USS ''California'' (SP-647) – later known as USS ''SP-647'' – was originally a

motorboat A motorboat, speedboat or powerboat is a boat that is exclusively powered by an engine. Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the internal combustion engine, the gea ...

used by the

San Francisco Bar Pilots Association San Francisco Bar Pilots Association is the official maritime pilot group for the San Francisco harbor and associated waterways. The pilots in the group are licensed and regulated by California Board of Pilot Commissioners. The Association was creat ...

as a

pilot boat A pilot boat is a type of boat used to transport maritime pilots between land and the inbound or outbound ships that they are piloting. Pilot boats were once sailing boats that had to be fast because the first pilot to reach the incoming ship ...

. She was leased by the Navy, and outfitted as an armed section patrol craft, assigned to patrol and protect San Francisco harbor. At war's end, she was returned to the pilot's association.

A California pilot boat

''California'', a 58' 2" motorboat, was built in 1910 at

San Francisco, California San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...

, for local employment as a pilot boat. She was leased from the San Francisco Bar Pilot's Association and commissioned in the Navy as USS ''California'' (SP-647) on 28 April 1917.

World War I service

The fourth ship to be so named by the U.S. Navy, ''California'' (No. 647), served Section Patrol duties during the war. Later renamed USS ''SP-647'', the motor boat performed harbor patrol duties and acted as guard boat for Pier 29 at San Francisco until 23 November 1918

Decommissioning

''California'' (No. 647) was returned to the San Francisco Bar Pilot's Association on 23 November 1918.

Additional photos

The San Francisco Maritime Museum, located in the

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is located in San Francisco, California, United States. The park includes a fleet of historic vessels, a visitor center, a maritime museum, and a library/research facility. The park used to be r ...

, holds additional photographs of the pilot boat ''California'' in its Livingston Collection.

References

*
California (Motor Boat, 1910). Served as USS California (SP-647) and USS SP-647 in 1917–1918

External links