711 Launch Date 1963
Phone   Berthed Dana Point
Email Fred
History: Ex Chiriaco
Ex Serenade
Hull# Boat Name DESPERADO
Owner Ernie Moquin Type wood
Address 709 West Channel Islands #7 Length 50'
  Port Hueneme, CA 93041 Launch Date 1963
Phone (805) 452-5982 Berthed Channel Islands Harbor
Oxnard, CA
Email Ernie

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