Toured an interesting boat, thought I would share

[Carpediem44DB]

It is a 65 foot light cargo supply ship built in 53 for the Korean conflict but never was used by the military. It was used by various entities as a research vessel up in Alaska then retired in the 90s when the current owner bought her to make a cruiser out of. My buddy installed a hydraulic power system to run thrusters, Davits, a winch and auxiliary propulsion. There is a chain drive on the prop shaft linked thru a clutch to use hydraulics for harbor maneuvering along with the hydraulic thrusters. The owner owns a little out of the way harbor in the delta but cruises this boat up and down the coast. Really cool. I thought the Cat guys would get a kick out of the engine. I don’t recall the model but it is a V8 making 275 HP at 1200 RPM. pics of the ER and the hydraulic system which really is a piece of art.

 

[Pirate Lady]

What’s the purpose of the flag pole at the bow?

 

[WinkBuilt]

Know you now it’s a working engine room when there’s a bench with a permanent mounted vice!
Thanks for sharing @Carpediem44DB!
Got any pics of the bridge?

 

[Nick 55]

Looks like a CAT 3208, but not 100% positive. Cool boat and that hydraulic system looks very cool.

 

[ttmott]

High drool factor. Aerospace quality on the tubing..

 

[douglee25]

Cool looking vessel!

 

[Carpediem44DB]

What’s the purpose of the flag pole at the bow?

Looks like he is flying a yacht club burgee on it

 

[Carpediem44DB]

Know you now it’s a working engine room when there’s a bench with a permanent mounted vice!
Thanks for sharing @Carpediem44DB!
Got any pics of the bridge?

Here are a few mor pics. The boat is a constant work in progress. The forward hold serves as the single stateroom with the hydraulic actuated hatch. The bridge is staying original save for modern Navonics. The salon and galley aft is very quaint. The owner calls it the smallest 65 foot motor yacht you’ll see.
You can see more of the SS closed hydraulic system in the state room.

I figured you guys would dig seeing this even though it’s not the boat we would be into owning. This guy has a great wife too. She loves the boat and really digs the industrial nature of it with little creature comfort. My would not be amused if I told her that this was her next boat!

 

[Captain Spike]

Here are a few mor pics. The boat is a constant work in progress. The forward hold serves as the single stateroom with the hydraulic actuated hatch. The bridge is staying original save for modern Navonics. The salon and galley aft is very quaint. The owner calls it the smallest 65 foot motor yacht you’ll see.
You can see more of the SS closed hydraulic system in the state room. View attachment 109981View attachment 109982View attachment 109983View attachment 109984 View attachment 109989
I figured you guys would dig seeing this even though it’s not the boat we would be into owning. This guy has a great wife too. She loves the boat and really digs the industrial nature of it with little creature comfort. My would not be amused if I told her that this was her next boat!

I love most all boats including work boats. Thanks.

 

[douglee25]

Awesome looking bridge!

 

[Nick 55]

I think it’s awesome and they can use it as they make it their own. I can visualize the eventual mahogany wall panels in the state room and a fresh stain at the helm or coat of paint will dramatically change the inside of it for even better.

 

[Jus the two of us]

Pretty Cool, Thanks for sharing!!

 

[dtfeld]

Looks like a CAT 3208, but not 100% positive. Cool boat and that hydraulic system looks very cool.

I don't think that's a 3208 its massive!!!. Looks like a blower pushing air into an aftercooler, so maybe an old style 2 cycle diesel?

 

[Gofirstclass]

Not a boat I would want to own or cruise in, but it's a great Work In Progress boat and fun to look at. Ya gotta love those slow RPM Cats. Lots of power without all the noise and commotion of the high revving diesels.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Doesn’t “work in progress “ sum up 95% of our boats?

 

[ttmott]

Project boat? Take a look at these -
https://www.youtube.com/c/ProjectBrupeg/videos

 

[Nick 55]

My CAT buddies are curious now because they couldn’t identify that engine either. Any chance to get some more pictures of them from different angles? There was a predecessor to the 3408 which is a BIG v8 but I don’t know what it was. The 275hp makes me think this is something early and 2 stroke like a DD 8V92 but those were never CAT yellow. They don’t have DD valve covers and the blower is way back not in the V of the engine like a DD either.

 

[alnav]

I think the engine is a Caterpillar D375. I believe these boats were built at NASSCO in San Diego for the Army, which once had a huge fleet. These were classified as Tug-Transports and largely intended to serve in the logistics ports serving Korea. There were a bunch built and a few are still around, I believe Cal Maritime has a couple of them as well.

 

[ttmott]

My CAT buddies are curious now because they couldn’t identify that engine either. Any chance to get some more pictures of them from different angles? There was a predecessor to the 3408 which is a BIG v8 but I don’t know what it was. The 275hp makes me think this is something early and 2 stroke like a DD 8V92 but those were never CAT yellow. They don’t have DD valve covers and the blower is way back not in the V of the engine like a DD either.

It looks to be a Cat D series which is a 4 stroke engine. Probably a D379 turbo-supercharged Marine.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

I think the engine is a Caterpillar D375. I believe these boats were built at NASSCO in San Diego for the Army, which once had a huge fleet. These were classified as Tug-Transports and largely intended to serve in the logistics ports serving Korea. There were a bunch built and a few are still around, I believe Cal Maritime has a couple of them as well.

Bingo!