A Brief History
of the Sea Scout Ship Gryphon
The Sea Scout Ship Gryphon was formed by leaders and crew from the Sea Scout Ship Belmonster in 1979. The Ship number 33 had been used by another Sea Scout Ship that became inactive during the mid-1970’s. The name “Gryphon” was selected by the crew. The spelling of “Gryphon” is from Egyptian mythology, where the mythical creature was a symbol of nobility and strength. Coincidently, the “Griffin” spelling denotes Greek mythology, where the creature was a guardian of Zeus’ gold.
The Gryphon has had four skippers in her history. Glen Meskimen’s tenure began in 1989. On his watch, the Gryphon adopted many of the traditions of the Sea Scout Ship Challenger, Skipper Meskimen’s first Ship, where he earned his Quartermaster and later became the Skipper. In 1993, Mike Marzano (whose first skipper was Meskimen in the Challenger in the early 1970’s), became the Gryphon’s current Skipper.
Many Sea Scouts have proudly been the crew of the Gryphon over the years. A handful of memories have been complied on our Looking Back, Days Gone By, and Gryphon Days pages. The Gryphon has attended many regattas, Safety at Sea Weekend training events, and sent a team to the first William I. Koch Sea Scout Cup.
The Gryphon has had seven Quartermasters so far. Four crewmembers each earned their Quartermaster in 2003 alone. We have had at least six Eagles as well in the last few years.
The Gryphon received the highest honor in her history on May 30, 2003 in Philadelphia: the BoatU.S. National Sea Scout Flagship Award. The National Flagship Award recognizes the top Sea Scout Ship in the country for excellence in program quality, youth achievement and adult commitment. And though our brain may be like a bird's, this honor will live indefinitely in the memory of the Gryphon.
Vessel History
The Gryphon, T-439, was built in 1953 at National Steel, Shipbuilding Corp., in San Diego, California. She was built for the Korean War, to serve as a personnel transport vessel and tow duty. Finished when the Korean War was over, she saw duty between Fort Baker to Angel Island, serving as a personnel transport, before going into mothball.
And in mothball she waited for many years. Through a lot of hard work and letter writing, T-439 was a gift from Congress.
On May 17, 1981, the then small crew of Ship 33 took possession of T-439 at the California Maritime Academy Boat Basin, hoisted the unit flag from the yard arm for the first time, towed her to Mare Island for an extensive haul out, and then on to Redwood City for rebuilding. It would be two more years and hundreds of volunteer hours of work getting her mechanical systems running, outfitted with modern electronics, and installing a berthing area in the cargo hold before she would be ready for sea. The hard work and efforts paid off on March 12, 1983 when the vessel Gryphon set special sea and anchor detail for her first sea trials.
Now, 20 years later, the Gryphon, T-439 has provided youth a platform for teaching maritime skills, leadership, and teambuilding. The boat has made two cruises to San Diego and back, somewhere around 40 summer cruises to the California Delta, too many cruises in San Francisco Bay to count, has been honored as the 2003 BoatU.S. National Sea Scout Flagship, and continues her mission to provide service to youth.
The Gryphon crew in Philadelphia and the National Flagship Award.
T-Boats at Rough and Ready Island in the 1950's.
The Gryphon in the Stockton Ship Channel.
A busy wheelhouse on watch.
The Hull Sandblasting in 1990.
Installation of the Mercedes Generator.
Underway in the Delta.
The Gryphon being honored for Sea Scouts' 90th Anniversary.
Off the California Coast in 1995.