YEAR BUILT: 1839
BUILT AT: Stonington (CT)
BUILDER: Benjamin Pomeroy
APPROPRIATION: $15,000
(Approp. for a Five Fathom Bank light vessel) SISTER VESSELS: None
CONTRACT PRICE: $14,584
DESIGN: Wood- white oak; copper & iron fastened; 2 masts
LENGTH: 90' (lbp), BEAM: 21', DRAFT: 10', TONNAGE: 195 gross
PROPULSION: Sail- schooner rig; fore and main carried on spencer masts
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: 2 lanterns each with 8 lard oil lamps having 12 cylindrical wicks
FOG SIGNAL: Hand operated bell
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT
CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 18-
1855: Lamps replaced with Argand type with 12" reflectors-
1863: Extensive repairs-
1868: "Thoroughly repaired & supplied"
STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 18
1839-1869: Five Fathom Bank (NJ)
1869-1875: Relief (4th District)
(Prior to 1867 when No. 18 was assigned, official records identify this vessel as "Five Fathom" or "Five Fathom light vessel")
HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 18-
1839: Placed on Five Fathom Bank (NJ)-
1863: Apr, blown off station, taken to Wilmington (DE) for new anchor &
chain-
1867: Feb 21, Driven off station in heavy weather, worked under sail to
Delaware Breakwater. Returned to station Mar 13-
1867: Mar 22, broke adrift in gale, reached Hampton (VA) Mar 27, returned
to
station Apr 28-
1869: Dec, withdrawn upon arrival of replacement (LV 31); assigned Relief
duty-
1875: Surveyed and found "unworthy of repair"
More notes:
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1875 AGE: 36
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Sold to Navy Department -
$985.46; "to be taken to
Newport (RI) and used for torpedo practice"
Back to Five Fathom Lightship
Station History.
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