Boating & Outdoor Photos - Mon Lei; Chinese Junk; need ID help

Are any of you familiar with the Mon Lei?
She is a 19th century junk that was onced owned by Robert Ripley (of Believe It Or Not fame).
Saw this boat recently and don't know if it is a replica or the real deal.


http://soundbounder.blogspot.com/2010/04/mon-lei.html

Any info would be appreciated

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab79/Soundbounder/aprilsoundbounder2010044.jpg

don't know anything about it. I have seen it sitting there the last few weeks. looks like she has seen better days.

Junk is the best word to describe that heaping pile. :rofl:

Vessel Name: MON LEI USCG Doc. No.: 238739 Vessel Service: RECREATIONAL IMO Number: * Trade Indicator: Recreational Call Sign: WA8380 Hull Material: WOOD Hull Number: * Ship Builder: * Year Built: 1939

Length (ft.): 45.2 Hailing Port: NEW YORK NY Hull Depth (ft.): 6.4 Owner: CHESAPEAKE BAY & CHINA SEA TOWING
CO. INC. 414 EAST 52ND STREET PENTHOUSE A
NEW YORK, NY 10022 Hull Breadth (ft.): 16.5 Gross Tonnage: 36 Net Tonnage: 33 Documentation Issuance Date: September 16, 2009 Documentation Expiration Date: October 31, 2010 Previous Vessel Names: No Vessel Name Changes Previous Vessel Owners: No Vessel Owner Changes

Vessel Name: MON LEI USCG Doc. No.: 238739 Vessel Service: RECREATIONAL IMO Number: * Trade Indicator: Recreational Call Sign: WA8380 Hull Material: WOOD Hull Number: * Ship Builder: * Year Built: 1939

Length (ft.): 45.2 Hailing Port: NEW YORK NY Hull Depth (ft.): 6.4 Owner: CHESAPEAKE BAY & CHINA SEA TOWING
CO. INC. 414 EAST 52ND STREET PENTHOUSE A
NEW YORK, NY 10022 Hull Breadth (ft.): 16.5 Gross Tonnage: 36 Net Tonnage: 33 Documentation Issuance Date: September 16, 2009 Documentation Expiration Date: October 31, 2010 Previous Vessel Names: No Vessel Name Changes Previous Vessel Owners: No Vessel Owner ChangesHey thanks Jeff!!!

I appreciate it. Just curious where you found this, because someone else sent me something saying it was built in 1920.

:thumbsup:

Hey thanks Jeff!!!

I appreciate it. Just curious where you found this, because someone else sent me something saying it was built in 1920.

:thumbsup:

Here is a site that may be usefull. Not sure if it is same site Jeff used.
Go here and enter ship name.

http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.html

Here is a site that may be usefull. Not sure if it is same site Jeff used.
Go here and enter ship name.

http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.htmlThanks Ray Zor!!!!

:thumbsup:

That's probably it because it has the same info.

Hey thanks Jeff!!!

I appreciate it. Just curious where you found this, because someone else sent me something saying it was built in 1920.

:thumbsup:

You're welcome. I wish that site had a history for some of the older girls.... Sometimes if you search by name, get the official number, then search by number you can get some history but not a whole lot....

It is at my marina in Norwalk, CT

It is at my marina in Norwalk, CTGood old Norwalk Cove Marina



:joincc:

This boat belongs to my company and was once owned by Robert Ripley . It was built in the 1850's.

This boat belongs to my company and was once owned by Robert Ripley . It was built in the 1850's.
There is a lot of conflicting info about this ship. I find it odd that stories quoting Ripley state the boat is from the 1920's, and the documentation shows the 1930's.
Only Alen Sands York seems to claim that it is from the 1850s. Also Mystic says it is from the early 20th century

http://soundbounder.blogspot.com/2010/04/mon-lei-update.html

She's in the water

She's in the water Thanks for the heads up Fichtion.

I'll have to swing by and see her in the water this week

All,
I was poking around on the internet to find some pictures of the Mon Lei, and came across this post, You see, my Father was the captian of this yacht for about 12 years back in late 80's to early 90's. He worked or Allen York and spent most of his time in NY, Newport and Miami. My father just passed away but I am very familiar with this ship as I have done a few deliveries on her and spent many hours working on it with my dad. To the best of my knowledge this is the real deal as far as Chiniese junks go. I believe her name means 10,000 miles for the distance she has traveled. She was owned by Allen york of Manhatten and yes it was one owned by Ripley. I was told she is the only true chiniese junk in the US and sailed here under her own power many years ago. I helped my father repower it with the current detroit engine. I remember it had a few new hull planks put on her back in the 90's at newport ship yard. Her origional hull is teak and I specifically remember an old man named Gordon who was one of the last few remaining people who knew the art of hull calking the old fashon way, with wooden mallets adnd flat chisels doing the hull calking. I was on the boat when she was put back in and checked her for leaks while monitoring the bildge pumps. She was tight once she swelled back up. She has been on the cover of cruising world magizine and you can see my dad at the helm in the shot. She has sailed with the Tall ships festival in Newport RI on a few occasions.

All,
I was poking around on the internet to find some pictures of the Mon Lei, and came across this post, You see, my Father was the captian of this yacht for about 12 years back in late 80's to early 90's. He worked or Allen York and spent most of his time in NY, Newport and Miami. My father just passed away but I am very familiar with this ship as I have done a few deliveries on her and spent many hours working on it with my dad. To the best of my knowledge this is the real deal as far as Chiniese junks go. I believe her name means 10,000 miles for the distance she has traveled. She was owned by Allen york of Manhatten and yes it was one owned by Ripley. I was told she is the only true chiniese junk in the US and sailed here under her own power many years ago. I helped my father repower it with the current detroit engine. I remember it had a few new hull planks put on her back in the 90's at newport ship yard. Her origional hull is teak and I specifically remember an old man named Gordon who was one of the last few remaining people who knew the art of hull calking the old fashon way, with wooden mallets adnd flat chisels doing the hull calking. I was on the boat when she was put back in and checked her for leaks while monitoring the bildge pumps. She was tight once she swelled back up. She has been on the cover of cruising world magizine and you can see my dad at the helm in the shot. She has sailed with the Tall ships festival in Newport RI on a few occasions.

Thanks for the info Mike.
We have concluded that it is the same boat owned by Ripley, but the boat is not 150 years old as York has claimed. Mystic says she was built in the 1930's possibly the late 1920's.