YEAR BUILT: 1907

BUILT AT: Camden (NJ)

BUILDER: New York Shipbuilding Co

APPROPRIATION: $115,000

CONTRACT PRICE: $99,000

SISTER VESSELS: LV 84,85,86,88

DESIGN: Steam screw; steel hull, wood pilothouse and deckhouses; 2 steel masts, wood spencer on main only; smokestack amidships

LENGTH: 135'5" (loa); BEAM: 29'O"; DRAFT: 12'9"; TONNAGE: 683 displ

PROPULSION: Steam - one compound reciprocating engine, 16" and 31" bores x 24" stroke, 325 IHP; 2 boilers 9'3" dia x 16'4" long; propeller 7'9" dia; design max speed 10 knots; also rigged for sail initially

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Cluster of 3 oil lens lanterns raised to each masthead

FOG SIGNAL: 12" steam chime whistle; hand operated bell


CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 87-
1908/09: Oil lens lanterns replaced with electric incandescent-
Converted from incandescent to arc lights several times during the period 1909-1922; incandescent thereafter; two 375mm lens lanterns of 15,OOOcp-
1918: Equipped with radio-
1921: May, radiobeacon installed; first radio beacon in the US, however Fire Island lightship and Sea Girt Light were similarly equipped and placed in operation about the same time-
1924: Equipped with vacuum tube radiobeacon; first such transmitter to be used in the US-
1932/33: Taken out of service Oct 10, 1932 for extensive overhaul and refitting; repowered with 300 HP Winton diesel, 5' dia propeller; fog signal to air typhon plus 10" air whistle; all steam auxiliary equipment replaced with diesel-
1934: Fog signal changed to air diaphone; 10" whistle retained (Call sign NI'¶GI-
1958: USCG shows 4 way diaphragm horn, TRSC-l radar, J-894 Loran. 1940-1966)
 

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 87/ WAL 512
1908-1932: Ambrose Channel (NY)
1932-1936: Relief (NY)
1936-1942: Scotland (NJ)
1942-1944: Examination Vessel, WWII
1944-1947: Vineyard Sound (MA)
1947-1962: Scotland (NJ)


HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 87 / WAL 512-
1927: Feb 21, dragged 1/2 mi westerly from station in NE gale; replaced on station next day

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1966; AGE: 59

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned Mar 4, 1966; donated Aug 4, 1968 for use as floating exhibit at South Street Seaport, New York City

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 87 / WAL 512

1908-1932: Gustave Lange, Master
1908-1914: Sidney Ellis, Mate
1914: Frank Tilghman, Mate
1914-1915: Clark Smith, Mate
1915-1918: Paul E F Overbeck, Mate
1918-?: Emil C Ness, Mate
1939-?: John Kruszewski, Master
1950-1951: BMC Theodore Kosowski, OIC
1958: BMC Carrol D Nichols, OIC
1966: BMC John T Taylor, OIC

Back to Vineyard Sound Lightship Station History

Copyright © 2003  United States Coast Guard Lightship Sailors Association INC. All rights reserved. Copyrights also protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998
Revised: 10/23/06.