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Sea Hunt

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 1:14 am
by rap55
Would Mike Nelson ( Loyd Bridges ) have chosen something like a SeaRay or Bayliner over a Trojan ? Not a chance !

Rick / F-36 / MissKitty

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:31 am
by RWS
The Argonaut was and is a Lancaster, PA built Trojan

More information on Mike Nelson's boat:

San Diego California is the home port of ARGONAUT. Argonaut is the famous 33 ft TROJAN Express Cabin Cruiser used by Lloyd Bridges as Mike Nelson in the 1960's underwater adventure TV series "Sea Hunt.".


Under the warm Southern California sun in 1960, In its third season the cast and crew of Ziv Productions began filming Americas number one syndicated underwater adventure weekly TV show, Sea Hunt. Many technical advances had been made in the field of scuba diving for recreation or research since the shows first season in 1958. Ziv and Lloyd knew that the new ARGONAUT had to be first class in every way. Said to be requested by Lloyd Bridges himself, a brand new 33 foot Trojan Sea Breeze Model 346 Express Cruiser with Fly-bridge was custom built and delivered to Ziv Productions Hollywood California.


Upon receiving the work order, Trojan boat company located in Lancaster P.A. made sure that only their top shipwrights built the ARGONAUT . American reputation, quality and pride had to be maintained. For many generations Amish men in Lancaster P.A. had carried on the family tradition of building wooden vessels. As we further explore through restoration, we discover that the design and quality in ship building is flawless. Trojan ship designer, William K. Smith oversaw production and quality of Serial number 1018. The ARGONAUT was also used by Lloyd as his personal family boat even after the show ended.


In March 2000, the Argonaut was put into dry-dock for its millennium refit. In order to continue with tradition, this brave vessel needs to be re-varnished, repainted, re-chromed and resealed. It was decided that only the finest materials and time honored traditions for shipbuilding would be Applied to the Argonaut. The Argonaut is all original and is in great shape, all equipment such as depth finder, radio and sonar are in tact. The twin Crusader engines and original instruments still work perfectly. Some parts are just too old and worn to be used and so for safety sake they will be replaced by brand new identical parts.

By summer 2002, Argonaut plans to once again ply the California coastline and appear at boat shows and other major events. To carry on with the Lloyd Bridges legacy, Argonaut will work closely alongside other environmental agencies concerned with keeping our oceans clean and safe. So please visit http://www.wm2050 .org and help support this effort then ask how you could become an honorary crew member today and help us make clean and safe oceans a top priority this new millennium.

Here's a link that appears to be expired at this time
seahuntadventures.com/Argonaut/argonaut.html

If you remember the TV show here's a better one just for fun...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43iMY-t6nUI


RWS

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:59 am
by k9th
Wow - what memories that brought out. I watched Sea Hunt every week and it was my favorite TV show. I never knew that ARGONAUT was a Trojan - but it doesn't surprise me either. Even then I was getting the subliminal message about Trojans.

Thanks for sharing.

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:12 am
by rbcool
Thanks AWS........ I didn't know either.

Ron 8)

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:01 am
by rossjo
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While Lloyd Bridges was the solo star of the series (unless you include the Scuba gear), a young new female star was brought in after 117 episodes had been shot. Her name was the Argonaut, a 33-ft 1960 Trojan Sea Breeze. The Argonaut and Argonaut II names were used on numerous boats that Ziv rented and used in the first three seasons including a Chris-Craft and a 1955 wooden Eddy Craft that included a prop that was supposed to be an underwater TV monitor. But the boat that fans say is the "real" Argonaut was purchased by Ziv United Artists Television and shipped to Ziv Productions in Hollywood on September 21, 1960 from the Trojan factory in Lancaster Pennsylvania. The model 346 Express Cruiser (Serial #1018) was purchased as a part of a revamping program for the fourth season designed to head off the third season sinking ratings. The 12-ft beam boat with mahogany and teak planking sported a custom built fly-bridge. Built by Amish shipwrights (craftsmen) and fitted with optional twin 240-hp Crusader Interceptor engines with reverse screws, the Argonaut would only play an occasional role in the plot during the final 38 shows in season four. Trojan boat designer William K. Smith personally monitored the production and assembly of this boat knowing it was for SEA HUNT. Ivan Tors derived the boat's name from the ancient Greek tale of Jason and his ship the "Argo", built by the master ship builder Argo. Argonauts were the Argo's crew members that traveled with Jason in search of the Golden Fleece. Restoration of this classic boat is nearing completion in San Diego. The Argonaut is available for TV appearances, movie productions, and boat shows.

Bridges and his family used this boat after the show ended according to one source. In a November 2007 interview, Jeff Bridges was asked about The Scuba Guy's assertion that the Bridges family used the boat but he couldn't recall ever doing that.

The Argonaut, like any important actress, had a stunt double on a Ziv United Artists Television sound stage in West Hollywood. Resting on piles of tires so stage-hands could rock the boat, the engineless and mastless Argonaut sat in front of a large rear-screen where ocean scenes were projected to create close-up dialog shots of Mike Nelson as if he were miles out to sea. This common-place technique of filming close-ups with live dialog is known as "process shooting".

In most episodes, the Argonaut's marine radio fictional call sign was WM-2050. In pilot episode 1B Ziv #1.4, "Mark of the Octopus", the call sign was WA-1005. In Ziv #1.24, "Pressure Suit", the call sign was G57. In Ziv #1.11, "Killer Whale", the call sign was WHL5. In Ziv #2.15, "Nerve Gas", Mike is on the "Chinook" and the call sign was 2XL. These call signs are used in both U.S. and foreign waters. None of these call signs are in 3 x 4 F.C.C. marine call sign format issued at the time.

from http://home.comcast.net/~bill.jones.scu ... rivia.html

Leonard Nimoy in Sea Hunt

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:13 am
by rossjo

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:51 pm
by rbcool
WOW!!! Mr Spock that young. AWESOME

Ron 8)

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:52 pm
by foofer b
You guys are awesome. Such a wealth of knowledge. I never knew any of this.

Sea Hunt

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:20 pm
by rap55
I thought ya`ll might find the story of the Argonaut interesting. Is it any wonder why we had to have a Trojan ?

They also had a Mock-Up Trojan on the studio set . They mounted it on old car tires so the crew could rock her back and forth to film some of the open-water shots while a screen in the background showed scene`s of the ocean. What a boat ! I guess I was being programed to own a Trojan from childhood...

Good thing I did`nt watch to much Sky King !!!

Rick - F-36 / MissKitty

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:11 pm
by k9th
I've never seen Leonard Nimoy in film that long ago when he was that young. I watched the original Star Trek series when it came out in the late sixties but this was obviously long before that.

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 10:45 pm
by rossjo
Robert Conrad's 1st Television appearance was as the captain of the boat that the announcer and others go out on to monitor the race in the Sea Hunt episode called "The Stunt" (6th episode of 2nd season in 1959), where a woman diver challenges Lloyd Bridges to an underwater race from Palos Verdes to Catalina Island for a $5k prize.

2:23 into the the video ...
Imagehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LLtnJhXiik

Sea Hunt

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:31 pm
by rap55
Hey Rossjo,

Sorry for posting some of the Trivia you had already put-up. Must have overlooked it when I read your post. Regardless, I love that stuff and figured most every Trojan owner already knew about the Sea Hunt / Trojan / Bridges connection.

Rick - F-36 / MissKitty

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:58 am
by TC
That was my favorite TV show when I was young. It started my water fetish, first scuba diving in the early 70's and boating early 90's till now. I still have two comic books squirrelled away, # 10 July/Sept '61 and # 13 April/June '62.

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 11:30 am
by alexander38
ok some of you are telling your age. I've never seen the show :wink:

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 11:53 am
by prowlersfish
Tony , is telling the truth ,as he grew up with the Lone ranger on am radio , first saw tv in the navy . :D