Restoring PT-658

nikimcbee · 03-22-10, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

You will not find anything much more satisfying than working on this vessel restoring it to it's former glory. Plus you get to go on boat rides and talk filthy like the rest of the sailors.

Have fun and enjoy the work outside of your normal day to day duldrums.

The best part is, I get to hang out with the vets.

AVGWarhawk · 03-22-10, 02:52 PM

And they like it also! The Torsk has some WW2 vets that still come on Saturdays (Geezer Chief) and some that were on the boats during the cold war. We have one that got his dolphins on the Torsk. Trust me when I say they appreciate your efforts. To them, it is not just a piece of wood and steel, it was a part of their life. It is also something for the older guys to do in their twilight years. It is a club, a social function or a night of playing cards with the boys without the cards. It gives them purpose. I find it satisfying because restoring the Torsk is so out of realm for me and it helps clear my mind of the past work week. So does smelling some of the solvents and paints

It is just a good feeling that you are working on something very cool. Eventually you will see these guys have BBQ's in the summer or hold a yard sale for the boat. The Torsk Volunteers do. It is a lot of fun restoring a piece of history.

Sledgehammer427 · 03-22-10, 07:50 PM

AVG, my mom works up in Baltimore (she works for Casey Family Services, if the name rings a bell) So if I ever go up with her, or if you are showing up at the SUBSIM meet this year, we'll have to meet. Maybe if there is some work going on, I'd be glad to help out!

AVGWarhawk · 03-25-10, 10:16 AM

Every Saturday the boat is open at 0700 by the volunteers and work goes on most of the day. Torsk work weekend in October is always fun. We feed and berth you for your efforts. If you get a chance to swing by on any given Saturday please PM me a week or two prior and I will meet you there. I'm working on making the SS meet.

nikimcbee · 03-28-10, 12:12 PM

Weekly update: We got the bow decking placed. Four, large maritime-grade plywood pieces.

The best part, I had lunch with ton of the guys who trained the Tuskeegee (sp?) Airmen. He lives up in WA.

Lunch wiht the vets rocks.

nikimcbee · 04-02-10, 01:39 AM

Weekly update: First off, I was informed the "Cavalla hat had to go", so now I have a new PT-658 hat (I guess I'm oh-ficial now).

During lunch, I got to hear first hand about the pt-boat that attacked the Mogami during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where they raced in and shot out the search lights at point blank range

. Oh yeah, I worked on the boat too.

Before (bow sans deck)

after with brand new deck

Still more work to go (outside looking in crew compartment)

AVGWarhawk · 04-02-10, 10:40 AM

She is looking good!

It is fun working on them. Meaningful. The vets are great to talk with. Some folks go to the bar or movies to relax. We go restore something on a ocean going piece of history and enjoy the resin smell from the paint! Keep up the good work!

03-22-10, 02:52 PM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,256 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	And they like it also! The Torsk has some WW2 vets that still come on Saturdays (Geezer Chief) and some that were on the boats during the cold war. We have one that got his dolphins on the Torsk. Trust me when I say they appreciate your efforts. To them, it is not just a piece of wood and steel, it was a part of their life. It is also something for the older guys to do in their twilight years. It is a club, a social function or a night of playing cards with the boys without the cards. It gives them purpose. I find it satisfying because restoring the Torsk is so out of realm for me and it helps clear my mind of the past work week. So does smelling some of the solvents and paints It is just a good feeling that you are working on something very cool. Eventually you will see these guys have BBQ's in the summer or hold a yard sale for the boat. The Torsk Volunteers do. It is a lot of fun restoring a piece of history. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

03-22-10, 07:50 PM	#3
Sledgehammer427 PacWagon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Drinking coffee and staring at trees in Massachusetts Posts: 2,908 Downloads: 287 Uploads: 0	AVG, my mom works up in Baltimore (she works for Casey Family Services, if the name rings a bell) So if I ever go up with her, or if you are showing up at the SUBSIM meet this year, we'll have to meet. Maybe if there is some work going on, I'd be glad to help out! __________________ Cold Waters Voice Crew - Fire Control Officer Cmdr O. Myers - C/O USS Nautilus (SS-168) 114,000 tons sunk - 4 Spec Ops completed V-boat Nutcase - Need supplies? Japanese garrison on a small island in the way? Just give us a call! D4C!

03-25-10, 10:16 AM	#4
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,256 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Every Saturday the boat is open at 0700 by the volunteers and work goes on most of the day. Torsk work weekend in October is always fun. We feed and berth you for your efforts. If you get a chance to swing by on any given Saturday please PM me a week or two prior and I will meet you there. I'm working on making the SS meet. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

03-28-10, 12:12 PM	#5
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Weekly update: We got the bow decking placed. Four, large maritime-grade plywood pieces. The best part, I had lunch with ton of the guys who trained the Tuskeegee (sp?) Airmen. He lives up in WA. Lunch wiht the vets rocks. __________________

04-02-10, 01:39 AM	#6
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Weekly update: First off, I was informed the "Cavalla hat had to go", so now I have a new PT-658 hat (I guess I'm oh-ficial now). During lunch, I got to hear first hand about the pt-boat that attacked the Mogami during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where they raced in and shot out the search lights at point blank range. Oh yeah, I worked on the boat too. Before (bow sans deck) after with brand new deck Still more work to go (outside looking in crew compartment) __________________

04-02-10, 10:40 AM	#7
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,256 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	She is looking good! It is fun working on them. Meaningful. The vets are great to talk with. Some folks go to the bar or movies to relax. We go restore something on a ocean going piece of history and enjoy the resin smell from the paint! Keep up the good work! __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road