The PT Boat Forum
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi
» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf
» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?fct=gotoforum&cid=101&fid=102
» Topic:
PT 48
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=158
Any news on this boat?
War horses should not die!!!!!!!!!!!!
This boat is a great piece of history...
It would be a shame to see it fade away...........
Great to see this page again, Ben
Happy
Posted By: Ben | Posted on: Nov 18, 2006 - 8:02am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Hi Ben,
This ex-PT-48, a 77 foot Elco is located at "Morgans Fish Camp" near Fruitland Park, FL, NW of Orlando in Lake Griffin. Bob Hostettler was trying to restore it, and possibly sell it to Seabees in Washington DC associated with Navy Museum there. That evidently fell through and now Ted Walther is trying to get something going on it. I was in touch last Jan 2006 with the current? owner Ted Walther. He seems to be wanting to restore the boat. Here is a copy of the email I got, and below that is a copy of an article I found last year on the net.. I can mail you more photos if you want them. Take care! Jerry Gilmartin PT658 restoration crew
Ladies and Gentleman;
PT 48 (now USCG lists as 59'9" dinner cruise boat) is in harms way again. She has been hauled out of the water, confiscated for non-payment of docking and storage fees, and has been placed on blocks, however, the lift crane apparently had a lifting strap damage about 10' forward of the stern, I don't think they used a spreader bar. I am thinking of starting some sort of group to aquire her, move her north again to my area, Virginia, and either restore her or donate her hull to a museum who has the $$$ to restore her. I formulated a restoration plan for her years ago, and I still believe it is useable today. However, this was a plan intended to restore her to operational status, complete with 3 NEW(War surplus only test and break in engine hours) 4-M-2500 W-9 Packard engines. I also had a source for the wood. I am looking for seriously interested people to for this group, I don't really want to fly solo on this one, and my sole purpose for this restoration is to Save the Last 77'ELCO and present her back to her Skipper CAPT. Kenneth W. Prescott USNR(Ret). With Ken's generous help I traced the history of the boat(including civilian ownership), all the way back to the day CAPT(then ENS.) Robert R. Green USN(Ret.), then SHIPSUP ELCO performed PT 48's navy acceptance trials in early September 1941. I owe Ken alot, over the years he has become a great friend, his lovely wife Emma-Stina even crocheted baby blankets her my two youngest children when they were born. A person can not repay friendship like this, but I would like to restore the boat for Ken. I would also like CDR Jack Searles USNR (Ret.) there too since he told me where to find the engines, and he Skippered this boat on a few missions also. Since Tom Kendal made his last patrol two years ago, Ken and Jack are the only two Skippers left who took 48 into Combat, these two men standing side by side, during a dedication/unvieling ceromony of a completly restored PT 48, is my dream. I hope you will help me achieve this goal.For those of you who don't know me, these PT men have been my heroes since I was 7 years old, I am now 42. In fact they influenced my life so much, I spent 12 years in Naval Special Warfare taking fast boats into harms way, and employing tactics that were devised by these men over 60 years ago. This would be the chance of a life time, to accomplish this restoration and thank these men for their sacrifice.
hope to hear from you,
TED
Here is another earlier article I found on the net.
PT boat afloat again
05/27/01
By JASON DEHART
Daily Commercial Staff Writer
Dateline: LEESBURG FLA
Bob Hostetler may have finally gotten his World War II torpedo boat in the water after two years on land, but his idea of turning it into a floating diner may be deep-sixed.
“I was going to fix it up for a dinner cruise boat, but I don’t know now. I need that like I need a hole in my head,” Hostetler said after the 30-ton historic vessel was gingerly crane-lifted into the canal of Morgan’s Fish Camp Thursday.
“We’re going to put things on hold for a while. The Navy still wants it as a museum piece. We may set up a foundation and restore it to its PT status. It’s the last mahogany-hulled PT boat in existence.”
Restoring the 65-foot-long former Patrol Torpedo boat to museum-quality World War II fighting trim could take up to $1 million to accomplish.
Restoration would involve stretching the boat out another 12 feet to bring it back to its original 77-foot length, outfitting it with armored turrets, machine guns and deck-mounted torpedo tubes, and finding original engines to replace the twin Detroit diesels installed now.
“The original engines are in mothballs somewhere. I’m sure we could get the resources to find them,” Hostetler said. “It originally had three 2,500-horsepower Packard gasoline engines. Talk about a floating fire bomb.”
Hostetler said the boat was built in 1941 and saw action in the South Pacific theater.
“It’s one of the few to survive the war. The others that survived were burned after the war,” he said.
Hostetler said retired Coast Guard Capt. Howard Barrett — who owned the boat before Hostetler — worked off and on for two years on the ship’s hull to make it seaworthy again.
“He loves this boat. He made trips from Virginia to work on it,” he said. “He spent a year working on the bilge, and it’s not leaking at all.”
It took a massive effort to bring the massive boat to the fish camp, which is located on Picciola Island. It was hauled in from Virginia on the back of a flat-bed semi, and upon its arrival several trees had to be removed just to get the truck into the marina. Then, using wooden support forms the boat was set in place near the canal wall where the hull was rebuilt and repainted.
It’s been an expensive endeavor. Hostetler estimated that about $150,000 has been spent so far in transportation costs, crane rental, and woodwork.
“We had our work cut out for us for a while,” he said. If the boat isn’t restored to its war time configuration and placed in a museum, Hostetler will still get it ready for use.
“We’ll still refurbish it,” he said. “These are ocean-going vessels. I could take it to visit my brother up in Rhode Island.”
For now the boat is the biggest fish in the fish camp’s canal. Although it’s engines are functional it can’t go anywhere — it’s sitting in two feet of water and two feet of muck. Hostetler said he’s going to have to drag it to a deeper part of the marina so Barrett and he can continue getting it ship-shape.
Time will tell whether the vessel becomes “Morgan’s Folly,” Hostetler said.
“But I’m glad to get it in the water,” he said.
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Nov 18, 2006 - 11:52pm
Total Posts: 1470 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Ben,
I saw in your profile that you live in Chehalis, WA. Have you visited the USS PT658? We are located relatively close by to you down in Portland, Oregon. We are the world's only 100% authentically restored and OPERATING WW2 USN PT Boat, with the 3 original V12 gasoline powered Packard engines, and full armament. It would definitely be worth the trip driving down from Chehalis ids you are a fan of PT Boats. See our website www.savetheptboatinc.com Just FYI Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Nov 19, 2006 - 12:03am
Total Posts: 1470 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Hi Jerry,
I would love to see your boat!
Your group has done a wonderful job...
I have watched on the net at your site for a while now...
Also most other projects....
P.T. fan since I was a boy....
How do i get there from here?
I pass through Vancouver,Portland from time to time...
Thanks for the reply, Ben
P.S. would love to see the pics...
ben_and_jenn02@yahoo.com
Happy
Posted By: Ben | Posted on: Nov 20, 2006 - 7:18am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Ben
I will email you the pics and directions at your email address. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Nov 20, 2006 - 12:24pm
Total Posts: 1470 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Jerry,
Thanks for the pics...........WOW she looks rough!!!!
I also hope someone, or some group can save her!
I work Mon-Fri and will hope to make it next summer to an event...
Thanks for the invite and will look for you...
Ben
Ben
Posted By: Ben | Posted on: Nov 20, 2006 - 5:40pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Ben;
I have been very busy with work-ups, now my boat won't be deploying, yet. Nothing new yet, I plan to contact Bob Hostettler before Christmas, hopefully, I will have some news for the New Year. As with before, nobody can agree on a price, except a very un-realistic one. PT 48 celebrated her 65th Birthday in a sad and lonely state, on September 15th and her 64th anniversary of her first Combat on October 11th, this celebration was also very lonely and without fanfare.
take care and have a great holiday season!
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 8, 2006 - 9:24am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
P.S.
By the way just in case anyone cares, Howard Barrett, the previous owner retired from SIMA Naval Amphibious base Little Creek, Virginia as a Navy Chief Carpenters Mate, not a Coast Guard Captain.
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 8, 2006 - 9:35am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Ted:
I would love to see this project take off, however you know as well as I that you are looking at a pretty expensive proposition. A project of this magnatude would take a boat-load of folks to pull it off and people with deep pockets that believe in what you are doing.
Most of us on this message board have a deep passion for the boats and have gone the extra mile to help educate, preserve and restore History. I know in my heart that I would love to get involved, but I ask the question how can I help? I certainly could not do anything in the way of money, as I am tied to my Mosquito Fleet Exhibit and just do not have the extra funds to pump into a project like this. The other problem, which is what I ran into when I tried to help Jim Melanson and his restoration project. Many folks will not give to a project that they can't get to. By that I mean, how many people from say Massachusetts would be willing to part with money then hop a plane to see the project. I tried to make contacts here in Massachusetts, but most turned a deaf ear. People will give millions to an artsy fartsy Exhibit Hall, but when you approach them about a WWII PT BOAT PROJECT, they just give you that funny look.
I certainly do not mean to sound like I have a defeatous attitude, but that is how it goes. The average WWII Veteran in his life-time has already given to these projects when they were younger and had business's looking for tax write-offs. At their age now, most will not give big dollars anymore to such large projects. It takes a person with extreme abilities to look for Grants, garner large funding from Corporations, and beat the pavement for dollars. Can it be done? By all means if you have a group of dedicated people who have nothing but time and energy to give, then the answer is YES.
I will do whatever I can to assist in this project. All you need to do is ask. I am in hopes that it would get off the ground, but before you take on this monsterous task, think about the massive dollars you will need to raise just to get the project started, then the massive amount needed to finish her. Good luck and if you do have the time, please E-Mail me whatever photo's you have of the boat. mosquitofleet@comcast.net
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 9, 2006 - 9:05am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Hi Ted!
OOPs! I forgot you were a member of this message board on my earlier posts. So sorry about that. I wanted to give you also some words of encouragement concerning the PT48. We at the Save the PT Boat Inc were also faced with similar 'dire' circumstances when the USS PT658 hull was first located in 1993. It did take a lot of hard work by 10-15 dedicated WW2 veteran PT Boaters and their freinds in Portland, Oregon in order to get this project up and running. It also was done on a shoestring budget with most all of the funds obtained by volunteer donations and begging for anything we could get. I want to tell you that it really can be done, and to not be overwhelmed by the size of the task. I have been amazed at what we have been able to do in the last 7 years since I have been involved in restoring the PT658. I also agree with Frank, it is likely getting more difficult by the day, as even the youngest WW2 vets are now well into their 80's, to start restoring a PT boat. I feel very hopeful that you are equal to the task, and wish good luck to your efforts!
Take Care,
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Restoration Crew
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Dec 11, 2006 - 2:45am
Total Posts: 1470 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Folks, here is the previous thread we all talked about PT48 about 1 and 1/2 years ago in late 2006. I did not want to rewrite all the same stuff over again. I still hope Ted will be successful in his quest to restore the proud old gal PT48! Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Apr 21, 2008 - 9:55pm
Total Posts: 1470 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
I am sure it has been brought up here before, but going South down the Intercoastal from Norfolk VA. there were a few PT boat hulls on the East bank.
At least thats what the Capt. of our boat said.
Regards
Posted By: Shaneo2 | Posted on: Apr 21, 2008 - 10:42pm
Total Posts: 147 | Joined: Apr 17, 2008 - 10:19pm
You are right Shaneo, those are Vietnam era, 80 foot PTF Nasty boats. They are PTF's 3,5,7,10,12 and 19 There used to be about 6 there, and the owner is trying to sell them all. I think one was sold to an individual who is actively working on restoration of it. He even has 2 of those monster Napier Deltic: diesel engines with 4150 hP each that go inside it. I think you can find more at their website [url]http://www.ptfnasty.com/[/url]
Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Apr 21, 2008 - 11:21pm
Total Posts: 1470 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
A few years ago when I first met Frank-I was desperately trying to save PT 761.
Since there was a "no" time frame-I was unable to get any thing off the ground. I did however talk to the shipping company who moved the Hull for Jim-They informed me the the basic transportation of the hull to bring it to a marina local (VA/DC area) to me was going to cost 75K and this did not cover the cranes on both ends to lift the hull off the trailer.
What was fantastic about the 761 was that the original group trying to restore it had a custom steel cradle already made.
Unfortunately the hull was sold for a dollar and scrapped. If memory serves me correct, Frank told me that this was one of the last if not the last boat Elco made and was designated to a land lease deal.
Since my dream is to actually make enough money to have a boat made (mostly hull and deck)-like a lot of the current replicas-mayflower/niagra (which I volunteered on)-if the 48 actually made it to the DC area I would be more than happy to work on it. I have a construction company and tools. I also would be happy to help out in any administrative capacity if anyone needs any help with this process.
Please just PM me.
Posted By: VCR | Posted on: Apr 22, 2008 - 4:46pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered