The shipyard was started by J. W. Peyton (1875-?), born in Texas, and his wife Anabel Peyton (1886-?). The shipyard was later owned by his sons, C. R. Peyton (1911-?) and R. P. Peyton (1919-?), a naval architect. The Peyton Company purchased the shipyard from the Balboa Marina Hardware Company, owned by Westin T. Jay.
The Peyton Company built civilian boats, yachts and fishing boats, in Newport Harbor. To support the World War II demand for ships, the Peyton Company shipyard switched over to military construction and built Army harbor tugboats and Navysub chasers. The Peyton Company leased Newport Harbor waterfront land to build these ships. After the war, in 1945 the shipyard closed, partly due to the two deaths in the family. The shipyard office was at 901 Pacific Coast Hwy, Newport Beach.
Notable ships
US Navy submarine chaser that had a displacement of 148 tons, a length of 110 feet, a beam 17 feet, a draft of 6 feet top speed of 21 knots. A crew of 28. Armed with: one 40mm gun, two .50 cal. machine guns, two depth charge projector "K Gun," and two depth charge tracks. Powered with two 1,540bhp General Motors (Electro-Motive Div.) 16-184A diesel engines to two shafts.
US Army TP harbor tug with displacement 185 tons gross, a length of 97 feet, a beam 25 feet, a draft of 11 feet, Power one Fairbanks–Morse six cylinder diesel engine to a single propeller with 450 shp. The TP is for "Tug/Passenger". The US Army had 43 of this 96-foot tugs built for World War II, Peyton Company built 4 of them.
Ship ID
Original name
Original owner
Ship type
Tons
Length (feet)
Delivered
Notes
SC 772
US Navy
Sub chaser
95d
110
15-April-1943
To USCG 1945 renamed to Air Mallard (WAVR 437), sold 1948 renamed to Lady Goodiver, now B-and-B SC-772 (Canada)
261514
SC 773
US Navy
Sub chaser
95d
110
12-May-1943
Sold 1948 renamed to Larry
SC 774
US Navy
Sub chaser
95d
110
28-June-43
To the USSR 1945 renamed to BO-323
258943
SC 775
US Navy
Sub chaser
95d
110
30-July-1943
To USCG 1945 renamed to Air Martin (WAVR 438), sold 1948 renamed to Milmar
SC 1362
US Navy
Sub chaser
95d
110
6-Sep-1943
To USCG 1945 renamed to Air Warbler (WAVR 477), sold 1948 renamed to Warbler
SC 1363
US Navy
Sub chaser
95d
110
29-Sep-1943
Disposed of 1946
SC 1364
US Navy
Sub chaser
95d
110
13-Nov-1943
To the USSR 1945 renamed to BO-331
SC 1365
US Navy
Sub chaser
95d
110
10-Jan-1944
To the USSR 1945 renamed to BO-329
TP 122
US Army
Tug, harbor
96
July 1944
TP 123
US Army
Tug, harbor
96
July 1944
Worked in Alaskan waters in World War II. Sold and renamed to Outlaw V (Canada O.N. 320295) (New engine in 1960 and 2011)
