Aquidneck (YFB-14)
1937-1975
Native American and early colonial name for the island in Narragansett Bay, located between Newport and Goat Island. Aquidneck is an Algonquin word meaning “at the island” and was suggested to the Navy by the Mayor Henry S. Wheeler of Newport, R.I.
(YFB-14: displacement 544; length 151'0"; beam 53'0"; depth of hold 14'6"; draft 9'6"; speed 9 knots; class Aquidneck)
The steel-hulled ferryboat Aquidneck (YFB-14) was laid down on 28 July 1936 at Bath, Maine, by the Bath Iron Works Corp. (Bath's Hull 167); launched on 13 February 1937; sponsored by Miss Valnessa Easton, daughter of Lt. Cmdr. Glenn H. Easton, CC, USN, Superintending Constructor at Bath Iron Works; and delivered to the Navy on 22 May 1937.
Aquidneck, built to replace Narragansett (YFB-1163) on the run from Newport to Goat Island, servicing the needs of the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, commenced her service on the morning of 28 May 1937 from the Government Landing at Newport. Over the next three decades, Aquidneck operated as a ferryboat within the First Naval District, principally servicing Newport, R.I., until placed out of service, in reserve, in October 1971.
Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July 1975, Aquidneck was transferred to the state of Washington on 19 December 1975.
Robert J. Cressman
Updated, 31 August 2022
