S.S. Minnow

The S.S. Minnow is a fictional charter boat featured on the 1964-1967 comedy series Gilligan's Island. It was the central plot device of the show, and was seen in various states of disrepair in many episodes.

The S.S. Minnow was a small charter boat owned by Jonas "The Skipper" Grumby. Stationed out of Honolulu, Hawaii, the Skipper and his first mate, Gilligan, took five passengers out on a projected three-hour tour. During the voyage, the Minnow was hit by a massive tropical storm that blew them miles off course, ultimately shipwrecking them on a deserted island.

The Minnow remained beached on the shoreline, with a large hole torn through its side. The seven castaways made numerous attempts to repair the Minnow, all of which ended in disappointment, if not outright disaster. Most of their failings could be laid at the feet of the inept Gilligan who, though well-meaning, was often clumsy and scatterbrained, which led to some measure of irresponsibility on his part.

Fifteen years after being stranded, a massive tsunami swept across the region, devastating the island. The castaways managed to survive by securing three of their huts together to make a giant raft, but the ruins of the original Minnow were lost forever.

They eventually returned to Hawaii and the Skipper purchased a new sailing vessel, which he named the S.S. Minnow II.