The PT Boat Forum
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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: PT-809
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=260

Does anyone have any info or PICS they can share with me on this boat? In 1974 I was assigned to the Naval Admin. Unit at Washington Navy Yard in DC. I was the Engineer of the Presidential Yacht "Sequoia" and PT-809 which was called "Guardian". This was the PT Boat that JFK took out several times when he was in the White House. I only have (1) picture of the boat and that was a copy of a picture taken at night. The Packard engines had been replaced by (2) 671 turbo-charged diesels in tandem on each shaft head-to-head. The hull was Aluminum, painted white, and over all length was around 98'. She was in great shape, and we had her out a few times on a full power run for over and an hour or so, which was not bad for a boat build around 25 years before. I never could get her to plane out with the diesels like I thought she should, but that is another story.

In 1976, there was a move to save expenses at NAU, and a decision was made to transfer the PT-809 out of the Presidential Support Duty. A team from NAS Norfolk came up to familiarize themselves with the craft prior to turnover, and I rode back down to Norfolk with them as technical support for the trip. That was the last time I saw PT-809.

In the last year or so have started making models of the ships/boats I was stationed on and need a few PICS of PT-809 to work from.

Lonnie
sequoia_@bellsouth.net

Posted By: IPLAYLESPAUL | Posted on: Mar 2, 2007 - 1:52pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I can send you photocopies of her plan and profile from the original BUSHIPS drawings. They're in sections, but you can piece them together. Send me your "snail mail" address and I'll send them out next week.

Al Ross

Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Mar 2, 2007 - 2:03pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm

Dear Lonnie:

Your the first person that I have come across that actually served on this boat. I have a cigg Lighter with the name Guardian and PT 809 that was supposedly given out to crewmembers from President Kennedy. Do you have one of these and or do you recall these lighters. I am in hopes that you might shed some light. You can of course contact me off site at mosquitofleet@comcast.net

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 2, 2007 - 2:26pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Lonnie: Sending you a 2-shot of the Sequoia and Guardian on the Potomac River....

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Mar 2, 2007 - 2:35pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Al-
Thanks, That would be great

Lonnie Cooper
118 Baldwin Lane
Summerville, SC 29483

Posted By: IPLAYLESPAUL | Posted on: Mar 2, 2007 - 5:13pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Dear Frank-
I heard about something like that, this is the PT boat that JFK took with him on that trip to Ireland in Summer of 1963. I was in DC for Nixon, Ford, and start of Carter's Administrations. I have som copies of Jfk's last birthday on the "Sequoia", but nothing on Pt-809 "Guardain". If you could scan the lighter and send me a jpeg of it I would like to have a copy.

Not every sailor in the Navy got to serve in some of the craft I did from Boats on the rivers in Vietnam, diesel submarine SS-337 - USS Carbonero, Presidential Yacht Sequoia, and one of the last PT Boats built.......I was a "Boat" sailor. "And Damn Proud of It!"

thanks, Lonnie
sequoia_@bellsouth.net

Posted By: IPLAYLESPAUL | Posted on: Mar 2, 2007 - 5:26pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Will-
I got those 2 PICS, thanks , any other shots of the 809 you have and can send would be greatly appreicated. We also used her for the crew to overnight if necessary.
Lonnie

Posted By: IPLAYLESPAUL | Posted on: Mar 4, 2007 - 4:45am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Will - I have several good pics of 809. Will try to hunt them up and email them out to you soon

Posted By: Ed B | Posted on: Mar 11, 2007 - 7:41am
Total Posts: 91 | Joined: Oct 26, 2006 - 5:31am

Oops. Last message meant for Lonnie, not Will

Posted By: Ed B | Posted on: Mar 11, 2007 - 7:43am
Total Posts: 91 | Joined: Oct 26, 2006 - 5:31am

Ed-
Thanks, any help you can extend is appreicated, look forward to receiving those photos, ,my email address in listed in one of the messages above.
Lonnie

Posted By: IPLAYLESPAUL | Posted on: Mar 11, 2007 - 10:13am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

There is an excellent b&w 8x10 photo of PT 809 on eBay right now, bidding ends 03/14. Current bid is $8.

Steve

Stephen N. Richie

Posted By: Steve Richie | Posted on: Mar 11, 2007 - 10:34am
Total Posts: 3 | Joined: Oct 10, 2006 - 5:08pm

Thanks, I know, That's my bid at $8.00
my son put me on to it.

Posted By: IPLAYLESPAUL | Posted on: Mar 11, 2007 - 1:35pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Gents,

I, too, would love any pictures of this boat.

email to: jay@blacjklabmarine.com

Thank you in advance for any consideration as well as for your services to our country.

Jay Perrotta
President
Black Lab Plate Alloy Boats
Yarmouth, ME, USA

(USMC Weather Guesser 1986-1991)

Posted By: Jay Perrotta | Posted on: Oct 11, 2007 - 10:40am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Jay

The next time I stop at my Exhibit, I will take a picture of the 809 Lighter and get it to you. Sorry for the delay........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Oct 11, 2007 - 12:14pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Jay

I've posted 14 pictures I've collected of PT809 onto the PT Boats Inc photobucket website, in a separate subalbum. Go to photobucket.com (member name = ptboats, password = elcopt), and then look in the PT809 subalbum. Or, there's a link below that should take you directly to that subalbum.

Make sure you click on each image to see full size. Unfortunately, resolution varies - some are great, some are poor. Most of the images I collected were courtesy of either member Chip Marshall or PT Boats HQ (thanks again). Enjoy!

[url]http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT809/[/url]

Posted By: Ed B | Posted on: Oct 12, 2007 - 7:20am
Total Posts: 91 | Joined: Oct 26, 2006 - 5:31am

The above link has been corrected - it now works.

Dick Washichek

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Oct 12, 2007 - 9:03am
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Jay-
Sending you a sketch of side profile and topside layout of this boat from plans sent me since I posted this topic back in the spring.
Lonnie

Posted By: IPLAYLESPAUL | Posted on: Oct 14, 2007 - 3:59am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Jay- send me an e-mail and I will reply with the sketch I mentioned before. Tried to send email to your address and it would not post from my end.
Lonnie

Posted By: IPLAYLESPAUL | Posted on: Oct 14, 2007 - 4:10am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered