SS MATSONIA
Matson was
enjoying fair post-war success with Lurline and was
looking to expand their passenger operation once more.
Matson had a C4 class vessel undergoing conversion to
a cruise ship for the Oceania and Australasia region.
The ship was originally named Free State Mariner but
Matson had renamed her Monterey. Matson bought the
SS Monterey back from the US Government in 1956 and
rechristened her as SS Matsonia, replacing their
earlier Matsonia which had been sold to Home Lines in
1954. The new Matsonia first sailed from New York to San
Francisco on 22 May 1957 to team up with her sister Lurline on
the San Francisco – Los Angeles – Honolulu run.
Within five years, profits from passenger service had
fallen to the point where Matson decided to anchor Matsonia indefinitely
in San Francisco Bay. Sister ship Lurline continued to
operate but suffered a major turbine problem in February
1963 when she arrived in Los Angeles with serious engine
trouble in her port turbine and was laid up, with the
required repairs considered too expensive. Instead of
repairing Lurline, Matson sold the well-loved ship to Chandris
Lines. Stung by poor public opinion regarding the
maneuver, Matson rechristened the former Matsonia (ex-Monterey)
as the new Lurline on 6 December 1963 and returned her
to service.
This primarily wood SS Matsonia ocean
liner model features:
-
Plank-on-frame hull. This
construction method gives accurate hulls, as artisans create the frame of the
hull exactly like in drawings. The solid hull method, on the other hand, employs
most guesswork on the degree of curvature.
- Windows and portholes are cutouts
(not black decals or indentation) which are clean,
uniform, and aligned. We are not shy
to show the model in large photos. Nothing to hide!
- Full number of lifeboats. We left some out of the pictures so
that you can see the beautiful davits and more features.
36"
L x 13.5" T x 7" W (including base's
dimensions) $3,520
Shipping and insurance in
the contiguous USA included.
Other places: $400 flat rate.
Other sizes, please
send us an email for a quote.
Lighting feature is included.
A ship is
not an ocean liner without beautiful lighting.
LED
light powered by standard 9v battery
for your convenience. Our model has realistic and
beautiful lighting, including navigation light. Many
have tried but failed. Cheap model maker can never keep up
with our genuine artistic design and engineering
ability.
Model is built per commission only. We require only a
small deposit (not full amount, not even half) to start
the process $500 The
remaining balance won't be due until the boat is
completed,
in several months.
If you are looking for a SS Lurline model, it is
located here:
Lurline Ocean Liner
Learn more about the SS Matsonia here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Monterey#Monterey_to_Matsonia
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