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 Author  Topic: Defenders of America Naval Museum, Inc
Reverend Bob

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Nov 17, 2006 - 8:33am
What ever became of the PT305 project? The Defender's site has not been updated since 2004.

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Bob

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Rev Bob
"If it's Gonna Happen, it'll happen out there!"

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  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Nov 17, 2006 - 12:05pm
Message Board, here is a email thread from last December, when I got in touch with the DOANM Group down in Texas. They are still working on PT305, albeit lower priority than the Landing Craft. Jerry

Jerry,
I am on the Board of Directors of DOANM, inc.
Maybe I can answer some of your questions.
Our boat PT-305 is located in Galvestion at a private Yacht Repair yard.
Our work on the boat has been slow as we are working on a 1943 Higgins LCP(L) that is close to operational.
We plan to raise funds with her for PT-305.
I will have to look through my photos and see what I have that I can send you. I can't talk much right now as i work full time for Schlumberger Oilfield Services. I am/was on the Board of Directors with Jim Melanson.
I produce our newsletter and am in the process of trying to become web master to take over the web site and update it.

Look forward to talking more with you.
Regards,
Sam Nicholson
PT305 Restoration Crewmember,
Member, Board of Directors,
Defenders of America Naval Museum, Inc.

(Jerry removed his telephone an email addresses)

Date: Thu, 08 Dec 2005 12:03:40 -0600
From: "Kelley, Timothy L"
Subject: RE: PT Boat info

Jerry,
I'm forwarding this email to the Board of DoANM. They should be able to get with you as you are requesting.

Thanks & God Bless,
Tim Kelley
Former President/CEO
Defenders of America Naval Museum, Inc.
(Jerry has removed Tim's phone numbers and email addresses)

From: Melanson, Jim
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 8:42 AM
To: Kelley, Timothy L
Subject: FW: PT Boat info
Gents maybe you can forward this on to someone over there.

-----Original Message-----
From: Gilmartin, Jerry
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 1:02 AM
To: Melanson, Jim
Subject: PT Boat info
Hi Jim.
I have emailed you before, but I was never able to get into contact with the Defenders of America guys and was hoping you may have an email address that works for one or more of the guys involved with PT305. I was hoping that my organization, PT658 Save the PT Boat Inc. and them might collaborate with things we already learned the "hard way" in our restoration of the PT658, as well as other things they may need to help restore that boat. Can you tell me exactly where is the 305 boat located? The last I heard it was somewhere on Clear Lake, Texas or Kemah, TX at a marina of some kind? Are there any recent photos you may have that you could send of it? I was also just interested in general about the boats progress if any that has been made since their website photos were taken in 2002. I also realize that the PT 761 boat you were involved in had an unhappy ending, and you may not be in touch with those guys in Texas much anymore, but anything you could tell me is appreciated. Thanks in advance for anything you would be willing to share.

Jerry Gilmartin
(PT658 Restoration Crewmember, and member, Board of Directors, Save the PT Boat, Inc.)

Hi Jerry,
My name is Franz Wagner, I am on the current board of Defenders of America Naval Museum, who owns the PT 305 boat. I can tell you anything you need to know about dealing with PT's, at least Higgins types. I was on the original crew that restored the 309 boat, starting in 1994. We have been there, done that. The 309 boat is on permanent indoor display at the National Museum of the Pacific War, AKA the Nimitz Museum, in Fredericksburg, TX. It is without powertrain, but otherwise very complete and in very good shape. The 305 is another matter. It is under cover at Pier 77 at Galveston, TX. It is one ugly duckling, with 100's of thousands of restoration hours ahead of it. The Defenders also own a LCPL landing craft, and we are currently focusing on finishing the restoration of it, as we bring it (on trailer) to events here in the Houston area for fundraising. The 305 is the victim of! it's ugliness. Volunteers quickly get burned out on it as you can work for days and days without making any real visible progress. It is just a hull, w/o any superstructure. It also has the lazerette cut off. The steering is in the aft fuel compartment. The forward crew/galley area is the best part of the entire boat. The starboard mahogany planking is all chewed up from being struck by an oyster dredge bucket. That was the boat's previous abuse near Baltimore. We had it trucked down here after a disasterous attempt to bring it here under it's own power.
I can give you advice about just about any aspect of PT restoration, feel free to ask!
Franz

From: Kelley, Timothy L
To: Melanson, Jim
Bill Pleasants - DIRECTOR Emeritus
Franz Wagner
Gary Curtis - Director
Jim Jackson (J3) - Curator (E-mail)
Jim Melanson (J7) -
JJackson
Paul Kellogg
Richard Roderman - MAA
Sam Nicholson
Stewart Shofner Treas.
Sent: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 12:03:40 -0600
Subject: RE: PT Boat info


Jerry Gilmartin

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