The Cool Piece Of 1940's History Aboard Deadliest Catch's The Wizard
Probably the most important thing about an industrial boat is that it is built to last. Just like the people working on its deck, the ship may go through several different types of jobs during its lifespan. Plenty of times, different remnants of past functions remain with the boat, turning it into a type of time capsule for all to see. Such is the case of the Wizard, the largest vessel featured on Discovery's "Deadliest Catch," which started its career all the way back in the 1940s.
The single-deck giant was originally built in 1945 to become a yard oiler for the US Navy (via Crab Wizard). Once the Navy no longer needed its services, it sat in Boston Harbor, tied up and decommissioned until 1974, when it began exercising its sea legs once again, hauling molasses for eight months. Shortly after, it was purchased and converted into the crab fishing vessel that we know it to be today.
In 2005, The Discovery Channel premiered "Deadliest Catch," and the Wizard was one of the first boats featured on the popular reality series. The vessel is a beast, measuring at 150 feet long and 30 feet wide, and is able to haul an insane amount of weight across the Bering Sea. When at capacity, the behemoth can haul roughly 2,000,000 pounds of weight while plowing through the treacherous waters. Its craftsmanship and strength have allowed it to last over these years, and during an inside-look tour, Captain Keith Colburn pointed out a fascinating peek into the ship's history.
Within the Wizard, there's a peak back to WWII
Every boat that fans have gotten to know about on "Deadliest Catch" has its own unique features. For Captain Keith Colburn's Wizard, one of the most interesting features is an element of the vessel's history. When Colburn gave Seattle Insider an exclusive tour of his boat, he showed off a piece of nostalgia that has remained since its inaugural function in the 1940s. And unlike all the mechanical ins and outs that have stood the test of time, this remnant connects directly to its past crew members.
When the Wizard hit the seas in the mid-1940s, it functioned as an oil hauler during World War II. This means, of course, the ship housed a crew from that era, and a piece of memorabilia still remains today. During the tour, after Colburn explained how the Wizard is basically its own sustainable town, he directed attention to a small metal locker door which revealed this fascinating time jump.
When Colburn opened a small compartment, he revealed multiple black and white photos of women glued to the inner panel. "One of the coolest things about the Wizard, is that she's built in 1945 for the war," he said, "and we still got some of the original pin-up girls from the mid-40s on here." With a past history of primarily male deckhands (up until recently) inhabiting the boat, it's no wonder that this specific piece of nostalgia lasted throughout the years. Colburn eventually continued the tour, pointing out the engine room, living quarters, and galley.