The San Rafael was a steamboat built in 1878 that operated on San Francisco Bay until its sinking in 1901. Constructed from components assembled in Brooklyn, specifically at Greenpoint, New York, the vessel was a product of the builder Benjamin C. Terry. The components were shipped to San Francisco, where Terry personally supervised the assembly process. The San Rafael was renowned for its aesthetic appeal, with contemporary reports from the San Francisco Call describing it as "by far the prettiest boat that ever cleft the waters of San Francisco Bay." Designed as a shallow-draft steamboat, the vessel required a lightweight hull for navigation in the bay's waters. To reinforce its hull, it was built with a "hog truss"—a structural, bridge-like framework arching along both sides of the vessel, providing additional stiffness. San Rafael and its sistership, Saucelito, shared these specifications. Both vessels served as ferries for the San Francisco and Sausalito line, although neither was a double-ender. They were noted for their speed and well-fitted interiors. In service, San Rafael primarily functioned as a ferry across San Francisco Bay. The vessel’s operational history was marked by its longevity, with San Rafael likely being the last California steamboat built with a hog truss still in operation by 1901. Its career ended dramatically on November 30, 1901, when it collided with the ferry Sausalito in fog near Alcatraz Island. Despite both ships being slowed and signaling with fog bells, the collision was unavoidable. Sausalito struck San Rafael broadside, damaging the dining room and causing the vessel to sink rapidly in about 120 feet of water. The crew’s quick actions, including lashing the ships together, helped evacuate most passengers and crew, and a boiler explosion was narrowly avoided. The sinking resulted in minimal loss of life, with only a few fatalities, and prompted a board of inquiry that blamed both captains for failing to sound proper fog signals. The incident also influenced maritime literature, inspiring Jack London’s “The Sea Wolf.” Despite salvage efforts, the wreck was not fully recovered. The San Rafael remains a notable vessel for its design, service, and the dramatic end to its career, marking an important chapter in San Francisco Bay’s maritime history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.