Seven Bells went through at least twelve owners before being purchased by Andrew Himes in August, 1998.
The boat's first owner, R.B. MacBride, sold Seven Bells in 1931 after just two years. The boat changed hands several more times before being purchased by the United States War Shipping Adminstration on July 11, 1942. As a federally-owned boat, Seven Bells likely spent the remainder of World War II as a patrol boat keeping an eye on San Francisco Bay and California coastal waters. The boat was returned to private hands after the end of the war, and then had at least six more owners through the 1990's. It was owned through the 1950s by Ernie Mills, whose daughter provided the photos below.
Original Bill of Sale
Specifications
Dimensions
| Length overall | 43 ft. 0 in. |
| Beam | 10 ft. 6 in. |
| Draft | 3 ft. 0 in. |
| Length of forward stateroom and toilet | 11 ft. 3 in. |
| Length of bridge cabin | 8 ft. 2 in. |
| Length of galley | 4 ft. 3 in. |
| Length of after cockpit | 6 ft. 4 in. |
| Length of main cabin | 8 ft. 3 in. |
Mechanical/Electronic
| Engines | Twin 4-cylinder inline Yanmar 56-horsepower diesels installed in 2011. |
| Radar/Charting | Ratheon integrated LCD display |
| GPS | Ratheon Raystar 112 GPS Sensor |
| Depth/Temp/Speed/General Data Display | Ratheon Raydata Multi-function Display |
| Steering | Hynautics Hydaulic Steering System, Morse Controls |
| Autopilot | Autohelm ST 5000 |
| Anchors | 1 Bruce, 2 Danforth |
| Electrical system | Inverter, 110V AC/12V DC |
| Radio | Raytheon Ray 220 VHF |
Hull
| Topsides and bottom | 1 1/8" Port Orford cedar carvel-planked |
| Decks | Teak fore & side & cockpit |
| Floors | 1 3/4" oak, 7" centers |
| Frames | 1 3/4" x 1 1/2" white oak 7" centers |
| Deck Beams | 1 1/2" 1 1/2" fir |
| Stern | Varnished teak |
| Keel | Fir |
| Superstructure | Varnished teak |
| Interior | Upholstery, carpet, teak fronts |
| Bulkheads | Marine plywood bonded to hull |
| Fastenings | Bronze screws |
| Stem | Sided Oak |
| Rudder | 2, steel |
| Masts | Varnished wood |
Seven Bells escaped destruction in massive marina fire at Seattle Marina,May 17, 2002.