The year was 1929. Herbert Hoover was president of the United States. The stock market had crashed. Within the last 10 years, the population of San Diego had exploded from 74,361 in 1920 to a whopping 147,995 people by 1930. Through the generosity of business man and philanthropist, G. W. Marston, San Diego citizens were invited to visit the new; Presidio Park above our Old Town. From there we could see San Diego Bay with sail boats coming and going. Ruben H. Fleet would soon move his aircraft business from New York to San Diego to spur the growth in population and employment even more. This was a city on the move.

On the water front in San Diego Bay, the now popular Shelter Island was still a natural bar of sand, accessible only by boat. The San Diego Yacht Club, while having moved several time since it's inception in 1886, would soon move again to its present location. It would be 5 additional years before the SDYC would see its first female Flag member. The Commodore was the young Joe Jessop, of the Jessop Jewlery family. Those taking the trolley out to the commercial basin area or Roseville, could see Star Boats, Starlets, R boats, 6 meters and such racing in the bay. Jessop was known for his racing skills and often went to New York to sail in races. Among the boats he favored were the S Class yachts, designed by the father of modern day boat design, Nathanial Herreshoff. Word of mouth stories tell of Jessop coming back to San Diego and meeting with friends asking why there was no boat built especially for Southern California winds and waters that could compete with such boats as the S Class.

George Kettenburg Sr., having retired at the young age of 40, moved his family from back east and bought a home with an expansive lot on Kellogg Street. Point Loma was largely undeveloped at this time. It was here, in the back yard of the Kettenburg home, that George Jr. spent his time building boats as a hobbie.. With his father interested in motorized speed boats, George Sr. asked his son to assist with the construction of a 24' power boat from plans he has purchased. Admired by local yachtsmen, George Jr. set about to build others as each was sold. Seeing his son's designs and efforts being successful, George Sr. elected to finance his son's endeavors and officially founded Kettenburg Boat and Engine Company. With the father acting as machinist, George Jr. did all the wood work. An entry into sailing boats came with the request of 4 Alden Design 22' knockabout sloops. Soon to follow were the Star Class vessels and eventually the Starlets. Launching of all these vessels in the early days must have been a sight to see, when the Kettenburgs and their crew hauled the vessels down the hill from their Kellogg Street (high above what is now La Playa in San Diego Bay) and waited for high tide to launch! Jump ahead to 1929. Bye this time, George Sr.'s passion for power boats had the family designing and building fast and award winning boats powered by aircraft engines (purchased at bargain prices from the US Government!) while George Jr. had proven his talent with the design and construction of several sail boats. While in his 20's, George Jr. was already an accomplished wood worker and was, among other things, building dingy and fishing dories as well. In fact, the local Portuguese fisherman often bought his creations, swearing by their worth.

Seeing that their combined efforts were seeing some success, the Senior Kettenburg elected to buy property and relocate to the Commercial Basin district (on the north east side of San Diego Bay). The business name was officially changed to Kettenburg Boat Works. A new building was constructed and this location on the water made launching easier, to say nothing of making the Kettenburg neighbors happy with no more aircraft engine testing in their back yard!!!

Kettenburgs two sons, George Jr. and Paul, were friends of Jessop and shared his interest in boats and sailing. Following a recent return from back east, Jessop approached his young friend George and asked him what his thoughts were about creating a sail boat for San Diego waters. They talked about the S boats and other local known one designs. They discussed what features this new boat might have and which "improvements" might make this a unique vessel for local sailors. Most importantly, the boat was to be built within the "rules" of the S Class, (thus a One Design) so that competition between the two boats would be fair without the need for handicapping. Thus the concept of the PC (Pacific Class) came to mind.

George Jr., with no formal naval architect, engineering or mathematical training, gave the project much thought. After some time, he picked up a block of wood, and with a whittling knife, cut away at the block until the chips freed, and thus reveled, the hull of what would become the first PC. Sand paper gave improvements to the hull design that only George could feel and see in his minds eye. With no lofting plans and lacking the talent or formal knowledge to draw them properly, Kettenburg drew full size lines (as best he could) on the floor of his father's shop. With his father's permission, he went about building the first PC #1 SCAMP, (named after his young sister who, I'm told was often in the way).

Thus San Diego Citizens looking out at the bay had the pleasure of seeing SCAMP sail proudly. She was immediately immensely popular and it was not long before friends of George Jr. requested that he build hull number 2 and 3 and so on. And so begins the tale of the Kettenburg PC Class.

Pre War Boats -- Post War Boats