WILMINGTON — Argus, the tall ship that carried thousands of Boy Scouts of America on the Pacific Ocean, now lies at the bottom of the harbor. But Wayne Ettel and The Argus Foundation plan to return the vessel to its former glory.
Ettel, who has kept the deteriorating vessel afloat at...
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13 Responses
My fiancé and I (now married for 34 years) were passengers on the Argus in 1981 for the Christmas Parade in Newport Harbor. She was an awesome vessel then a and every year brings back memories of the time on that ship.
As a former scout who’s troop 330 ventured the Argus every couple years I can attest to its former glory. It’s a “landmark” depicting the history and once-golden years of many memories for countless people. It should be raised, reworked, and turned into a BSA/GSA museum for lunches and lessons on life – that hands on stuff the kids don’t get too much anymore these days. If the vessel is raised from its current resting place sign me up for restorations.
its 2023 now and i have returned to ca after an extended departure. was wondering if you have heard of anything on the argus. a lot of the post are from 2014ish. yours being 2021. i to had the unique opportunity to sailed on the argus and think it would be great to see this opportunity continue
what is the status of Argus today? I cooked for boys and crew twice on trips. Quite an experience! I remember cutting down lasagna pans to fit in the tiny oven of the galley. Is there still an effort to restore her? Has she been restored?
I sailed on this boat in the 90s. A friend and I flipped a coin to decide which of us would sleep on the floor. Another crew of Sea Scouts who were older than us told us to do push ups and bullied us. The food we ate was subpar. These older kids bought and listened to mainstream Pearl Jam, heard “Don’t Call me Daughter” repeatedly. We didn’t shower for a week. I don’t think we went to Catalina, just a cruise at Sea. Got to know that ship pretty well, can still see the twin beds of the sleeping quarters and the head along the forward last in my minds eye. It wasn’t very clean. Could have used interior update work even back then. Glad to have had the experience, could have had better company. I’m sure for the first 30 or 40 years of the Argus, it was a wonderful vessel.
I was 13 years old in 1980 when I had the privilege of sailing on the Argus. Besides getting married and becoming a father the Argus is one of the most significant memories of my life. The Boy Scouts of America had loaned the 13 sail GAF rigged Ketch with a topsail to a program named Vision Quest, a program ran by Bob Burton to help troubled youth find a positive direction in life. I will never forget sailing San Francisco Bay and dropping anchor at the intercoast by Alcatraz and swinging off the starboard side halyards into the strong currents of the bay and swimming back to the tall ship and climbing back up the cargo nets and doing it again and again. Such an amazing memory and experience of my life. I was so willing to learn everything I could on my short stay on the Argus that my program directors Mary H.. and Jack W… And my crew and deckhands officially named me, Captain for a day…I remember a reporter from the San Francisco Times I believe was the newspaper came to interview me and my experience on this amazing and wonderful ship…I was and still am extremely proud and honored to be part of her crew.. If I can ever be part of her again, I wouldn’t hesitate my decision.
Please contact me ! My husband Philipp Steingraeber just passed and I am going thru things. For decades we have had a lg framed ink by Scott Kennedy 84 on our wall. Going thru photos I have a stack quite high when my hsuband was working on the resortation. I think it would be valuable for your archives !
Hello, If you still have your archives regarding the Argus, we would love to have them at the Newport Beach Historical Society. I am also writing Captain Bockmiller’s bio. for the family and for the local archives…Captain has just passed away. Thank you.
My daughter and I were part of an all girl Venture Crew from Minnesota that sailed to Catalina in the summer of 98. We had a great time, experienced the dolphins below the bow netting, and swinging off the galley roof into the water. Still smile about the entire trip. Hope they can raise her and get her back to her former glory.
Jerry! So wonderful to run across this article today and see you commented. Such a great adventure aboard the Argus and an amazing experience as a young Venture scout. I have the inked portrait of the vessel hanging in my office / playroom and have shared memories of my time with my kids. Crazy to think that was 22 years ago!
was Rescue diver onboard back 2003-4, took troops from AZ CA+ to catalina+… One important training-~ vigilant night watch… kids all good…Master scuba diver now, wish all got “roaming night watchman”
BTW, troops leaders good cook, captains and I eat first, then we quiz kids, correct answers = meals tickets …all good learning, all eat well…
fyi
Xue
@cqcq
California boat fire: Criminal probe launched with focus on safety lapses, sources say https://latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-09/california-boat-fire-criminal-probe-launched-safety… the vessel lacked a “roaming night watchman” who remains awake to alert passengers of any fire or other danger;
I was a member of a Sea Scout Ship in the 70’s. Though I never sailed on the Argus (we had our own ship docked at Sea Base: the Valkyrie, a 40 foot retired navy wood hull motor launch), we did tour her a couple times. This brings back fond memories.
What ever became of the Argus? I sailed it in the summer of ’88.