Restoring PT-658

[Chad]

Jason I am so jealous

That is very very cool. And thanks for the pictures! If you attend this meet this year if we go to Battleship cove you could probably give a tour of the PT Boat with the knowledge you're gaining!

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Chad

Jason I am so jealous

That is very very cool. And thanks for the pictures! If you attend this meet this year if we go to Battleship cove you could probably give a tour of the PT Boat with the knowledge you're gaining!

Yeah, they have a few parts I need to borrow for our pt boat.

[nikimcbee]

PT boat update... making lots of progress. We are in the middle off overing the bow and chart house in fiberglass (to prevent wood rot) and I've spent the last 3 time painting. The Boat is on schedule. The best part is, my work schedule allows me to participate in fleet week, where we get to escort the ships in.... and I'm looking to be on the overnight crew during fleet week.


And in other news, there's a new guy, WW2 vet, who did his sonar training on A FREEKIN' S-BOAT!!!!!!!! Early on in the war, he was on the PY's in San Fran and rescued survivors from the I-17's handlework.
Painting today was well worth it.

[Chad]

Nice one

I started looking for museums around where I go to school to volunteer in my spare time, and I found one not to far I hope to start working at. There isn't a website I know of, maybe I can convince them to get one opened up

[Chad]

Actually just found their website, http://www.nationalmilitaryheritagemuseum.com/

I met Mr. Fletcher the other day and we had a short talk.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Chad

Nice one

I started looking for museums around where I go to school to volunteer in my spare time, and I found one not to far I hope to start working at. There isn't a website I know of, maybe I can convince them to get one opened up

That's cool Good for you. Are there any vets that work there? I'm curious who you get to meet.

[Chad]

I originally stated I met Mr. Fletcher, I meant Flesher.

Bio from website:

Franklin A. Flesher

Franklin A. Flesher, NMHM Executive Director, entered the United States Army as an enlisted soldier in 1952. He was commissioned in 1958 and retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel. During his career he was Ranger and Jump certified saw 2 tours in Viet Nam. He was stationed at Ft. Benning, Ft. Hood, the Pentagon, the Air Force Staff College and has attended the University of Akron and Missouri Western State University. Frank is also the founder of the NMHM.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Lt. Colonel Frank Flesher USA (Retired). Ranger and airborne qualified, he gave 28 years of service to the United States Army and 18 plus years of selfless dedication to the National Military Heritage Museum and Society.

I don't want to jack your thread, just wanted to let you know you inspired me to go out and volunteer

[nikimcbee]

update: made lots of progress on the boat friday. We move the 2 gun-tubs to their correct location and painted the exterior of the chart house "pt-boat gray". BTW maritime grade paint does not wash off your hands. On monday, they fired up the engines for a bit, and one guy almost passed out from CO poisening. I don't know the details on that, it is a ventalated compartment.

I also signed up for my deck duty; lineman. 3 days off pt-boat duty the first week of June, sailing the boat. Can you say pt-boat sleepover

[nikimcbee]

Update-end of May. The boat is cleared for sea: Na Manner, alles klar? They fired up the engines today! OMFG it was so freakin' cool, I can't wait to get underway next week. I spent the day installing all of the windows on the boat. The we went to lunch an bitched obout odufus, then back to the boat for.... Oh-ficial Coast Guard training!
The CG dudes pulled up behind us and we went over "man-overboard" training. I also learned how to run the emergency pumps And patch a serious leak/ stop flooding

I'll be back saturday to take pichures of the work. It actally looks like a PT-boat again.

[AVGWarhawk]

Sounds like you're have a grand time repairing the old girl. Enjoy!

[nikimcbee]

ha, look what I found!
http://www.savetheptboatinc.com/other_crew.htm

[nikimcbee]

more official stuff:
http://www.savetheptboatinc.com/rose_festival10.htm

[nikimcbee]

So I hadn't shown my face at the boat for awhile. So last week I showed up down at the boat house and there were a lot of people down there, and all dressed up. As it turns out, we were getting ready to shove off for the Portland classic boat show, which I thought was the following week.

There were no volunteers to stay with the boat overnite during the show, so i volunteered for duty. We were moored next to a seafood resturaunt. It was really cool to watch the full moon go over the city. i got some nice pictures, that I'll post when I get home if I remember.

Oh, and my reward for guarding the boat for the weekend...
I got to be at the helm for a good portion of the trip back to the barn.

edit, look what I found:
http://www.savetheptboatinc.com/summer_fall10.htm

[AVGWarhawk]

Night watch duty! Did ya stand by the plank asking friend or foe?

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Night watch duty! Did ya stand by the plank asking friend or foe?

The thing that drove me crazy were the people that had to come by and knock on the hull and ask if the boat is made of wood.