USS Hope was a 19th-century wooden yacht schooner, designed and built in 1861 by Henry Steers for Captain Thomas B. Ives of Providence, Rhode Island.

However, at times, Hope was assigned extra tasks, such as that of a dispatch boat, supply runner and salvage ship.

She was a pilot boat from 1866 to 1891 and in 1891 she was replaced by the Herman Oelrichs, when the Hope was wrecked ashore the Sandy Hook Point.

[2] Hope, a wooden schooner, was purchased by the Navy 29 November 1861 from Thomas B. Ives, and commissioned at New York City 14 December 1861, Acting Master M. S. Chase in command.

[4] While patrolling off Charleston, South Carolina, on 27 January 1863, Hope captured the schooner Emma Tuttle, with a cargo of saltpeter for the Confederates.

In June, the ship returned north for repairs at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in July resumed blockade station off Charleston.

Shortly afterward the ship was fitted for diving duty and in October began salvage operations in the Savannah River, raising hulks and other obstacles.

[8] On October 9, 1873, the Hope, was one of the boats that participated in the Ocean Regatta, for the Bennet Cup, which was a race from Owl's Head Point around to Cape May Lighthouse in New Jersey, and back to the Sandy Hook Lightship.