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A Closer Look At John Wayne’s Custom Yacht, “Wild Goose”

Public Domain / Abhishake4, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

For the last 17 years of his life John Wayne enjoyed a good deal of that time with his friends and family aboard his custom yacht, Wild Goose.

The ship itself was a 136-ft. US Navy Minesweeper that the Duke purchased for $110,000 in 1962 and converted into a three-decker floating luxury.

The ship has extravagant wood detailing, murals, and the bridge table where Wayne would spend all day playing games near the end of his life.

Shortly after he took possession of the ship, the $3 million renovation began. Five staterooms were added, interior bulkheads were removed to give the yacht a more spacious feel, and overheads were raised to accommodate Wayne’s height. A wood-burning fireplace, poker table, and built-in wet bar were added to the saloon which seats up to 127 people.

Even with these lavish upgrades, Wayne was intent on maintaining the boat’s naval heritage and left many of her original military elements intact, like the old-fashioned swivel wall fans, the bell, and the brass wheel in the wheelhouse.

The yacht is now owned by Hornblower Cruises located in Newport Beach, California. The company puts on different events and cruises in which fans of The Duke can actually step foot on his beloved yacht.

Wayne’s last trip aboard Wild Goose was on Easter weekend 1979. Before his passing the Hollywood legend used his yacht to entertain people like Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. It was also in several films, including “Skidoo” and “The President’s Analyst.”

Get a full video tour of Wild Goose below.

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Home    •    Journal    •    Duke’s Wild Goose Days

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Duke’s Wild Goose Days

The Wild Goose anchored in the Pacific Northwest. Photo courtesy of John Wayne Enterprises

Written by Michael Goldman

If you ever wondered what John Wayne would be doing if he were alive today, with summer in full swing, there is no need—he’d be spending every available moment on his yacht, the  Wild Goose , with family and friends. The  Wild Goose  was a 136-ft. US Navy Minesweeper converted into a yacht that Duke purchased surviving in 1962 to replace the smaller boat he owned a few years earlier, called the  Norwester . As his oldest living son, Patrick Wayne said Duke purchased the  Wild Goose  principally to make it easier to have fun with his family and friends. And for many years, he did just that.

“We had a lot of fun [on the Norwester],” Patrick recalled, “but it wasn’t big enough with our huge extended family, so eventually he decided to buy the  Wild Goose .” The yacht has been described as “the central hub of John Wayne’s voracious social life,” and that’s accurate. The boat became such a powerful force in his life, for such a long time, that it remains famous today, long after Duke sold it just a matter of weeks before his death in the late 1970’s as he worked to put his affairs in order. Indeed, the yacht remains in use today, owned by Hornblower Cruises & Events, as a rental yacht for private events in Newport Beach, California.

John Wayne, Peggy Wayne, and Melinda Wayne aboard the Wild Goose in 1963. Photo courtesy of John Wayne Enterprises

But in and around the Wayne family, memories of the boat and its numerous voyages, parties, cruises, and the important snapshots from Duke’s life that played out on it linger. Patrick remembers dozens of adventures on Catalina, and “lots of water sports, fishing, diving for abalone, water skiing.” Daughter Marisa remembers “card games with family and friends on the boat, sailing to Mexico, Canada, or Alaska, fishing and playing backgammon.” In fact, Marisa continues, those times are among her most important memories. “For a long time, whenever I dreamed about him, we were on the boat,” she recalls. “Just enjoying the people you were with, the sights, being on the sea, and lots of playing cards.”

Ethan Wayne describes his dad routinely “putting on his shirt and shoes, or a pair of flip-flops, and then just diving in [off the side of the boat], swimming to shore, putting on his shoes, wet. He’d have something to eat or talk with somebody, and then swim back to the boat and hang out with his buddies.” His wife, Pilar, remembers “cruises to the Panama Canal, spending time in the sun, just relaxing.”

In other words, as Ethan says, days on the  Wild Goose  were the ones “when my father was the happiest.”

Bert Minshall, who served for many years as the ship’s first mate, and who even wrote a book in the 1990’s filled with his memories of his time on Duke’s boat, called  On Board with the Duke , certainly attests to that. He related to me that the feeling was one of family and esprit de corps for anyone on board the  Wild Goose . Minshall, in fact, points out that his primary role early in his tenure on the boat was to keep a watchful eye on the younger Wayne children. He remembers “water skiing and jumping off John Wayne’s cabin, about 25 feet in the air,” with Duke’s kids, and insists Duke used the Wild Goose more frequently when he had small children and grandchildren available to join him.

Indeed, Minshall is a veritable gold mine of Wild Goose memories, ranging from screening 16mm versions of John Wayne films on board the ship to watching Duke get a thrill driving the small Boston Whaler ski boat that often came along on cruises, “even though he had a hard time bringing [the ski boat] up alongside the  Wild Goose ,” according to Minshall. In his own book, Minshall also points out that John Wayne, himself, and Pete Stein were about the only regulars on the boat who “never got seasick” even in the heaviest weather.

“While others covered their mouths and sprinted for the side, the three of us would wipe our plates clean and help ourselves to seconds,” Minshall wrote. “During one particularly fierce storm in the Sea of Cortez, off Baja, California, we were forced to sit on the galley deck, our backs braced against a bulkhead, so we could steady ourselves long enough to wolf down a heavy breakfast.”

Wild Goose Engineer Ken Minshall, Dean Martin, and Wild Goose Captain Bert Minshall aboard the Wild Goose. Photo courtesy of John Wayne Enterprises

Of course, Duke occasionally conducted business meetings on the yacht, but more generally, he wove the boat into the fabric of all aspects of his life. Minshall says Duke took industry friends like actor Hugh O’Brien, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Jackie Gleason fishing every once in a while, and he let other buddies, including Sammy Davis Jr., charter the boat for Catalina cruises. But, for the most part, the  Wild Goose  was Duke’s primary personal playground. It was on board the boat that Duke took a three-week fishing trip to Canada and worked with journalist Wayne Warga on several chapters of his never-finished biography in the 1970’s. Among his private papers at the Edward I. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library at USC, Warga wrote about that trip, claiming it began with him getting “rip-snorting drunk with Duke” and was delightful and productive due to how relaxed Duke was.

Duke was also particularly fond over the years of the men, including Minshall, who crewed on the  Wild Goose . Letters in the John Wayne Archives, and the memories of family and friends, indicate Duke often battled it out with the ship’s longest-serving skipper, a chain-smoking sea veteran named Pete Stein, in “an interplay,” as Minshall puts it, that might have made them seem like they were at odds. But, in truth, as Ethan Wayne recalls, “they would drink together when the boat was not in operation. They really liked each other.”

When Duke was traveling for work, Stein would routinely write him letters, updating him on the boat’s condition and any issues as they arose. John Wayne appreciated that and, in fact, was so supportive of his crew that he became enraged in 1966 by a letter accusing Captain Stein of being unfit for duty by the owner of another yacht that had gotten into a minor collision with the  Wild Goose  in Catalina during a voyage in which Duke was not present. The owner of the other boat, in Duke’s view, insulted his friend by calling Stein “arrogant,” and he was having none of it.

“[Stein] recalls nothing discourteous in his actions, and says he took a ten-minute lecture from you without anger or reply,” Duke wrote the man. “It is unfortunate that the incident occurred, but I can’t feel that anything that happened gives you license to damn me and my ship and crew as arrogant. Quite frankly, the tone of your letter fails to invoke a sympathetic or apologetic attitude from me.”

According to Minshall, John Wayne took his final cruise on the boat in April 1979, just a matter of weeks before his death. Minshall says Duke was particularly weak during the trip, but still played backgammon, gin rummy, and reminisced with his old friend.

“When we got back, he walked up the dock, and that was the last time I saw him,” Minshall says. But as melancholy as that memory is for him, it’s overwhelmed by the memories he has of Duke riding in the ship’s wheelhouse, enjoying the sea life and relaxing.

“Duke loved to be in the wheelhouse, usually having a drink,” Minshall says. “At least for the last 10 years or so of his life, he would be up there drinking his tequila or brandy on the rocks. The boat was a real getaway for him, away from the hassle of Hollywood.”

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YMS-328 - Wild Goose

International call-sign: November-Quebec-Delta-Juliet

USS YMS-328 was a US Navy YMS-1-class (YMS-135 subclass) Yard Mine Sweeper (YMS), built in Ballard, Washington at Ballard Marine & Railway in Ballard, Washington (Seattle). She was classified as a Mark II design and her hull is constructed completely out of 3" vertical grain Douglas-fir. Sister ships include Jacques Cousteau's RV Calypso. After naval service during World War II, she became a private yacht. Later renamed Wild Goose she is most notable for having been owned by actor John Wayne. The yacht was listed on the US National Register of Historic Places on 19 July 2011.

YMS-328 was delivered on 26 May 1943. She served in the Aleutian Islands during World War II, sweeping enemy minefields at Attu and US minefields at Kiska, and patrolling out of Adak. She was en route to Dutch Harbor to be fitted for the invasion of Paramishiru Island in Japan, when Japan surrendered. YMS-328 returned to Bremerton, Washington. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 1946.

YMS-328 was sold privately in 1948 to Vancouver Tug & Barge owner Harold Jones. He named her La Beverie. Upon Jones's death in 1956, millionaire Max Wyman purchased the yacht and renamed her the Wild Goose II. Wyman traveled the world on the yacht including Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Hawaii. In 1962, she was bought by John Wayne and went through a major renovation. Wayne changed her name to Wild Goose. He kept the ship for the last 17 years of his life. He entertained a who's who of the time including Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

Wild Goose was featured in the 1968 film Skidoo where she was the yacht, named Mother, of a reclusive mob boss named "God" played by Groucho Marx. The yacht was used extensively with scenes shot from the exterior and in the wheel house, cabins, engine room, upper and lower decks. This ship was also featured in the 1967 film The President's Analyst, doubling as a Canadian spy ship.

The travels of the ship were well documented during Wayne's ownership in the 1993 book On Board with the Duke authored by his former captain Bert Minshall. Minshall was on Wild Goose for 16 years with Wayne. The vessel is still in operation for dinner cruises in Newport Beach, California by Hornblower Cruises.

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John Wayne’s yacht: A national treasure?

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The Wild Goose, the yacht once owned by actor John Wayne, is nominated for a spot on the National Historic Register. The yacht is now owned by Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach.

From the grand stairway leading from the main deck of the Wild Goose to the upper decks visitors are greeted by a painted portrait of actor John Wayne, who bought the ship in 1965.

The master state room in the Wild Goose was added in a retrofit done by John Wayne just after he bought the ship in 1965. Interior bulkheads were removed to give the yacht a more spacious feel, and overheads were raised to accommodate Wayne's height.

A painting of John Wayne hangs in the fireplace room of the Wild Goose, the yacht that was owned by John Wayne.

A view from the outside of the bridge of the Wild Goose, a 136-foot former U.S. Navy minesweeper that was owned by actor John Wayne. Shortly after Wayne bought the ship in 1965, the actor began a retrofit to make the ship a more comfortable, family-friendly yacht.

The engine room of the Wild Goose holds two 500 hp engines, the original engines installed when the ship was built for the Navy at the beginning of World War II.

The brass wheel in the bridge of the Wild Goose is the orginal from the ships days as a U.S. Navy minesweeper during World War II. The yacht was owned by John Wayne, who left many of the original military elements intact .

The bar on the main deck of the yacht Wild Goose, which was owned by John Wayne. The ship, currently owned by Hornblower Cruises, is nominated for a spot on the National Historic Register.

The original engine order telegraph in the bridge of the Wild Goose, a 136-foot former U.S. Navy minesweeper that was owned by actor John Wayne. It was used by the pilot on the bridge to order engineers in the engine room to power the vessel at a certain speed.

A wood-burning fireplace was added to the Wild Goose by John Wayne in a retrofit he did shortly after buying the yacht in 1965. Wayne entertained passengers such as Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin on this yacht.

Carved-wood appointments to the Wild Goose, the yacht formerly owned by actor John Wayne who bought it in 1965. Wayne sold the yacht just before his death in 1979 to a Los Angeles attorney. The yacht is currently owned by Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach.

Elser Morales, fleet manager for Hornblower Cruises walks past the many gauges in the engine room of the Wild Goose, the yacht that was once owned by actor John Wayne.

A poker table that was used by John Wayne and his guests sits in a room that was added to the Wild Goose after it was sold by Wayne in 1979.

The Wild Goose, a yacht owned by John Wayne for many years, is currently owned by Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach and is nominated for a spot on the National Historic Register.

Undated photo of John Wayne with daughters Marissa and Aissa aboard the Wild Goose.

A photo of legendary actor John Wayne, in the wheelhouse of the "Wild Goose," the 136-foot yacht once owned by Wayne.

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Hornblower Cruises, which currently owns the vessel, maintains the boat as a homage to actor John Wayne, who bought the World War II minesweeper in 1962 and refurbished it as a yacht, using it to travel and entertain until his death in 1979.

Now the vessel is nominated for a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, an honorary designation meant to recognize places with a certain significance, such as ties to an entertainment figure like Wayne, and encourage their preservation, said Paul Lusignian, a historian for the National Register.

The boat is already pretty far from its original state. The owners who came after Wayne put the Goose through more than $3 million in renovations, the most noticeable of which are an upper deck and a room on the main deck.

Hornblower bought the boat in 1997, and has since tried to maintain its historic integrity, said Chandler Bell, director of marine operations.

“We wanted to preserve the history of the vessel,” he said. “We felt the boat deserved it.”

Remnants of Wayne’s presence exist both through efforts to preserve the boat as he had it, and modern touches that remind visitors whose yacht they are on.

The balance is apparent in the Fireplace Room. A naval battle mural Wayne commissioned faces the wood-burning fireplace, while framed movie posters of his films line the worn, white walls on either side.

The painting and fireplace are original, but the posters most certainly are not from the Duke, said Bert Minshall, who started on board as a deckhand in 1963 and rose to become the ship’s captain in the 70’s, until the actor’s death.

“Mr. Wayne would never have had that stuff on board,” Minshall said of the posters.

Instead, the walls sported at least two dozen plaques from army units he visited in Vietnam, he said.

Minshall, who wrote a book about his experiences with Wayne aboard the Wild Goose, returns to the ship from time to time for events, mingling with visitors and sharing stories of his years on the boat.

He took part in some of Wayne’s transformations to the former minesweeper, and often notices further changes that have been made since he worked on the boat.

Minshall was a member of the team that built the actor’s state room on the main deck, with a doorway that was 6’8″ to accommodate the man who stood at 6’4.”

They’ve kept the state room mostly as it was, he said, but changed the color of the bed from a speckled brown and yellow to a darker varnish.

He recalls being like a nanny for Wayne’s three youngest children, especially Marissa. He watched them jet ski behind the boat around Catalina Island, and jump off the roof of their father’s state room, a 20-foot plunge.

“Those three children were my responsibility,” he said.

Now there is an upper deck atop the main one, covered by canvas and windows, and an additional room that covers a porthole looking out from the kids’ room.

Hornblower nominated the vessel for a place on the National Register last year. It’s passed through the state level, and will now be reviewed by a historian at the national level. The decision as to whether or not the Wild Goose makes the list will come out some time next month, Lusignan said.

Ninety percent of submissions that pass through the state level also pass through the national review, he added.

Hornblower has been trying to highlight the boat’s historical presence since before its nomination to the National Register, Bell said.

They preserved one bunk room, which used to house guests including Sammy Davis Jr., and are planning to convert another bunk room back to its original state, Bell said. The company was using it as a liquor room.

Minshall said any steps to make it resemble its former glory would be good ones. To him, the boat is almost unrecognizable as John Wayne’s yacht.

“Personally, I would have liked to keep the boat original, the way the Duke had it,” Minshall said. “It just doesn’t look like John Wayne’s boat.”

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John Wayne's Lasting Legacy in Washington State

June 2, 2014 at 6:29 p.m..

Thirty-five years after his death, John Wayne’s connections to Washington State remain strong.

“Friendships are what first took him to Washington,” says John Wayne’s youngest son, Ethan. John Wayne, the tough-as-nails, unforgettable movie legend, was a truly devoted family man. He spent as much time as possible with his family on his yacht, the Wild Goose , a 136-foot former WWII mine sweeper.

“I loved my dad and loved those adventures. He liked getting away from his busy life at home in California. He had two lives: one was focused on work and the other was focused on adventure. I think his happiest times were spent on that boat, exploring with his family and his friends.”

The Wayne family summers were often spent in the waters off the Pacific Northwest coast, from Seattle to the San Juans, from Desolation Sound to Pender Harbor. “The Northwest is such a beautiful part of the country with great summertime weather. And it is a haven for people who like to boat,” says Ethan. “We spent many summers in the Northwest exploring the islands. In the winter we headed to Mexico; summers to the Northwest. My father loved to fish and get oysters from the shallow bays. He would get excited about picking blackberries and said there was nothing better than bourbon, steak, and blackberry pie. He loved to hike and we went all over the place by foot.” Ethan remembers those times as “all about exploring, spending time with friends and enjoying the natural bounty of the land.” He recalls with a laugh, “We would watch for bears at night by the dump. All kinds of fun stuff.”

The Wild Goose often ventured into British Columbia and sometimes as far north as Alaska. “Dad loved to take the Princess Louisa Inlet up to Chatterbox Falls in B.C.,” says Ethan. “He would put me on a rock by the falls and tell me to lean back and hold on.”

“It was such a great way to grow up,” reported Ethan’s sister, Marisa, in an interview with Power & Motoryacht . “It was a time when the press would leave us alone and let us enjoy that family time in peace.”

Ethan describes how much his father enjoyed visiting the resorts on Northwest waterways and talking to the locals. “He knew he could get great food and drink, and he loved talking to his fans. Being John Wayne and pulling in somewhere, he was surrounded by people to talk to and he was so grateful to his fans. He would sit and talk for hours about the passages and the tides.”

John Wayne frequented Sequim Bay aboard the Wild Goose and bought a big chunk of land in the area. He envisioned a marina in the scenic bay and The John Wayne Marina (featured in SEA Magazine as “Best of the West” for small marinas), was constructed in 1985 on 22 acres of land donated by the John Wayne family.

The Wayne family still owns 150 acres in Sequim, where “John Wayne’s Waterfront Resort,” located steps from the Marina, invites visitors to enjoy getaways or extended stays in cabins or the RV Park.

Another of our state’s lasting tributes to John Wayne is the John Wayne Pioneer Trail in Iron Horse State Park. The trail, which follows the route of the old Milwaukee Railroad, runs for more than 250 miles (two-thirds of the way across Washington), from the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains to the border with Idaho.

According to TrailLink.com, the trail is named for the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders Association, whose founder, Chic Hollenbeck, “was a hardcore fan of the iconic cowboy actor.” The John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders Association (www.jwpwr.org), which is made up primarily of horseback riders and horse-drawn wagon drivers, is dedicated to preserving the trail and to sponsoring a two-week trip across Washington each spring.

Ethan is proud to know that the people of Washington State maintain such fond memories of his father. And he himself has so many fond memories of the times he spent here with his dad.

“I remember when he was filming McQ ,” says Ethan. The film made extensive use of Seattle locations. “We were living in Seattle on Lake Washington and I remember going all through the city while they made the movie. Some of the scenes were shot at the ocean.” In particular, the young Ethan was impressed by a stunt near Ocean Shores. “There was a cannon roll with a car, racing down the beach. It went back-end-over-front. It was spectacular!”

Perhaps in part because of that memorable stunt, as an adult Ethan became a stuntman, although he later turned to acting.

Ethan now manages John Wayne Enterprises (www. JohnWayne.com) and heads the John Wayne Cancer Foundation (www.JohnWayne.org). Founded in 1985, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation was created in honor of John Wayne, who died of cancer in 1979. After his death, his family promised to use his name to continue his fight against cancer.

“In my opinion, my father's greatest legacy is helping people who are sick,” says Ethan.

• The John Wayne Marina in Sequim is operated by the Port of Port Angeles (www.portofpa. com)

• For information on John Wayne’s Waterfront Resort in Sequim visit www.johnwaynewa-terfrontresort.com

• For information about the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, visit www. traillink.com/trail/john-wayne-pioneer-trail.aspx

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Newport Beach, California : John Wayne's Yacht

Hollywood's biggest cowboy liked to travel in style when he was off-shore, entertaining guests on his yacht, the Wild Goose, that included at least one President and Sammy Davis Jr.

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Unfortunately, the yacht sank in May 2021 after striking submerged rocks. The owner is hoping to salvage the vessel.

It was an earlier John Wayne yacht, "The Norwester," that sank. As it turns out, the one that we feature, "The Wild Goose," is still afloat!

Interesting if you like John Wayne, history or just admiring a lot of nice yachts. Glad we stopped.

John Wayne's yacht, the "Wild Goose," is a 1942 U.S. Navy minesweeper that Wayne bought and customized in 1965. Wayne sailed up and down the West Coast, from Canada to Mexico, and the Wild Goose played host to the likes of President Nixon and swinging Sammy Davis Jr. Wayne sold the yacht shortly before his death in 1979, but his ghost reportedly still haunts the Wild Goose from time to time, forever linked to one of his most treasured possessions.

If you want to see it, you can walk right up and take a look, or you can rent it out and sail with The Duke -- although that would be a very expensive exercise in beyond-the-grave bonding.

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John wayne yacht earns national historic status, the wild goose, which began life as a wwii minesweeper, uses its storied past to gain a spot on the national register of historic places..

Norcross Editor , Patch Staff

It hunted mines in World War II, hosted Richard Nixon on its wooden decks and co-starred in a movie with Groucho Marx. Now, John Wayne's former yacht, the Wild Goose, has sailed onto the National Register of Historic Places.

The 136-foot vessel, which is docked in Newport Harbor and currently serves as a charter dinner-cruise boat, was recognized for its connection to one of "the most iconic actors in the history of cinema," according to National Park Service documents .

Built in 1943, the ship has .

Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Mar with free, real-time updates from Patch.

It began life as a wooden-hulled minesweeper for the U.S. Navy. In 1962, a Seattle lumber tycoon sold the craft to Wayne, who remodeled it extensively, adding a fireplace, staterooms, a walk-in liquor cabinet and taller ceilings to accommodate his 6-foot-4 frame.

Under the actor's stewardship, the Wild Goose entertained various celebrities and politicians, including Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

In 1969, after Wayne won best actor for his role as Rooster Cogburn in the original True Grit, he reportedly attached Oscars--each wearing an eyepatch--to both sides of the boat.

The yacht's Hollywood pedigree also included a few cameo roles of its own. The boat appeared in TV's The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and such movies as The President's Analyst and Skidoo, the latter starring Groucho, Jackie Gleason and Mickey Rooney.

Since Wayne's death in 1979, the yacht's owners have included a Santa Monica lawyer and a casino owner with alleged mob ties.

Today, the Wild Goose is managed by .

On the National Register of Historic Places, the boat joins such esteemed company as New York City's Flatiron Building, Hawaii's Hana Belt Road, a Saturn V rocket in Harris County, Texas, and the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane.

For more photos , visit the National Register's Flickr photostream .

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Journeys of Discovery: Aboard John Wayne's yacht

Correspondent Tom Wilmer visits with Captain Bert Minshall aboard the "Wild Goose," a yacht formerly owned by John Wayne, berthed at Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach Harbor in California.

Minshall signed aboard Wayne’s yacht in 1963 as a deck hand and first mate, before taking the helm as skipper in 1976 until Wayne’s death in 1979. Join Minshall as he recounts some of his favorite memories of his sixteen years serving aboard the "Wild Goose."

John Wayne was a 20 th Century Hollywood icon performing in more than 150 movies, with the 1969 film "True Grit" earning him an Oscar for best actor. Wayne’s first love was the United States Navy, but when he did not receive an appointment to the Naval Academy, he carried on with his film career.

His love of the maritime world spurred Wayne to purchase a converted World War II minesweeper (YMS-328), the "Wild Goose" in 1962. The 136-foot-long yacht served as a favorite getaway vessel for Wayne to spend time with his kids and friends. Mexico and Canada were two favored nautical destinations, but he also transited the Atlantic aboard the "Wild Goose" not long after purchasing the vessel. Hollywood celebrities who spent time aboard the yacht include Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Lee Marvin, and Tom Jones.

Hornblower Cruises, in partnership with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation , is hosting a series of Friday night dinner cruises aboard the "Wild Goose" in May and early June, 2019.

John Wayne’s superyacht Wild Goose enters the National Register of Historic Places.

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Written by Chelsea Smith

The US Department of the Interior has approved the nomination for actor John Wayne’s 41m (136ft) motor yacht Wild Goose, to enter the National Register of Historic Places.  M/Y Wild Goose was previously certified by the California Office of Historic Preservation and was deemed eligible for entry into the National Register because of her association with the iconic Hollywood actor John Wayne. The National Register of Historic Places is an honorary designation meant to recognize places with certain significance and encourage their preservation.

John Wayne's superyacht Wild Goose enters the National Register of Historic Places.

The yacht Wild Goose is a converted minesweeper that was originally built in 1943 in Seattle as YMS-328 for the US Navy.  Decommissioned from military use in 1946, her three on-deck guns were removed.  The current owner Hornblower Cruises, maintains the boat as a homage to actor John Wayne, who bought the World War II minesweeper in 1962 for $116,000 and refurbished it as a yacht, using it to travel and entertain until his death in 1979.

The owners who came after Wayne spent over USD $3 million on refitting yacht  Wild Goose, which included the addition of an upper deck and a room on the main deck.

M/Y Wild Goose still cruises in California, hosting day trips and events, weddings, dinner cruises and tours.

Documents submitted to the US Department of the Interior cite the yacht as “an expression of John Wayne’s personality and outsized image.”

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "John Wayne's superyacht Wild Goose enters the National Register of Historic Places.".

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John wayne birthday cruises aboard the wild goose.

John Wayne’s Celebration Cruises aboard Wild Goose start May 1st.

May 1:  Boards 5:30 pm, Cruises 6:00-8:00 pm June 12 (last cruise date): Boards 5:30 pm

Cruises: 6:00-8:00 pm

Do you know a John Wayne fan? Make someone’s day who loves the old westerns, and invite them on a John Wayne Celebration Dining Cruise in Newport Beach. Come aboard and experience one of the most famous yachts in the area, John Wayne’s former yacht, Wild Goose. Celebrate his life and the legend by joining us for a Brunch, Dinner or a Cocktail cruise featuring all things John Wayne. You can learn the history of Wild Goose with informal tours of the family’s staterooms, the library, and the famous card room, and explore the art gallery of movie posters and the priceless paintings by Wayne’s wife while you cruise around the gorgeous Newport Beach harbor.

For a really special experience, get your tickets for our “Celebrate All Things Wild Goose” Signature Series Cocktail Cruise. This special “experiential” cruise has everything a John Wayne fan could dream of … a Duke’s Bourbon tasting, specialty bourbon cocktails at the bar, a guest appearance by Bert Minshall, John Wayne’s Former Captain, and watch the movie True Grit, honoring its 50th anniversary aboard Wild Goose! A portion of all proceeds from our celebration cruises will be donated to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation to help fulfill John Wayne’s last wish: to find a cure for cancer.

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