Sea-Dog was built in 1932 by Stephens Bros of Stockton, CA. She is one of five of her class built. Her first owner was H. A. B. Sneve of Seattle, who was the proprietor of a marine hardware distribution business. He named the boat Sea-Dog and liked it so much that he changed the name of his company to match. The company is still in operation today, with an extensive and well-known selection of "Sea-Dog Marine Hardware."

From 1942 to 1946 Sea-Dog was conscripted into the US Navy and used to patrol Los Angeles Harbor. In 2006 the current owners purchased Sea-Dog and embarked on a complete restoration that included replacing all systems, including engines, tanks, electronics, and electrical. Much structural work was done as well. Sea-Dog is in better condition today than on the day she was launched.