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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Anchor winch or windlass.
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=1187

Hello.

I am modeling from photographs and early Higgins PT Boat. Because I haven't yet seen any in the current photographs I am using as a reference I am wondering if PT Boats had any kind of winches or anchor windlass fitted?

Many thanks

Bruce Gibbins

Posted By: citylimits | Posted on: Jan 25, 2009 - 4:51pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I do know about the Higgins boats, but on the Elco two of us would just pull the anchor line up hand over hand.

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Jan 25, 2009 - 8:06pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Don't know the answer to your question but this site should help your project:

[url]http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=/HIC[/url]

There's a lot of official Higgins plans there. Just make sure the plan is for the right version of the boat you're modeling. It's a bit of a pain with their viewing software, I usually take a lot of screenshots and stitch together in a graphics program.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jan 25, 2009 - 11:32pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Hello,
I am reasonably certain that the Higgins boats never were fitted with any type of anchor winch or windlass. This is mostly because the standard anchor they were issued with was only a 100 pound Danforth style anchor, and maybe adding a ten foot length of chain to the end and then manila line. Thus, the PT Boats did not require a windlass in order to retrieve their anchors. Most of the boats would usually tie up in nests alongside a tender or to a pier so the anchors were seldom used. Since I have been working on the restoration crew of PT658, a 78 foot Higgins boat in Oregon, I have done a lot of research and have never come across any type of photo or drawing, (including those on "LDL") that shows any PT Boat ever using or having been fitted with an anchor windlass or winch. I hope this is helpful.
Jerry PT 658 Portland OR

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jan 26, 2009 - 10:38am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Iam with Jerry on this one. I know of no such system used on any PT Boats. I am pretty sure the Danforth Anchor used on the PT Boats was the Danforth (Fluke Style) type, roughly 50-80 pounds on the Elco Boat, which was perfect for Sandy or Muddy Bottoms. As the boats operated in shallow waters, many times soundings were made to see just how deep the area was and how much line to let out.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 26, 2009 - 11:48am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

I never heard of any mechanical assist means for raising the anchor. It would have been more trouble than help. Two men could easily handle it. Besides, few boats actually anchored. We tied up to floating buoys (admittedly anchored) or tied up at a dock. We anchored a few times at advanced bases but I don't recall any trouble. (Elco 80').

Posted By: BobPic | Posted on: Jan 26, 2009 - 11:49am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Thank you all very much for your helpful assistance with my question and with the useful additional information provided as well.

Makes me feel a bit wimpish using the electric windlass on my 24ft ply boat to splash and retrieve a light weight alloy plow anchor. I suppose I can say it's my age - 61, that I need this assistance on my one (old) man crew boat.

Thanks again.
Bruce[:-happy-:]

Posted By: citylimits | Posted on: Jan 29, 2009 - 7:21pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

In New Guinea;

At Morobe and Dreger the boats usually tied up under trees at roughly constructed docks. At Hollandia and Wadke it was usually necessary to use the anchor. It was especially bad at Wadke because it was difficult to get the anchor to hold. Mios Woendi was paradise. We had professionally constructed docks. You can see them in pictures in " At Close Quarters" .

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Jan 30, 2009 - 12:37pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered