Muscle Boats

[Canuck]

Likely there is a forum for Muscle Boats but I thought I would share a recent experience here with what I consider the ultimate Muscle Boat, the PT boat from WWII.
This past Monday I had a chance to visit PT658 the only working fully restored PT boat from WWII. It is located in Portland Or and has been lovingly restored and preserved by a group of former PT crew and former Navy guys. I considered this visit to be the highlight of my interest in Fast Boats. Some quick facts about this 80 foot wooden boat. Built in 1945 it did not see active duty. It is one of the 199 PT boats built By Higgins of New Orleans. Its powered by 3 1850 HP 2500 Cu in. Packard Marine V12, supercharged engines. Capable of a cruising speed of 41 knots, it can be pushed to 70 MPH by manually holding the Magneto limiters open. The latter was achieved often by competing bosts needing to prove which one was faster.Fuel consumption is an astounding 188 Gallons per hour per engine from its 3000 gallon tanks. These boats were awsome. Next summer I plan to Visit Portland again and pay a volunter fee to go for a ride.

File Photo

Packard V12 Supercharged.



Gear Shift,from the bridge The first Office would command the Engineer ,Fore Neutral or Aft and his job was to select each engine's direction, .With custom length levers he could controll two engine with two hands and kick the third shifter behind him with his right foot. Quick turns could be done with the outboard engines spinng the props in oposite directions.

37 MM Aircraft Gun, Built by Oldsmobile

[Canuck]

PS, The restoration director told me all the fittings were purchased by scrounging the globe for the various pieces needed. Next time you take on a restoration, think of the challanges these guys faced looking for parts.

[Pulnaway]

Anything with a supercharged Packard is bada##!

[PxTx]

My father - in - law talks about summer vacations when he was younger and taking rides on this converted PT boad.

[Canuck]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pulnaway</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Anything with a supercharged Packard is bada##!
</div></div>

And this boat has three of them!!

[m22mike]

And they were made of wood...

PT boat

[Vern B]

PT 309, also a Higgins, is fully restored without the engines fitted and sits in the Museum of the Pacific (Admiral Nimitz Museum) in Fredericksburg, TX. The engines are restored and sit next to the boat. PT 309 was a combat boat, used against the Germans in the Mediterranean..

This museum is a must visit if in the Central Texas area. Admiral Nimitz was from Fredericksburg. Plan two days as there is a lot to see and it is only about the Pacific phase of the war.