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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: HIGGINS DECKING
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I know that with the Eco boats, they used 2 eighty-foot pieces to lay on top of the deck, which was screwed down. The Elco boat had a smooth deck. I am curious about the assembly of the decking for the Higgins PT Boats. In speaking with Arthur Frongello from PT-302, he said the deck was smooth, yet in some photo's I have, you can clearly see the planking and how it was pieced together. Was the Higgins decking smooth, and in time wore out to expose the planks? I need to know, as the model builder that will be doing Arthur's PT-302 had asked how I want it built.............

Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Apr 29, 2013 - 6:07am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am

Frank,

Higgins decks were planked and calked. If this work is done properly and periodically re-calked, once painted the deck would appear smooth. It is difficult to see the seam lines in the deck.

Bill

Bill Smallshaw

Posted By: smallwi | Posted on: Apr 29, 2013 - 7:55am
Total Posts: 134 | Joined: Jun 21, 2007 - 3:02pm

Frank,
I think the guys in New Orleans just planked their entire deck and photos of their methods used was posted by Randy Smith on this message board about 12 months ago! Dont you remember seeing all those wonderful photos? The inner layer was diagonal planks, then they put down that canvas covered with Dolphinite on both sides, then they planked the outer layer with mahogany planks aligned fore and aft with a king plank down the middle. Then they attached it with bronze screws through both layers into the deck beams and then added hundreds of copper rivets to hold the inner and outer layers together. There is no "caulking" per say between the planks, the dolphinite squeezes up between the plank edges to some degree. I am sure Randy can be more specific. But my point is that they did this job on PT305 exactly the way the boats were originally built, and using the exact same meterials and methods for historical accuracy. So it was planked decks that maybe were painted over, and a barely noticable seam between each plank. I hope Randy puts his two cents in! Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Apr 29, 2013 - 10:59am
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Jerry is right it is two layers planked with canvas between the two the inner layer is 6'' the top is 4''

I have picks of the under side with the rivets at work I can post tomorrow.The pen I gave you was made from the deck of 305

Posted By: RANDY SMITH | Posted on: Apr 29, 2013 - 3:31pm
Total Posts: 182 | Joined: Jul 16, 2012 - 7:16pm

Jerry and Randy, thanks so much for your input and the photo's. I am aware of how the decking went down, just was curious how much showed when fully painted. Arthur remembers smooth decks, and once when they painted them, they put in sand in the paint which made for a type of non skid material. I know when building Elco models the decks do not show any planking at all. Thanks again very much...............................Jerry I left you an E mail when you have time to open it.

Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Apr 29, 2013 - 4:26pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am