Forget that Lakefair was coming up because we weren't arguing about the USS Olympia coming to town?

It looks like the Lakefair folks changed their minds since last September when they were asking for the US and Canadian navies to send some ships to Lakefair. This year they invited the Old Man IV, a Navy Cutter. Formerly an official admiral vessel, the barge is now used to show folks "what the navy used to be like."

Certainly not as impressive as a hospital ship, but certainly not as divisive as a sub.

From CYA Members' Gallery.

The 50 foot vessel will be open for visitors pretty much all week.

From the Northwest Navigator during the boat's last refurbishment:

Built by Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 1957, the barge has served 30 Admirals and has been toured by hundreds of thousands of people. So after almost 50 years of use she is in Tacoma for a facelift and overhaul.

“We’re in a restricted overhaul period where the capabilities of the barge will be upgraded as well as the exterior esthetics. Once they are done she will be in a very presentable condition and ready to represent Navy Region Northwest for years to come,” said Quarter Master Senior Chief(SW) Bradley Riegel, operations chief.

The vessel’s double-planked hull, made of Alaskan yellow cedar with natural teak decks and the cabin, constructed of mahogany and fir will all be sanded, re-varnished and polished. Old Man IV will also be equipped with two new, more powerful engines, as well as a new generator, shafts, propeller and electrical system, increasing her proficiency and transiting speeds.

Another piece from the NW Navigator:

Old Man IV’s history dates back to its construction at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 1957. It was designed by Ed Monk Sr., a ship designer, and is one of only two ships afloat carrying its design. The ship was based at Sandpoint and then Seattle before moving to its current location at Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Keyport, in 1996.

Old Man IV was originally used by admirals for transportation purposes. Navy tradition dictated that an admiral should have a personal ship, and Old Man IV fulfilled that role in the Pacific Northwest. A crew was always ready to man the ship and to take the admiral wherever he or she needed to be. Along with official matters, Old Man IV was used for family events.

As Old Man IV grew older, it evolved into a symbol of naval tradition. The vessel’s original framework consisted of several types of wood, including Alaskan yellow cedar, teak, mahogany, and fir. Although the ship has undergone a renovation that upgraded its engines and technical components, its exterior looks the same as it did 51 years ago.

Telling people about this history is a “good way to show another aspect of the Navy,” said Boatswains Mate 1st Class (SW) Corey Broadnax, coxswain of Old Man IV.