HENRY C. GREBE & COMPANY

Chicago IL

Most recent update: February 19, 2022.

Henry C. Grebe & Company was the successor to Great Lakes Boat Building, which had started in Milwaukee in 1915 and moved to Chicago in 1921.  Grebe was famous for the style and quality of the boats he designed and built and the yard had many famous customers.  It was located on the west side of the North Branch of the Chicago River, just north of the West Belmont Avenue Bridge: it built its last boat in 1970 but did not finally close until 1994.  The site is now occupied by the Belmont River Club townhouse complex.  If anyone can add to the table below, please send your info to timcolton@aol.com
Hull # O.N. Original Name Original Owner Type GT Ft. Delivery Disposition
Built in Milwaukee by Great Lakes Boat Building
    Kingfisher E. L. King Power Cruiser   56 1916  
    Greyhound Ida W. Seybert Motor Patrol Boat 10d 40 1916 To USN 1917 as SP-437, sold 1919
    Terrier Paul Armstrong Motor Patrol Boat 10d 40 1916 To USN 1917 as SP-960, returned 1919
    Hazleton G. B. Markle Motor Patrol Boat 10d 40 1917 To USN 1917 as SP-1770, returned 1918
    Edith II Carnot M. Ward Motor Patrol Boat 33d 50 1917 To USN 1917 as SP-296, returned 1919
    Marguerite II Ralph K. Trix Motor Patrol Boat   50 1917 To USN 1917 as SP-892, returned 1919
    Rhebal A.R. Meyer/ W.K. Hill Motor Patrol Boat 157d 52 1917 To USN 1917 as SP-1195, returned 1919
    Rose Mary Robert E. Hackett Motor Patrol Boat   60 1917 To USN 1917 as SP-1216, returned 1918
    Kumigan Albert Pack Motor Patrol Boat 34d 76 1917 To USN 1917 but no service, returned 1917
    Sea Tag U.S. Army Power Cruiser 13d 51 1917 To USN 1917 as SP-505, returned 1918, later Quirl (ON 224915)
    SC 328 U.S. Navy Sub Chaser 135 110 20-Oct-17 Sold 1935 as Sea Roamer (ON 235624) 1937, Katherine & Mary 1948, foundered 1955
    SC 329 U.S. Navy Sub Chaser 135 110 20-Oct-17 Sold 1922 as Siwash III
    SC 419 U.S. Navy Sub Chaser 135 110 1919 To USNR as training vessel, sold 1927
    SC 420 U.S. Navy Sub Chaser 135 110 1919 Never commissioned, sold 1920
  219094 Nereid   Power Cruiser 23 54 1919 Later Nancy Ann II, Miss Liberty II
  219148 Miss Liberty   Power Cruiser 22 52 1919  
  219538 Emma Belle III   Power Cruiser 27 62 1919 Later Kama, Mary, Wanda, Thunderbird
  220525 Miss Liberty II   Power Cruiser 23 54 1919 Later Ranora II, Miss Liberty
  220433 Frances   Power Cruiser 89 104 1920 Later Adroit II, to USN 1942 as YP 188, to MARAD 1947
  221234 Apothecariana   Power Cruiser 33 62 1921 Now Pam
  221261 Zodiac   Power Cruiser 22 54 1921 Later Sazerac, Restless
  221485 Mate-o-Mine   Power Cruiser 30 63 1921 Later Julina II, Bayforth, Far West
    The Boss   Power Cruiser   42 1921 Active
  222187 Roamer III   Power Cruiser 22 54 1922 Later Solace, Hazel III, Amata, Sally Ann II
    Bobs   Power Cruiser   36 1923 Later Sand Dab, Whiz Fish II, Yankee Doodle
Built in Chicago, at first by Great Lakes Boat Building, later by Henry C. Grebe & Company
  222978 Wasp Philip D. Wrigley Power Cruiser 36 65 1923 Later Margaret M II, Wasp
 

225610

Solace   Power Cruiser 53 73 1926 Later Alice Mary III, Taneek, Flohema II, Roamer II
 

225707

Priscilla   Power Cruiser 37 60 1926  
 

226843

Rdream   Power Cruiser     1927  
 

226842

Gadabout II   Power Cruiser 45 62 1929 Later Sinbad
 

228618

Shiawassee II   Power Cruiser 45 63 1929 Later The Tatem, Cockleloc, Gaf IV, Caroline, Diandra II
 

229093

Phantom III   Power Cruiser 48 70 1929 Later Stella Polaris, Polaris, Aquaria III, Landfall III
 

229575

Marbo   Power Cruiser 52 75 1930 Later Deltra, Rhojan II, Fan-Tan. Ermahol, Jamara
 

229849

Se-Tag   Power Cruiser 41 65 1930 Later Nautilus
  229927 Wewintoo   Power Cruiser 24 46 1930 Later Madray II, Romany, Halame
  264408 Juanita   Aux. Yawl 11 35 1930 Later Southern Cross
    Sunbeam   Power Cruiser   46 1931  
 

230766

Freedom   Aux. Schooner 72 88 1931 To the USNA 1940, sold 1968
 

231713

Ardys H III   Power Cruiser 29 51 1932 Later Nagerac, Alma F, Glori-Bee II, Jo-Ho-So III
 

233526

Blanche II   Power Cruiser 17 46 1934  
    Venture   Power Cruiser   35 1934 Active
 

273279

Helen M II   Power Cruiser 14 40 1935 Later Poseidon
 

234932

Water Nymph   Power Cruiser 28 50 1936 Later Saderoy, Water Nymph
 

234964

Devshir   Aux. Ketch 41 60 1936  
 

235030

Vagabond Lady   Power Cruiser 41 58 1936  
    Duchess   Power Cruiser 16 40 1936 Later Sunny Gene III, Scottie II, Robert Allan
    Rhea III   Power Cruiser   103   To NOAA 1941 as George D. Cowie, sold 1962
  236279 Evelyn J   Power Cruiser 49 63 1937 Later Visitor III, Colonial Princess, Princess II
  236281 Gemini Craig B. Ketcham Power Cruiser 24 48 1937 Later Loraymo, Senator, Forty Niner
  236295 Jimsea   Power Cruiser 28 54 1937 Later Sally III, Emmay II, Progress
  236305 Nancy Ann III   Power Cruiser 49 67 1937 Later Mirimad, Laurie IV, Greta, Colonel Alabama
  246078 My Yen   Power Cruiser 20 42 1937 Later Luzelle
    Franjobill V   Power Cruiser   54 1937  
  237300 Anjac   Power Cruiser 36 57 1938 Later Mojo, Anjolin
  238494 Rusty II Arnold Horween Power Cruiser 32 53 1939 Later Courier
  239009 Wanigan   Power Cruiser 45 60 1939 Later Sunbeam, Ardic III, Dunsinane IV
 

239015

Sohio S. O. of Ohio Tug 77 66 1939 Later Kestrel
  239548 Awab   Power Ketch 27 55 1940 Later Flying Gull
 

240422

High Tide   Power Cruiser 64 71 1941 Later Miss Laura
    YMS 84 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 23-May-42 Mined off Borneo and lost 1945
    YMS 85 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 30-Jun-42 To the USSR as T-604 1945, scuttled 1956
    YMS 171/BYMS 2171 US Navy/ Royal Navy Minesweeper 320 136 29-Mar-43 To Greece 1946 as Kefallinia (M 207), struck 1966
    YMS 172/BYMS 2172 US Navy/ Royal Navy Minesweeper 320 136 17-Apr-43 To Greece 1946 as Kerkyra (M 208), struck 1960
    YMS 173/BYMS 2173 US Navy/ Royal Navy Minesweeper 320 136 1-May-43 To Italy 1947 as Begonia, to Finland 1848, sold as mission ship Ebeneser 1954, sank 1983
    YMS 174/BYMS 2174 US Navy/ Royal Navy Minesweeper 320 136 22-May-43 Sold 1947
    YMS 175/BYMS 2175 US Navy/ Royal Navy Minesweeper 320 136 5-Jun-43 To Egypt 1949 as Gaza (or Tor?), to Algeria 1962 as Djebel Aures, wrecked 1963
    YMS 176 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 10-Jul-43 Scrapped 1947
    YMS 177 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 18-Jul-43 Struck 1946
    YMS 178 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 27-Jul-43 To the USSR 1945 as T-588, scuttled 1956
    YMS 179 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 14-Aug-43 Reclassified 1947 as Cardinal (AMS 4), to Brazil 1960 as Javari (M 11), scrapped 1970
    YMS 180 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 28-Aug-43 To the USSR 1945 as T-609, scrapped 1956
    YMS 181/BYMS 2181 US Navy/ Royal Navy Minesweeper 320 136 12-Sep-43 Struck 1946
    YMS 182/BYMS 2182 US Navy/ Royal Navy Minesweeper 320 136 25-Sep-43 To Greece 1959 as Lambadias, struck 1968
    YMS 279/BYMS 2279 US Navy/ Royal Navy Minesweeper 320 136 2-Oct-43 Sold 1946 as Rudolf Diesel, later to Germany as Y 289, now in the Netherlands, still active
    YMS 280/BYMS 2280 US Navy/ Royal Navy Minesweeper 320 136 16-Oct-43 To Italy 1947 as Verbena, struck 1966
  254840 YMS 405 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 8-Nov-43 Struck 1946, sold 1947, later Leo Huff II, Silver Beach
    YMS 406 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 20-Nov-43 To Norway 1945 as NYMS 406, later Rana (M 330) 1948, struck 1962
    YMS 407 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 8-Dec-43 Sold 1947
  256002 YMS 408 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 18-Dec-43 Sold 1947 as Eva, burnt and lost in the 1980s
    YMS 409 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 1-Jan-44 Foundered in the North Atlantic and lost 1944
    YMS 418 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 21-Sep-44 Sold 1947
    YMS 419 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 28-Oct-44 Reclassified 1947 as Mockingbird (AMS 27), to Korea 1956 as Ko Chang (MSC 521)
    YMS 420 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 5-Feb-45 To RCC 1951 as Cordova (MCA 158), sold 1970 as Harbour Queen No. 1, Nakaya, reefed 1992
    YMS 421 US Navy Minesweeper 320 136 3-Mar-45 Foundered off Okinawa 1946
    YTL 199 US Navy Tug 54 61 1942 Sunk 1946
    YTL 200 US Navy Tug 54 61 1942 To France 1951 as Goeland, to Vietnam 1956 as HQ 9503
    YTL 201 US Navy Tug 54 61 1942  
    YTL 202 US Navy Tug 54 61 1942 Sold 1947
    YTL 203 US Navy Tug 54 61 1942 To France 1951 as Heron, to Vietnam 1956
    YTL 230 US Navy Tug 54 61 1943  
    YTL 231 US Navy Tug 54 61 1943 To Colombia 1963 as Teniente Ricardo Sorzano (RM 73)
    YTL 232 US Navy Tug 54 61 1943 To Britain 1943, to WSA 1947, sold 1968 as SES Lion, abandoned 1980s, scrapped 2012
    YTL 233 US Navy Tug 54 61 1943 Sold 1946
    YTL 234 US Navy Tug 54 61 1943  
  500341 YTL 235 US Navy Tug 54 61 1943 Sold 1946, now S. T. S.
    YTL 445 US Navy Tug 50 61 1944 To Argentina 1969 as Calchaqui (R 6)
  578032 YTL 446 US Navy Tug 50 61 1944 To Vietnam 1963, later Samish, S-Husky, now Sea Guardian (Panama)
  299058 YTL 447 US Navy Tug 50 61 1944 Sold 1965 as Eastwind, later Champion, Big Chief, Champion II, now Tugugly
    YTL 448 US Navy Tug 50 61 1945 To Argentina 1965 as Morcoyan (R 19)
    YTL 449 US Navy Tug 50 61 1945 To Philippines 1963 as Aeta (YQ 224)
  506848 YTL 450 US Navy Tug 50 61 1945 Later Goblin, now Vancouver
    YTL 451 US Navy Tug 50 61 1944 To Vietnam 1963
  536854 John Ackerman   Tug 42 61 1945 Ex-YTL ? active
    YW 117 US Navy Water Tanker 440 174 1945 Sold 1985, now Nooh 4
    YW 118 US Navy Water Tanker 440 174 1945 Scrapped 1974
    YW 119 US Navy Water Tanker 440 174 1945 Scrapped 1982
    YW 122 US Navy Water Tanker 440 174 1945 To Peru 1980
  250274 Comet John P. Wilson Aux. Yawl 24 53 1946 Now Cometa (Mexico)
  251747 Salador   Power Cruiser 56 65 1947 Later El Kay, Double Schott II, Igo II, A-T'er, Sybarita
  252323 Car Al II   Power Cruiser 56 65 1947 Later Loaf-A-Long, Betty Gay I, Patrician Lady V, Newmar, Shawnlacesan
  254163 Miss Carol Ann Merritt & Sons Inc Power Cruiser 58 66 1947 Active
  256058 Privateer III   Power Cruiser 56 65 1948  
152 256636 Marileen I. O'Shaughnessy Power Cruiser 56 65 1948 Now Harvest Moon, being restored in Isnas (Finland)
  258197 Wanigan III G. C. Gaudin Power Cruiser 88 76 1949 Now Veritas
  259627 Ilys Frederick J. Roos Power Cruiser 30 53 1950 Now Patriot Seal
  259724 Full Moon Bates Chevrolet Co Power Cruiser 56 65 1950 To Classic Harbor Line 2018
  260483 Evelyn J II   Power Cruiser 56 65 1950 Later Naoma
157 260671 Water Nymph John Blair Power Cruiser 29 55 1950  
  261929 Mojo   Power Cruiser 45 57 1951 Later Zenda, Zarson, Reflecta
158 na AMS 74 US Navy Minesweeper 405 144 6-Jul-53 To Italy as Castagno (M 5504), to Greece 1995 as Erato (M 60)
159 na AMS 75 US Navy Minesweeper 405 144 2-Feb-54 To Italy as Gelso (M 5509), to Greece 1995 as Euniki (M 62), struck 2007
160 na AMS 76 US Navy Minesweeper 405 144 26-Oct-54 To Italy as Ontano (M 5513), struck 1993
  264599 Lark   Power Cruiser 32 54 1953  
  268581 Gallant Lady V   Power Cruiser  57 67 1954 Later Gon-Waki III
161 269267 Wedac II W. Fondren Jr. Power Cruiser  30 51 1955  
162 270159 Neval O. A. Sutton Power Cruiser 69 74 1955 Later Magna Mar, O'Keefe
163       Speedboat   40   Not completed
164   Estella M II C. E. Wetherald Power Cruiser   47 1956  
165 272072 Isan III H. W. Jackson Power Cruiser 25 47 1956  
166 272572 Viobi II W. T. Hales Jr. Power Cruiser 38 53 1956 Later Si-Go VI
167   Sunny K K. K. Knickerbocker Power Cruiser 26 47 1956 Later Seafarer (Bahamas)
  289746 Christiana   Power Cruiser 17 44 1956 Now My Island
168 274675 Late Tape G. M. Copp Power Cruiser 26 47 1957 Later Luripat
169 274041 Bonte H. A. Gray Jr. Power Cruiser 52 65 1957 Later Aldamac, Sprau III, Nauti Dolphin (Canada)
170 275477 Hummel Hummel II R. O. Schultz Power Cruiser 48 57 1957  
171 280259 Conleeda G. W. Deeb Jr.   36 47 1958  
172 1030052 Rushmere Mercury Sightseeing Power Cruiser 41 48 1961 Now Lady Grebe
173 276578 Amalia D Antonio Desiderio Power Cruiser 42 54 1958 Later Sea Breeze II, Leona Mae, now Amalia
174 278033 Congress Queen G. Martin Passenger 45 66 1959 Now Skyline Queen
175 278403 Awab J. A. Simpson Motor Sailer 53 56 1959 Later Sequoia
176 279851 Millie Jean J. Robbins Power Cruiser  48 65 1959 Now Vagabond d�Azur 
177 280286 Florencia Florence Schick Power Cruiser 54 65 1960 Later Jalencia, now Sam's Place (owned by Jerry Lewis)
178 282354 Mercedes III H. Kresge Passenger 83 68 1959 Later Misty, Ellen Ruth, Mercedes III again, destroyed in a fire 2011
179 284341 Seawalker V M. Walker Power Cruiser 43 54 1960 Later Sans Souci, wrecked in Hurricane Hugo 1989
180 285002 Florencia II Florence Schick Power Cruiser 68 72 1961  
181   Shelly K VII J. M. Rich     54 1961  
182   Maruja G. W. Thompson     55 1962  
183 na   Chicago Police Dept. Patrol Boat   20 1962  
184 na   Chicago Police Dept. Patrol Boat   20 1962  
185 na   Chicago Police Dept. Patrol Boat   20 1962  
186 289670 Sequoia II J. N. Spear Motor Sailer 38 50 1963 Active
187 291543 Jewel L. Garlick Passenger 50 57 1963 Now Lady Hornblower 
188 603461 Goblin III J. N. Gamble Motor Sailer 42 42 1963 Later Sundu, now Nepenthe
189 293024 Elda Maria J. R. Perini Power Cruiser 58 60 1963 Later Capri V, now Traviata
190 295124 Westlake II L. Norton Power Cruiser 47 55 1964 Later Pusseaphut, now Elegante
191 297112 Maruja II G. W. Thompson    62 65 1964  
192 297278 Maurine III D. Weir   48 57 1964  
193 298987 Princess Marina J. W. Cox Power Cruiser 50 55 1965 Later Lucky Six, inactive
194 500214 Iroquois J. B. Poole Power Cruiser 46 55 1965 Now Box Office
195 501695 Sundancer F. A. Sunderland Power Cruiser 46 53 1965 Later Amanda Blaire, now Daddy's Money
196 503441 Arrowhead E. Flint Power Cruiser 46 55 1966 Later Life of Riley, Northstar, now Scarlet Sophia
197   SPR(L) IV H. Joy     60 1967  
198 665796 36SR681 U.S. Navy LCSR 14 36 1969 Now Leanna Katherine
199 na         60   Not built
200 524070 Karen J S. Spitzer Power Cruiser 64 65 1971 Now Santee