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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Pt-309 charthouse
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=4006

I happen to live in Texas about five hours away from pt-309 and had thought about visiting eventually.
I had two questions regarding this boat, is there anyway that they will let you go inside of the boat, and also where did pt-309 get its charthouse when it was restored, I ask because in a restoration picture it looks kind of worn down, like it wasn't rebuilt, it looks like it came from another PT.
If you have any pictures of 309 they would be appreciated.
ThePTboater

Posted By: ThePTboater | Posted on: Feb 7, 2016 - 7:36am
Total Posts: 136 | Joined: Jan 17, 2016 - 1:28pm

About 4 years ago, my wife arranged for my father-in-law to get an on board tour of the 309. He was a WWII PT vet. We were suppose to go for his Nov 11th birthday. Unfortunately he got sick and was unable to travel.

I think the general public would have a more difficult time getting on board. They may allow family or aficionados if you plead your case. Probably easier to do for a Mon-Fri visit. She called well ahead of time. Best of luck. [:-cheers-:]

Rick Schaefer
Splinter PT 63

TM2c John E Mirus
Solomon Islands
Dec 43 - Jan 45

Posted By: rickas | Posted on: Feb 7, 2016 - 10:48am
Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Dec 26, 2013 - 5:16pm

PT Boater, (What is your real name?)
I looked on the Internet Wayback Machine, and looked up the old website PT309.org and www.defendersofamerica.org and found the following info. Evidently the original charthouse had been overbuilt with a modern deckhouse which was demolished when they obtained the boat from the Northeast (up in Delaware?). Anyway, they obtained the charthouse from the PT308 and placed it onto the newly acquired hull of the PT309 when they first got it to Texas for restoration. This was sometimes in 1997-1998. They then built a brand new charthouse using the remains of the PT308 charthouse as a model. The existing charthouse currently mounted on the PT309 was built in 1998 by the restoration crew in Kemah Texas (Near Houston Galveston area.
Here is one quote from the website
"First we had to find the hull.....Note the charthouse. This was from the 308 boat, simply placed on here to provide a model for the one we would have to build."
Here are also some photos I placed onto photobucket so you can see what I am talking about. I hope this helps....Jerry

PT309 newly obtained hull with the PT308 charthouse placed on top for reference
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658%202014/PT309%20Resto2.jpg[/image]

Another view of the similar charthouse from PT308
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658%202014/PT309%20resto1.jpg[/image]

Building the new charthouse on PT309 sometimes in early 1998
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658%202014/PT309%20resto3.jpg[/image]

New Charthouse being constructed with USS Texas in background at San Jacinto Park
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658%202014/PT309%20resto4.jpg[/image]

Newly completed charthouse installed onto PT309 in 1998
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658%202014/PT309%20resto5.jpg[/image]

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Feb 7, 2016 - 9:05pm
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

They found PT 309 on Long Island, at the time it was named BRAND X and owned by Captain George Porter, Point Lookout, L.I. N.Y.
They then got the charthouse and some other parts from PT 308 which was in Dagsboro, Delaware.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 10, 2016 - 5:58pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Sorry about answering these post so late, just noticed the reply lol.
Thanks for the pictures, it's interesting how simple the charthouse constructions seems to be, I saw similar pictures on the site for pt-658 on their charthouse construction.
It's also interesting to note that I have seen the battleship Texas, love that ship.
ThePTboater

Posted By: ThePTboater | Posted on: Feb 20, 2016 - 12:04pm
Total Posts: 136 | Joined: Jan 17, 2016 - 1:28pm

Also about getting on the boat, I bet you all agree that you can't see a PT without at least going onboard, it's part of the experience.
It is also the closest pt to me, the second probably being 305, which is obviously still far from me.
ThePTboater

Posted By: ThePTboater | Posted on: Feb 20, 2016 - 12:31pm
Total Posts: 136 | Joined: Jan 17, 2016 - 1:28pm

Also about getting on the boat, I bet you all agree that you can't see a PT without at least going onboard, it's part of the experience.
It is also the closest pt to me, the second probably being 305, which is obviously still far from me.
ThePTboater

Posted By: ThePTboater | Posted on: Feb 20, 2016 - 12:33pm
Total Posts: 136 | Joined: Jan 17, 2016 - 1:28pm