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 Author  Topic: PT658 was Launched iback into the water today
  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: Sep 17, 2013 - 5:47pm
Hello shipmates!
Here is a copy of the KATU TV Website news story about our boat. I thought you may be interested in seeing it. Jerry

Video News Story from KATU News

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Portland-PT-boat-back-in-the-water-again-224130791.html?tab=video&c=y

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Portland-PT-boat-back-in-the-water-again-224130791.html

Portland PT boat back in the water again
By KATU.com Staff
Published: Sep 17, 2013 at 2:03 PM PDT
Last Updated: Sep 17, 2013 at 3:43 PM PDT



PORTLAND, Ore. – The world’s only operational PT boat was back on the water Tuesday.

Or, more specifically, it was on the back of another boat, then back on the water.

PT-658, which has spent the better part of 20 years near a Coast Guard dock on Swan Island, was transported by barge to its new home at a boathouse at Vigor Shipyard.

Veterans and volunteers have spent years restoring the boat.

“It was in all areas of conflict during World War II,” said Wally Boerger, who has worked on the boat. “It was in the Aleutians. It was in the Mediterranean. It was protecting the flanks at the D-Day invasion.

“It’s like I said – it’s the only operational one and it’s pretty well fully restored to what it looked like when it came out of the factory.”

The boat has been on a dry dock for the past 12 months undergoing further repairs.

It turns out, restoring a decades-old boat is neither cheap nor easy.

“A boat is never done,” Boerger said. “As they say on Pawn Stars, boat stands for “bust out another thousand.”

Boerger said the boat is now fully repaired and will be on the water for years to come.

It gives Portland a unique piece of World War II history. Designed to quickly strike at vessels as large as battleships with torpedoes, PT boats are a dying breed. There are only a handful left, and PT-658 is the only one in the world that’s seaworthy.

“We have four Mark 13 torpedoes, we have a 40 millimeter (gun), we have two 20 millimeters,” Boerger said. “For its size, it was the most heavily armed boat in the U.S. Navy during World War II.”

View of Helm and twin 50 cals guntubs



Loading stbd Mk13 torpedo



Loading port side Mk13 torpedo



Mounting the 40mm Bofors onto new pedestal







Jerry Gilmartin

Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm | IP Logged

Frank Andruss

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank Andruss   Send Email To Frank Andruss Posted on: Sep 17, 2013 - 7:09pm
Thanks for sharing this Jerry, another mile-stone for the boat and your group. I only wish I lived up the road..............


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Roy Forbes

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Roy Forbes  Posted on: Sep 17, 2013 - 7:45pm
Awesome job Jerry that you and the crew did. Can't wait to get back up there and see her again. How did the boat house move go?


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Jeff D

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: Sep 18, 2013 - 3:09am
Normally one does not celebrate when your baby's bottom is wet again but in this case, YAY!!! She sure looks good Jerry.





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  TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Sep 18, 2013 - 7:28am
Jerry;
Awesome Job! BRAVO ZULU TO THE PT658 CREW!!
Was a RON 45 emblem ever designed? Even though it was never commissioned it would look cool on the side of the cabin.
Take Care,
TED


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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: Sep 18, 2013 - 1:29pm
Thanks you guys. Ted I am not aware if they ever created an Emblem for RON45. I dont think so. I have never seen one anyway. That would be pretty cool if there was one! Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

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Drew Cook

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Drew Cook  Posted on: Sep 18, 2013 - 2:17pm
Wonderful job, Jerry and crew, and congratulations.

The boat looks great!

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Colleen E

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Sep 18, 2013 - 5:57pm
beautiful pictures!


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Higgins Fan

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Higgins Fan   Send Email To Higgins Fan Posted on: Sep 20, 2013 - 8:28am
Great news! Best wishes.

--
National WWII Museum
PT-305 Restoration
Phone: 504-528-1944 Extension 375
http://www.nationalww2museum.org/see-hear/collections/artifacts/pt-305.html
Fb: PT-305 "USS Sudden Jerk"

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David Waples

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Waples  Posted on: Sep 20, 2013 - 7:10pm
Fantastic news Jerry! Thanks for keeping us up to date.
Dave

David Waples

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