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Topic: PT658 Repair Status update photos March 2023 |
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Mar 25, 2023 - 11:09pm
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Hey there. So first my apologies since I have not posted a status update in a while. The PT658 crew has been super busy replacing numerous rotted exterior and interior hull planking and frame stiffeners. We hired a marine surveyor to go through the entire boat with a ball peen hammer and an icepick and identify all of the rotted wood. After marking it with pink chalk, we now knew where to concentrate our efforts. About 20 planks were needing replaced on the outer hull, especially the aft starboard chine (where the side meets the bottom) which needed to be completely rebuilt. Also a leak on the port rudder stuffing box base needed to have the underlying wood replaced. Then on the inside, down in the deepest part of the bilges, next to the keel, we found numerous rotted plywood stiffener plates and filler blocks had rotted away. Then as we replaced these previously identified planks, we discovered a few more problems in that about 10 more outer planks on the bottom should be replaced. So now we are almost done with an ETC of Mid May.
Our next move was to hire a professional boatwright! We have had experience with Mr Jim Lyons of Port Townsend Shipwrights Cooperative before, and were able to contract for his services to come and guide our willing crew in performing the repairs. We have a dedicated crew of about 10-12 people who have learned a lot from Jim and can do most of the work ourselves, with only the really difficult stuff left for Jim to figure out! So here are the photos and I will try to put captions on the ones that are not clear.
PT658 as she sits on the barge with plastic rain shed sheeting covering the sides
Aft starboard Chine newly replaced with fresh mahogany, seen looking forward
Chine Looking Aft
View of the Transom showing aft starboard and aft port corner, with view of rudders and props. Not 4 new planks on aft Port side freshly caulked with new oakum and cotton
5 views of some of the new outer planking in various stages of being replaced. These were some of the newly identified problems
Interior frame stiffeners being replaced inside the bilges of forward crews quarters, ammo locker, Officer Stateroom and Officers head
Crews Quarters bilge
Ammo Locker bilge
Officers Stateroom and Officers Head Bilges
Bonus photos of PT658 spare engines in the "Motor Mac HQ" Tent up on the Pier
Two Spare Aux Generators
PT658s own WW2 Jeep!
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR |
Total Posts: 1428 | Joined:
Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm | IP
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 26, 2023 - 10:14am
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Good report Jerry! I raise a glass of Johnny Walker to you and the 658 Maintenance Crew! Being the ONLY operational World War Two PT Boat requires ALOT of PMS and other maintenance work. Cheers Brother !🥃👍🏻😎⚓️🔱🇺🇸
Keep Charging!
Take care,
TED
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Phil
Full Member
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Posted on: Mar 30, 2023 - 12:53pm
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Awesome update Jerry! I hope to meet you and her one of these days.
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Total Posts: 26 | Joined:
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smallwi
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Apr 4, 2023 - 1:41pm
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Jerry,
Thank you for posting the update. Hopefully I can make a trip to Portland this summer.
Bill
Bill Smallshaw |
Total Posts: 119 | Joined:
Jun 21, 2007 - 3:02pm | IP
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 6, 2023 - 7:24pm
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Thanks Guys! I showed the crew working on the boat your messages here today at lunchtime and they asked me to relay this response. “Tell Ted to send the bottle of whiskey!” We were discussing how the last plank installed on the hull is known as the “whiskey plank” but since we are busy installing the last of the rivets shouldn't it be a called whiskey rivet? Additionally in the proud tradition of boat building by shipwrights how many other things are known as the “whiskey xxx” such as the whiskey paint coat or the whiskey caulking seam or the whiskey engine repair? It seems to us that these shipwrights may have a good thing going here! Plus it tells you a little bit about their mindset? LOL not meaning to throw down on you Ted but they made me promise to post this request! Take care. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR |
Total Posts: 1428 | Joined:
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NWSaint
Full Member
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Posted on: Apr 13, 2023 - 5:57pm
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Excellent work gentlemen!.. Hope to see you all again someday.. nothing but respect!
NW. aka Marques.
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Total Posts: 28 | Joined:
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Scott C
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Apr 14, 2023 - 4:53pm
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Jerry, P.V.C. plumbing way back during WW II?? great job on the repairs! Scott
Scott Campbell 2nd gen,PT 248
Ron 20
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David Waples
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 15, 2023 - 6:09am
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Thanks for the update Jerry. I appreciate the passion you and your volunteers have to keep her ship shape. What is the time line for completion? I would like to get out there one of these days for a visit.
David Waples |
Total Posts: 1674 | Joined:
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 15, 2023 - 8:42am
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Always a joy to see how well the organization takes such great care of this Historical boat. A great group of people that gets the job done, my HATS OFF to all of you
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 16, 2023 - 6:12pm
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Thanks Guys,
Our estimate completion is Mid May, but recent discoveries may delay that until Mid June. The inside frame stiffener work is taking longer than we expected. I will keep you guys informed as soon as I find out.
Hey Scott, as far as the PVC pipes go, we were unable to reuse the original copper black water pipes because of two things:
#1 Just ewwwww.
#2. The original system led straight overboard, and since the laws required us to install a holding tank and the supporting plumbing if we wanted to have a working head on the boat, we were sort of forced to choose the PVC.
PS I know you were only kidding.
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR |
Total Posts: 1428 | Joined:
Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm | IP
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